In my haste to finish laying Code 83 track, I find I have two ballasted Atlas #6 turnouts that are a problem and need removal. I used Scenic Cement (50-50 max). Not worried about salvaging track/Turnouts. How can track be removed? Ballast is pretty solid.
Wet it with water several times over a two or three hour period. At some point, it will lift easily.
-Crandell
Windshield washer solvent will cut the glue quicker and dries faster. I soak an old rag with it and lay it on the track that needs replacing and after about 1/2 hour it comes up easily with a thin putty knife. You can easily clean the ballast from the old track with a scrub brush and use it again.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Here's a method. Take a model screw driver, and hammer at the shoulders with the screw driver to this untill all the ballast on the shoulders are removed. Do the same to the middle of the track. To remove the track, use some type of rubbing alcohol to wet the track adhesive, then remove with putty knife.
I've never tried Pete's version--which sounds good--but I've used Crandells and it works just fine. Luckily, the glue you used is water solvent, so if you don't mind the mess--which I don't, and I've had to relay a few turnouts myself--(GASP!), the water works.
Actually, I use the same mix to loosen the ballast that I did to lay it down--water and a couple of drops of detergent in a spray bottle. Just saturate the little sucker and let it soak in a while, then re-saturate until you can rub the ballast off with your finger. Then it's ready. Oh yah, have a vacuum handy to suck up all the guck.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Will any of these methods damage the homosote? I have found very little on a table that can't be repaired..........
No More Harley Will any of these methods damage the homosote? I have found very little on a table that can't be repaired..........
One of the advantages of Homosote® is that it doesn't soak up humility out of the air; most likely any of the procedures advocated here are not going to affect Homosote®.
BTW on my last layout I finally got around to using water-based glue to glue my ballast. When I got ready to trash it a couple of years ago I soaked those areas where I had used water-based glue and my track came up fairly easily. I was able to salvage about thirteen switches for use on my next layout.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
For future reference, it is best not to glue down the turnouts. I have had to remove and relocate a few crossovers (two connected turnouts) on my layout. I had ballasted them but not glued down the turnouts in the throwbar area. The portions of the ballasted area of the turnouts were done with more generously diluted matte medium. These turnouts came up easily and, as others have noted, cleaned up easily.
Alton Junction