I know we’ve discussed this before but I thought I was past needing it but-- now i do . Does anyone have a good substitute for Homasote (1/2in) over 1/2 in plywood for subroad bed?? Homasote is awful hard to find (and about $38 a 4x8 sheet0
Many thanks
Jim
Depends on your purpose in using Homasote.
For handlaid track with spiked rail, I accept no substitutes for Homasote. But others have had success with using door skin or other thin layers of soft plywood. The key is the spike holding power of the Homasote or other roadbed. In HO, I find depending on wood ties alone to hold the spikes and the rails is asking a little much.
For noise reduction, I suppose Homasote is about the best here, too. But I don’t of anybody that has done real world side-by-side scientific comparisons of the various roadbeds for noise reduction.
But for laying flex track where noise reduction is not a big priority, or glued rail/tieplate handlaid track construction I don’t know that Homasote is superior to other roadbed materials.
I personally dislike cork, but many others find it to be a reasonable cost and reasonably easy-to-use roadbed. For me, cork always dried out and crumbled in a few years, and it doesn’t hold spikes or track nails to begin with.
There are also several commercial foam and rubber alternatives.
You can reduce your cost for Homasote by cutting strips just slightly wider than the track, and fitting those pieces. Others glue Homasote strips together vertically in what is called “spline” roadbed. You don’t need to cover the entire table with either plywood or Homasote. You can also use extruded foam instead of plywood to support the Homasoste.
Bottom line is that most folks try a couple of solutions, and settle on the 1st one that works well for them.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
What I have been using is 1/2" sheathing for houses. It’s a fibrous material, not nearly as dense as homasote, and does not hold spikes well for handlaying track. It is also covered on both sides with a black substance, presumably some type of tar, for moisture-proofing. It’s also much less expensive than homasote. I bought mine at a local lumber yard but I’m sure the big box lumber yards will carry it also.
Tom
Micore, unfortunately it is as hard or harder to find than homosote. But maybe you are in a place it might be common? It can’t hurt to ask.
I recently ran across a product called “Homex”. This appears to be strips of homosote cut 4"x1/2"x120". If my information is correct this is used for “expansion” joints in concrete construction. I’ve run across this stuff in both Loewes and Home Depot. Usually it is stuck away in a dark, dusty corner somewhere. If you ask for it by name, the clerk might not know what you are talking about. You might just have to sniff around a little on your own.
This stuff should work well for spline roadbed - especially when each “plank” is cut down to 2"x1/2"x120". I was concerned at the thickness of it at first but have test bent it to a radius as small as 24".
-George