Anyone know what kind of plastic they use for these ground throws?
Black
Delrin.
Side note: CA does not work on delrin–I gorilllaglue my caboose ground throws to a styrene sheet that’s attached to the turnout:
There’s a slide switch mounted underneath & through the throwbar which powers the frogs. There’sother ways to mount the ground throws but this works for me.
[This is N(ormal) scale BTW ;)]
The N-scale throws are better for HO work, as in N they’re a bit too big:
But some weathering and ground cover reduce their “catapult” look.
For me, the manual action outweighs the largish look.
Caboose also makes ground throws with the slide switch already built in for powering frogs.
Hope this helps.
mcfunkymonkey…you answered my question. I want to use gorilla glue to attach the throws to the layout, but it won’t work with certain types of plastic. Obviously, gorilla glue works with the ground throw plastic.
Thanks.
Just remember that gorillaglue EXPANDS as it cures.
Apply only a thin bead in the middle of the throw base: your really don’t want the GG to foam up and into the slidebar!
Here you can see where it foamed up from under the styrene baseplate and onto the throwbar:
You can also see it bubbling up through the securing holes on the groundthrows themselves.
That glue was easily cut with a knife (though it could have destroyed the turnout) & the turnout works fine:
Just go easy on the gorilllaglue!
Acrylic latex caulk (e.g. DAP Alex Plus w/Silicone) works quite well, too.
Tom
I have used gorilla glue before and I am aware that it expands significantly, but the bond is unbeatable. I am using latex adhesive caulk for the roadbed and track.
I use Latex Caulk for mine.
Brent[C):-)]
I used gorilla brand super glue with an exillerater to plastic tie material ,holding fine (A LIGHT SANDING OF BASE OF GROUND THROW HELPS)…Jerry
I have been using Loctite brand super glue to attach my Caboose ground throws to my PC ties. However, I do rough up the underside of the ground throw with a little sandpaper prior to gluing them on. True, it you yank on them like the real thing they’ll break off but if you operate them with a little care, they stay put just fine.
Go to your local hardware store and buy a tube of Household Goop. [tup]
It is the consistency of thick rubber cement. A little goes a long way and unlike Gorilla Glue it does not foam up and expand. I have even attached coupler boxes with it. I used Gorilla glue twice and I finally tossed it as I never found any use for it after the first two times.
Here is a link to the Goop web site. http://www.biosafe-inc.com/ag_adhesives.htm
I use it on all of the ground throws, and many more things on the layout and around the house, and auto. It is a really handy thing to have.
CA glue, GOOP, and latex caulk seems to cover all of my needs.[:D]
As already noted, the plastic used in Caboose Industries ground throws is delrin, a shiny plastic that is easy to paint but difficult to glue.
On the high level switch stands, I used JB Weld 2-part epoxy to joint parts together. Applied with a needle point, that works great and the epoxy dries shiny black just like the delrin plastic.
Rich