I have laid my cork roadbed and laid track on top, all with Elmers glue. Now I am thinking about ballast and I'm wondering if anyone has trouble with the Elmers holding down the track loosening when you wet your ballast to glue it down. Elmers is a water based product and, I'm thinking, if you use water to wet your ballast that water may re-wet the Elmers used to lay track so the track may pop up.
Anyone experience this?
Thanks,
Tom
It's probably going to come up.
If you have some weights that are flat on one side, you could set them on the track as the ballast glue dries. It will probably help.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
This is exactly why I hold my roadbed and track with acrylic latex caulk.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I use Liquid Nails for Foamboard to secure my roadbed (cork) and track. No Problems with it when using alcohol to wet the ballast and Elmers to glue it.
Tom.
I did Elmers (White glue) also and had no lifting or other problems. Once the glue dries under the track the water or other glue will take a long time to penetrate it to loosen it. I used the T shaped pins to hold down the track until the glue dried and ballasted a few weeks later. This way it gave me time to test the track and run some trains before the ballast was set down.
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!
I've used Elmer's for securing the track and ballast for many years and never had a problem with the track lifting unless I went overboard on how much was used in ballasting. I generally use 70% alcohol to prewet the ballast then follow with a 50/50 water/glue mix. It doesn't have to soak all the way through. As long as it can get down to say a 1/4 of an inch you should be all right.For a bit of added assurance you can put down some push pins along the track center line. These can be taken up later when the ballast is dry.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Tom,
Try using push pins to hold the ties down securely until the glue mix is applied over the track and the ballast, then remove the push pins.
Rich
Alton Junction
spearo I have laid my cork roadbed and laid track on top, all with Elmers glue. Now I am thinking about ballast and I'm wondering if anyone has trouble with the Elmers holding down the track loosening when you wet your ballast to glue it down. Elmers is a water based product and, I'm thinking, if you use water to wet your ballast that water may re-wet the Elmers used to lay track so the track may pop up. Anyone experience this? Thanks, Tom
Why are you using a fire hose to wet your ballast? most modelers I know use a spray bottle!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
I think that the new elmers will begin to set before the original coat loosens up. The push pin idea earlier should help if you are in doubt.
Springfield PA
Once the Elmers is set, it will take a lot of water and a lot of time to loosen it. The small amount of moisture that might get in while ballasting should have no effect.
I've glued down a lot of track with white glue and never had any of it loosen while ballasting.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I would tell all them Elmers to go get off the track! It's a Private Right of Way!
You should put up some signs.
Thanks to all for the replies. It would appear that I am worring about nothing assuming, I don't use a fire hose to wet my ballast.
Thanks again,
be verry verry quiet I'm hunting Elmers hahahah