fiber board and homasote the same thing?

[feh]

I went to my local Home Depot and asked for homasote, and the clerk took me to a stack of something labeled as fiber board. It’s brown, flexible, and comes in thicknesses like 1/8" and 3/16".

Is this homasote? I ask, because I have a sheet of this stuff at home, and it’s really hard. I wasn’t able to press track nails into it, which doesn’t make sense, since folks say homasote makes a good road bed.

Thanks.

[fiatfan]

No, that’s not Homasote. It sounds more like masonite. Homasote is a greyish material that looks like it is made from compressed paper. I don’t know what it’s really made from but that’s kind of what it looks like. Most modelers use a 1/2" thick piece for the layout. Homasote is used to deaden sound between rooms in a structure.

Tom

[JWARNELL]

I have also wondered the same thing. Here in Texas I have never seen homasote, and when you ask about it at the hardware store, they don’t know what you are talking about.

[cuyama]

No, that’s not Homasote.

Homasote dealer finder

Call first, then drive. You are looking for what the company calls “Homasote 440 Sound Barrier”

You can also get pre-cut panels and roadbed

[dehusman]

No, that’s not Homasote. It sounds more like masonite. Homasote is a greyish material that looks like it is made from compressed paper. I don’t know what it’s really made from but that’s kind of what it looks like. Most modelers use a 1/2" thick piece for the layout. Homasote is used to deaden sound between rooms in a structure.

Its not Homasote and its not Masonite, its a brown fiber board used for sound and thermal insulation. It is softer than homasote (pressed fibers vs pressed paper), doesn’t hold track spikes as well and may generate more fibers or dust if not sealed. Don’t know how it reacts when wet or how strong it is. It is way cheaper than Homasote.

I would probably use foam before I used the fiber board.

[tinman1]

No, that’s not Homasote. It sounds more like masonite. Homasote is a greyish material that looks like it is made from compressed paper. I don’t know what it’s really made from but that’s kind of what it looks like. Most modelers use a 1/2" thick piece for the layout. Homasote is used to deaden sound between rooms in a structure.

Its not Homasote and its not Masonite, its a brown fiber board used for sound and thermal insulation. It is softer than homasote (pressed fibers vs pressed paper), doesn’t hold track spikes as well and may generate more fibers or dust if not sealed. Don’t know how it reacts when wet or how strong it is. It is way cheaper than Homasote.

I would probably use foam before I used the fiber board.

I think you are refering to cellotex. I have never seen it in anything other than 1/2" but that doesn’t mean others don’t exist. Masonite is a hard compressed fiber in 1/8 and 1/4", typically seen in the back of older cabinets and unassembled furniture kits from the store. I don’t think either would take wood glue very well, the cellotex would just crumble at the joints and the masonite wouldn’t allow the glue to penetrate. I used particle board for the splines I just did. I had a 3/4" sheet and cut it into 1/4" wide strips. It takes woodglue well and is flexible enough to do no.4 turnouts and easements/ super-elevating/ crests etc is not a big deal with the arcs and curves that are appropriate for model railroads. This is not any type of chipboard. Think sawdust mixed with a binder and formed into sheets.