Atlas has not produced their track nails for some timenow. I have found a perfect substitue at Lowes. They are wire brad made by The Hillman Group. They are 1/2 X 18 which is Item number 532371. Qty is 1.75 Oz. and they sell for $1.28 per package. There are a lot of them in the package and they work great for putting down raodbed and track.
You can get nails or brads with no head on them. LION prefers 19 ga fasteners if he can get them, or even 20 ga. Keep your eyes on the shelves, and if you see them, snap them up.
Him uses 7/8 inch 18 Copper colored nails for solder binding posts. Always keep some on hand.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I glue my track down a rarely need track nails. I use push pins I get at Staples to hold the track in place until the adheasive sets. Atlas nails have a tendency to bend when going into plywood necessitating predrilling the hole.
When I use Kato Unitrack, I purchased very small screws to hold it down.
Atlas has not stopped producing their track nails. I got some a couple months ago - in fact the package had a lot of headless nails in it, to which I notified Atlas and they promptly sent me a replacement package from their home office. Atlas still has track nails.
I like to use track nails to fasten my track as opposed to glue because I like to have the option of adjusting track until it is time to ballast it. Glue, IMO is too permanent, too quickly. I've already had to pull up track on my currently layout under construction a number of times to adjust or revise something, so I am very glad I used this method. Much of the track is on homasote so bending them never happens there. I do use wood under other parts and yes, sometimes I do bend the nails but I pre-drilling the holes I don't do, I just grab another nail and it usually goes in fine on the 2nd try.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 Atlas has not stopped producing their track nails. I got some a couple months ago - in fact the package had a lot of headless nails in it, to which I notified Atlas and they promptly sent me a replacement package from their home office. Atlas still has track nails. I like to use track nails to fasten my track as opposed to glue because I like to have the option of adjusting track until it is time to ballast it. Glue, IMO is too permanent, too quickly. I've already had to pull up track on my currently layout under construction a number of times to adjust or revise something, so I am very glad I used this method. Much of the track is on homasote so bending them never happens there. I do use wood under other parts and yes, sometimes I do bend the nails but I pre-drilling the holes I don't do, I just grab another nail and it usually goes in fine on the 2nd try.
riogrande5761
I too much prefer to have my track down with nails.
With my Layout hosting operations every two weeks and I have 20 operators - they will at times come up with better ways of making switching a little easier or faster and I have many times made changes to the trackwork by adding a crossover in the middle of a long track in a yard etc,
I actually listen to my crew and the suggestions they make - where as way too many other Layout owners have the idea MY WAY or the HIGHWAY and never take suggestions to act upon them
Then wonder why no one wants to come back and run on thier layouts!
Their loss!
BOB H - Clarion, PA