Attaching track to foam

[jimk]

Hi Everyone,

Last night I was attempting to attach sectional and flex track to 2" foam, when I found (at least to me) a new trick.  I was using a glue gun to attach the tracks by putting glue where the tracks are going to go, but I wasn't quick enough and putting them in just the right place in a hurry without disturbing the unglued track is tough.  So then I tried putting a little spot of glue in between the ties, with no success.

Then it hit me.  I grabed some track nails, put a dab of glue on the end and pushed the nail through the nail hole in the track.  This works great.  It is quick, you can leave your track in place, and it comes up easily if you make a mistake or want to modify your track plan.  I plan on using the glue the attaches the ballast to make the track work permanent (hey, that's what ballast is for anyway!).

Jim 

[tstage]

Jim, 

Some of my unballasted trackwork was held down to my 1-1/2" foam base with track spikes for 3+ years before I pulled it up to lay down roadbed.  (And I didn't use glue on the tips either.)  It was a great method to use in my initial design iterations because I could easily lay it down to try out an idea, then pull it up again if I wanted to try something else.

I'm not going to use track spikes to hold down my track to the road bed because I don't want the heads of the spikes to be visible.  Instead, I'm going to use a thin layer of DAP Latex caulk ($2 a tube) underneath the track.

Jim, lotsa ways to do similar things, huh?

Tom

[gandydancer19]

I'm still trying to find the prototype Railroad Company that uses track nails to hold their track down through the center of the ties between the rails.  If you know which one it is, please let me know.

[Sperandeo]

Hello Jim,

A better way to attach track to foam is to use acrylic adhesive caulk. Put down about an eighth-inch bead of caulk along the center line of the track, spread it very thin with a putty or palette knife, then press the track onto the adhesive. It will grab the track immediately and hold it securely within 15 minutes, but if you need to make a change after the adhesive sets you can pop the track loose by inserting a putty knife between the ties and the foam. I find it easiest to lay really straight track with this method, because nails or spikes tend to push the track out of line.

Good luck,

Andy

[KING_MEMPHIS]

Hi Jim

I use diluted white glue 50 / 50. It has a long drying time, so you can adjust the previous laid tracks as you go.  If you're in a hurry this is a disadvantage; but generally I regard this as an advantage.  It will dry over night, anyway ?

But the best thing is, that you can rip the tracks up if you change your mind even after the glue has dried.   It does not tear the foam nor the tracks.

Just my  2 cents 

Good Luck !

 

[ChrisNH]

I have been using CA dabbed every 15 ties or so (Once the track is ballasted it will be locked in) with good success on cork*.. the track pops right off when I pull but hold well otherwise. I am not sure if it would work as well on foam though. The cork is a stronger surface I think. After removing the track I just sand away the burrs left by the previous CA dropsm something else that would be hard to do on foam.

I have used latex caulking and didnt like using it with the springy peco flex track I put down. Is the acrylic caulking different? 

Chris 

*tiny layout, take my advice with large grain of salt!

[tomikawaTT]

I'm still trying to find the prototype Railroad Company that uses track nails to hold their track down through the center of the ties between the rails.  If you know which one it is, please let me know.

Don't know about track nails, but the NYC used tie markers - oversize carpet tacks with the year of installation on them - to mark all of their wooden ties.  Noticed this while railfanning in the early 50s.

Add my vote to the grey latex caulk column.  I use track nails to position my (pre-bent) flex, but anchor it with caulk.  Once I get out into the visible world, I'll pull the track nails after the caulk sets.  Working on track that will be hidden, I don't bother.

Chuck (modeling the netherworld of Central Japan in September, 1964)

[grayfox1119]

I was at Home Depot yesterday and I purchased two different tubes of adhesives:

1. Liquid Nails ( Low Solvent, High Strength ) adhesive for Projects & Foamboard, water cleanup, no harmful fumes.

2. Loctite Power Grab, highest initial tack, repositionable, low odor, water cleanup, you have 15 minutes to reposition, fully cured in 24 hours, also listed for foamboard.

I looked at the Acrylic Adhesive caulk across the isle which was in the bins for window and door caulking, but that stuff was more volatile regarding VOC's and fumes. That made me a little nervous for interior use in confined room in basement levels, so for the time being, I thought I would experiment with these two products.

Have any of you guys used either product to attach track to foam?

[conagher]

I'm still trying to find the prototype Railroad Company that uses track nails to hold their track down through the center of the ties between the rails.  If you know which one it is, please let me know.

ATSF at various locations between Pampa & Canadian TX along US Rte 60. Also, ATSF used some sort of adhesive under the ties just north of Miami TX near Quail Run Road. In the '60s, hippies from Amarillo would drive up and hang out in the area to get high when the western wind blew fumes under the arroyo bridge.