ballast track

[fa-1]

what should i use to attach ballast on track that may have to be removed at a future time? the track is held with track nails and is on homasote with no roadbed under track[Industrial switching layout].   some kind of soluable glue? thanks in advance.

                                          FA-1

[selector]

Use diluted white or yellow glue.  Wet the ballast first with an alcohol mix to break surface tension between the grains, just enough to make it look wet...no need to have rivers of the expensive alcohol running across your layout.  Same with the diluted glue...dribble it carefully until you're reasonably sure it has penetrated well into the ballast and then leave it to dry over the next 12 hours or so.  You can even remove the track nails when it is hardened.  Later, when you want to lift the tracks, just soak the ballast again, liberally to ensure deep penetration, and wait about four minutes.  Then use a thin old knife to shove the tip under the ties, between them and the roadbed.  Saw back and forth, trying to keep the sharp edge down tight to the roadbed so as not to snag and to detach or mangle ties.  It will all come up.

[mobilman44]

For what its worth........ run a bead of the glue mix outside the outer tie edges of the track, and the spoon on the ballast and smooth with a brush.  When both sides of the track are ballasted, lightly spoon ballast between the rails and brush to even out - and do NOT add any adhesive.

This has worked very well for me, and should I ever remove the track, it will easily be ready for reuse.

[basementdweller]

Use 50/50 white glue mix to glue down ballast. Dried ballast glued this way is easily removed by wetting with rubbing alcohol.

[hon30critter]

selector

Use diluted white or yellow glue.

Just be aware that some yellow glues are designed for outdoor use so they are waterproof. That's not what you want.

Dave

[fa-1]

thanks  this is the info I wanted    FA_1

[fa-1]

thanks mobilman & basementdweller  tor your help        FA-1

[jjdamnit]

Hello all,

Check out this thread. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/258968.aspx

I use the Dap product mixed with ballast that I harvested (real rock) and it works extreemly well.

I recently removed ballast that I put down by just spraying water over the set ballast and it came up easily.

Hope this helps.

[fa-1]

thanks for the link        very good info.    FA-1