Question about cork?

[canazar]

What is it made of?


Ok just kidding, but hereis the real question....

I just tore up my old lay out which stood for around 10 months. The cork is between 5-10 months old depending n the section.

I used brand new MidWest cork and glued/nailed it down. When I tore it up, I was able to salvage almost all of it. Problem is, alot of out was used in curves or gentle bends and turns. The last layout had harldy any straight track.

So, a good portion of it now still lays with a bananna bend to it. I pulled everything out and laid it on the floor to take stock. So, well the cork straighten out if I leave it? If it will how long? Put in the sun, keep in the cold? spray water on it? Or just accept it and that how it is going to be?

Just curious, this is new to me. Wondering if and of you guys had any advice.

Thanks [:D]

John k

[Big_Boy_4005]

If there is no glue on it, you should be able to just bend it into a new shape when you go to reuse it. Is it still fairly soft and pliable? I suppose it wouldn't hurt to lay it straight until you are ready to use it.

[wt259]

You'll probably have to put the nails in a little closer together, but it should lay out ok. What I was able to salvage laid down ok when I re-did my layout.

[bsteel4065]

I'm sure you could do this, but the greatest need on any railroad is good, well prepared and well laid track, so I'm wondering if it's worth it. Personally, I'd buy all new cork and start afresh. Roadbed is the most important part of building a good layout. Cut corners here and you may regret it later on. Time, effort and quality applied here means you will have good track for trains to run consistently and well. And cork is not over expensive so it could be a false economy. [:)]

[Anonymous]

Any cork that I've reused after a long time on the layout had to be watered down to wa***he glue out of it and then sanded more (after being installed) then the new to make sure it was laying flat. A box isn't that expensive so I don't do it anymore.

Bob

[cacole]

I salvaged nearly all of the cork roadbed from a club layout that was being torn out and rebuilt by soaking it in water for a few days and then scraping the remaining glue and ballast off with a putty knife. After drying outdoors for a few hours in the sun, it was practically as good as new.

[canazar]

Ok thanks for the tips. Guess I should have let you guys now, that while I painted it gray, the cork was never ballasted. I knew that the lay out it was on was for the short term and didnt want to spend the money, time and headache of putting down all that ballast just to yank it up again.
I checked on it out in the gargae and it seems that quite a few of the peices strightened out to some degree. Looks like withthe exception of couple that were really bent around a swtich or something, I will be able to reuse it no problem.

Thanks everyone!

John k

[canazar]

Ok thanks for the tips. Guess I should have let you guys now, that while I painted it gray, the cork was never ballasted. I knew that the lay out it was on was for the short term and didnt want to spend the money, time and headache of putting down all that ballast just to yank it up again.
I checked on it out in the gargae and it seems that quite a few of the peices strightened out to some degree. Looks like withthe exception of couple that were really bent around a swtich or something, I will be able to reuse it no problem.

Thanks everyone!

John k