Ok, so here we go with more glue questions, how about gluing directly to homosote? What is the best glue to go with?
I plan to glue flex track directly to Homasote with diluted white glue. The glue is strong but can be dissolved with water if necessary. White glue does not set up quickly so there is time to adjust the alignment. White glue doesn't require any special cleanup or environmental considerations. On a prior layout I tried contact cement and hot glue on pink foam; both with less than satisfactory results. Both melted the pink foam. I tried low temp hot glue but the glue hardens quickly so the alignment better be exact. Also, there is no way to unglue the track. I found a thicker white glue in the arts and crafts section called Annie's Original Tacky Glue that seems to hold stuff well. For example, I use it to glue surface mounted resistors to n-scale wheel sets.
I go for something a bit more permanent, Gap Filling Cyanoacrylate. Not the store bought, thin and runny Super Glue. Gosh, that runny stuff is the worst. I have a friend that uses Liquid Nails. It remains in a flexible state and he can remove the track, as needed. Gorrila Glue has come out with a...for the lack of better terminology...a rubbery product that doesn't foam up. In the ingredients it shows Cyanoacrylate. Just some suggestions.
Since Homasote expands when exposed to water (when ballasting, etc) my club paints the Homasote with Latex paint and allows the paint to dry before attempting to affix the track to it. We have experimented with various glues but settled on rubber cement, mainly because it allows a little flex. It is able to hold onto the painted surface and the track with no problem. You don't need a really permanent bond at this time because when ballasting with a 50% white glue and water mix, the track will be held firmly in place by the ballast/glue combination. Also the rubber cement will not dissolve and allow movement when ballasting.
Dee Das beat me to it ...I was going to say , too , that if you properly ballast the track , you don't need glue that will be rock hard for securing the track . Aleenes "tacky glue " will work just fine . Terry
Flex-track??? Does these glues hold flex track well enough, even in a 22 deg radius?? Sorry for the hijack. Done. :membarrassed::membarrassed:
I don't see a hi-jacking. A thread goes where a thread goes and no one owns it. If we are talking N Scale...the answer is maybe. The extreme choice of glue, as some may think, is to use a Gap Filling Cyanoacrylate. If your layout is in a garage, tin shed and/or a building that sees extreme temperature changes...the contraction and expansion syndrome, the number one enemy of most layouts, will do unwanted damage to your track work. You want a glue that goes down and holds the flex track in place. Gap filling CYA's will do the job quite nicely. Living in Big Bear Lake, Ca., my Train Shed a TIN shed, see's temperatures from 0 degrees during the winter to 98 degrees during the summer. Despite running a heater during the winter months. During the majority of the better weather days it can see, on the low end 27 degrees at night, to a high of 82 degrees or worse during the day. Should your layout be exposed to these kinds of temperature variances you need to bring in the big guns to hold the track in place. The winter wasn't kind to my layout and I have a number of track replacements, where I scrimped on the glue and the track blew out. Of course it can't be where it's easy to get to. How about, in the back and under the triple helix. Where the only access is through a pop-up. Oh this is going to be so much FUN! Cutting in expansion gaps in the track, gluing the track down and other construction procedures depending on what you use for a subroadbed... helps. The advise and complaint department needs to close. Seems a certain super wants the track repaired "Sooner then possible and YESTERDAY would have been ideal". Got's to get busy solving my own problems. Lot's of luck with your layout.
Glue Thanks Barstow, I am modeling in HO and on pink foam that is 1/2" thick. Only thing available in local retailers. I am in the process of starting to lay track. It is in garage and is exposed to temp extremes. 20 to 100 deg F. Thanks for the help and photos will be forth coming in the layout thread.
