Can i use screws or nails to fasten o27 track to board? what size screws or nails. Gary
Are you talking about the old track with the metal ties or the new kind like Lionel Fastrack?
Old track
Yes you can screw it down. I used to, think they were #6 screws, but not sure. Long enough to get a good grip in whatever your base is.
If you go over to the Clasic Toy Trains forums, I’m sure someone there can tell you.
Good luck,
Usher,
Head to your local hardware store, make sure you take a piece of track with you. Explain what you need to do, make sure you know what thickness material you want to screw into, and I’m sure an employee can get you exactly what you’ll need. If you end up with a chrome (silver looking) screw, after you screw the track down you can hit the heads of the screws with a Black Sharpie and that’ll hide the “shine” of the screw head.
Good luck!
David
O27 and O track use #4 round head screws max without enlarging the screw holes. #3 screws work even better for O27 track, but are extremely hard to find. The problem has always been finding long enough #4 screws. Most #4 screws are but 1/2" long, which is usually OK for O27, but may not be for O. It all depends on what thickness of insulating material (roadbed) you use under the track, if any. Homasote holds screws, cork roadbed does not. Carpet pad and carpet do not, so the screws must be long enough to go through to the plywood underneath.
my thoughts and experiences
Fred W
You can screw it, nail it, glue it or use latex caulk to secure it down to the roadbed and subroadbed or plywood base.
#4 by up to 1 inch long screws {available in several lengths} specifically designed for it are available here:
http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Search2.asp?Search=Track+screws&scale=O&Submit2=++Search++
There you should be able to find one to go through roadbed, subroad bed and maybe even into the plywood base if you have all that. The 1 incher should do a fair amount of that.
Also this question really belongs on the Classic Toy Trains forum, not here in the general forum{which specializes in HO and N scale}. There will be better and more inforamative answers there from people whose specialty is O guage O/27 guage trains.
Hi, while I can sure address your question, the folks on the Classic Toy Train section will probably be more of a help.
By all means, use screws to put down Lionel (or Flyer) track. Nails are not desireable as you take a chance of messing up the track, and of course getting them out can be a bear.
You certainly don’t need to put a screw in all three of the ties, usually one will work just fine.