I use the stuff from Cascade Rail Supply (https://cascaderailsupply.com/). Yes it is more expesive than purchasing full size sheets, but my time (both cutting and cleaning up afterwards) is more valuable than saving the $$ on buying bulk product. Its also pre-shaped in varying angles depending on what you want so that you dont have to go make that angle with another material.
There are four versions of Homasote available but I think everyone but me uses the 440 board, which is by far the cheapest. The same material is avalible sanded (called "Pinacle") and has a tighter tolerance thickness (an advantage for roadbed IMO). 440 is made from newspapers. There is another board call NCFR which has much of the paper content replaced with wood fiber. It is used a lot in commercial buildings and schools for wall panels that can serve as bulletin boards and is fireproof. Like 440 it is available unsanded or sanded Pinacle. I use the latter because it machines nicely, almost like pine, although it still creates dust when cutting, but not as much as 440. I prepare it much like drywall with a skim coat of plaster and sand and paint it. I lay out curves, with easements, and mark an accurate track centerline and cut it with a saber saw into roadbed width. Then I cut a ballast slope on the sides on a bandsaw, with shallower slope angle for sidings. On the west coast I pay about $200/sheet which sounds like a lot but is about the same cost as Homabed and is, IMO, a superior product. A lot of that cost is due to transportation from the factory in New Jersey and I have a feeling it's a lot cheaper in the east. The main thing that I don't like about 440 is a tendency to delaminate under certain situations , which NCFR doesn't do but also the machinability of NCFR is a big plus for me.
My experience with Homosote as soundproofing is not so good as we used it in the recent remodeling of our apartment to soundproof the floor. It helps but not as much as I thought.
OTOH. I used it on the layout and while probably not ideal for soundproofing it was easy enough to work with cut outside to avoid the dust storm.
Joe Staten Island West
BigDaddy riogrande5761 Wow, $11 a sheet is cheap That was for a 2x4' sheet, that's $12 at the depot
riogrande5761 Wow, $11 a sheet is cheap
That was for a 2x4' sheet, that's $12 at the depot
Ah, thats no good for me. I need 4x8 sheets.
Bass that is so loud that it shakes or buzzes the hous will still intrude. That is very expensive to eliminate. -Kevin
-Kevin
It is. For me the expense was to move away from the insantiy that is the heart of Manassas VA. Worth it in the end.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761Wow, $11 a sheet is cheap
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
riogrande5761Keven, sound proofing a master bead room is something I really could have used in my last home
.
I am hoping it works well. Thicker insulation, wallboard isolation mounting, Homasote, double pane windows, and sealed electrical boxes will all be installed.
This is one of two "havens" inside the house. The other will be the train room. The train room will not be fully soundproofed, but it will have its own HVAC and loudspeakers to drown anything else out.
Part of the soundproofing in the master bedroom is so my wife does not have to hear my music while I am playing with trains.
Bass that is so loud that it shakes or buzzes the hous will still intrude. That is very expensive to eliminate.
Living the dream.
Wow, $11 a sheet is cheap. At Home Depot here it was $28 a sheet last time I bought some. I saved mine from the last layout so hopefully I won't have to buy much more for the new one.
Keven, sound proofing a master bead room is something I really could have used in my last home - does it eliminate RAP musing driving by? Seems like base goes through anything.
I've never heard of 440 Soundboard. The stuff they sell at Home Depot is labeled "Homasote" as has been labeled in other stores I've bought it from in Indiana and upstate NY.
Makes a lot of dust when you cut it, though.
It does if you use conventional saw blades or sabre sawas. There are blades you can get for cutting Homasote which avoids the dust storms - some have linked to them here in past topics. On my last layout, I used a box cutter blade to cut my Homasote to avoid dust clouds.
Thanks. Down here in South Florida I need to make a special order.
Part of the Master Bedroom Remodel is soundproofing, so this is going to work out well for me. I will order a few extra pieces and save all the drops. Now I will finally join the Homasote club!
SeeYou190SeeYou190 wrote the following post 10 hours ago: Looking around the Homasote web site, it looks like 440 Soundboard is the correct item, but I would like some verification before I go through the expense of the special order. . -Kevin
Also Yes......Homasote 440. Been using it and it's brother, (same material, no number) for yrs. no complaint's. I cut sheets on My table saw, with shop vac attached to exhaust.....no dust. Menard's in IL. has been selling it in 2x4 1/2'' sheets for 11.00 a sheet.
Take Care!
Frank
Yes:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/144956.aspx
I used it on my second layout and was very satisfied with it. Makes a lot of dust when you cut it, though.
It seems like it was pretty common around here (Ohio) but that was twenty years ago!
More discussion here if you're so inclined:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/58471.aspx
Good Luck, Ed
Looking around the Homasote web site, it looks like 440 Soundboard is the correct item, but I would like some verification before I go through the expense of the special order.