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Homasote Repair

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  • Member since
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  • From: Florida
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Homasote Repair
Posted by traindaddy1 on Thursday, August 22, 2019 6:50 PM

Hello: Has anyone repaired holes in Homasote board? If so, what method or product did you use? As always, many thanks.

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  • From: Canada, eh?
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Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, August 23, 2019 12:42 AM

I don't use Homasote, but if you're using it under flextrack, you could fill any holes along the right-of-way when you ballast the track, using a little extra ballast in those places. 
If the holes are in open areas where you'll eventually be adding scenery or structures, those items will likely fill or cover, respectively, any holes.

Another option might be patching plaster, such as Durabond.  It comes in several setting times, as indicated by the number following the name:  Durabond 20 sets in roughly 20 minutes, while Durabond 90 needs about 90 minutes.  You can mix it to almost any consistency, and it will set in approximately the advertised time. 
It's quite hard once set, and I use it over aluminum screen for creating landforms, and directly on plywood to create "water".  It's also useful for casting bridge piers and abutments in homemade moulds, and for making rocks in the moulds available from Woodland Scenics.

Wayne

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  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
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Posted by gmpullman on Friday, August 23, 2019 1:14 AM

Is the area accessable? Are you good with power tools?

You could use a hole saw and remove an area slightly bigger than the defect. You need a good grip on the drill, Homasote is dense and a larger hole saw will want to grab. Have someone help by vacuuming up the dust while you drill.

Make a similar plug using the same hole saw from a scrap piece of Homasote. IF you have a drill press you might be able to remove the pilot drill so you get a solid disk plug.

Use some PVA (white glue) and if you want to get fancy, make a paste using the Homasote dust you created to fill the saw-kerf. Glue the plug in place. I'd probably glue the plug with Liquid Nails first and when that sets, fill the gap with the white glue/Homasote mix.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
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  • From: Florida
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Posted by traindaddy1 on Friday, August 23, 2019 1:34 AM

Wayne:  Ed:   Thanks for your replies.  

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  • From: Florida
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Posted by traindaddy1 on Friday, August 23, 2019 7:17 AM

Hello: Follow-up-------The same time that I posted this forum request,  I sent an email to the Homasote Company.

Their answer was that any wood filler product would work.

Since my particular situation calls for repair of numerous screw and nail holes, I'll probably go that route.

AGAIN, as always, thanks for your attention.

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, August 23, 2019 10:55 AM

traindaddy1

Hello: Has anyone repaired holes in Homasote board? If so, what method or product did you use? As always, many thanks.

Depends on the size of the hold but small holes, easy .. . spackle or drywall mud.  I used short drywall screws to secure my sheet of homasote to nominal half inch OSB as flat as possible. 

I would drive the screws a bit below the surface and then with a putty knife, scrape some drywall mud over it to cover it up.  After it dried over night, sand it smooth and put a layer of latex over it.

 

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Friday, August 23, 2019 1:07 PM
Riogrande5761: Thanks for the reply and the pictures.
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Posted by dknelson on Friday, August 23, 2019 5:30 PM

If the concern is ballasting and not wanting to have the loose ballast try to fill the hole, a small piece of thin masking tape over the hole and it will all be ballasted over anyway.  No need to plug.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by traindaddy1 on Friday, August 23, 2019 7:21 PM
Thanks Dave, its a thought.
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  • From: North Dakota
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Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, August 24, 2019 9:30 AM

Small holes? Unter 3/4"?

 

Why bother, your scenic material will cover that.

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Saturday, August 24, 2019 1:51 PM

I agree with the Lion.

Small holes in homosote will not be visible under scenery.  If you insist, a small square of plaster cloth will cover it and allow you to paint it.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, August 24, 2019 2:51 PM

MisterBeasley
Small holes in homosote will not be visible under scenery.

They might be, appearing as a dimple under a thin coat of ground foam.  But almost anything you can think of would fill the void, elmers glue, caulk, scultamold.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, August 24, 2019 3:47 PM

What if the holes are in a yard area where it's flat.  I choose to cover the holes.  That way I don't have to find a creative way to hide them.  It only takes a moment to skim over with spackle.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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  • From: Florida
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Posted by traindaddy1 on Monday, August 26, 2019 4:59 AM

Thanks to all for your replies, suggestions and advice.

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Posted by zstripe on Saturday, September 7, 2019 7:15 PM

traindaddy1

Hello: Has anyone repaired holes in Homasote board? If so, what method or product did you use? As always, many thanks.

 

Plastic Wood...............................

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DAP-Plastic-Wood-4-oz-Natural-Wood-Filler/4013497?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-pnt-_-google-_-lia-_-221-_-wallrepair-_-4013497-_-0&store_code=2304&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqs3rBRCdARIsADe1pfR1HUvB7vp9TddAzHs1h-eQkgHQayphHhzuwoYUOAmW-gzTenX6XaQaAkc0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Take Care! Big Smile

Frank

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