In the olden days I nailed down my cork roadbed and flextrack. Returning to the hobby recently I read about using latex adhesive instead. I’ve used locally available LePage No More Nails and am very very happy with the results for the cork - much faster and no more bent nails. The code 100’s nails are thin and the code 83’s are even thinner. But when it comes to track I still find I prefer to use the Dremel with a tiny bit to create holes to place the small nails for my code 83 track. It seems easier to line up especially when working with turnouts / flextrack pre-soldered at the workbench and I don’t have to worry about glue drying or the track moving or excess glue or too little glue. I also was disgusted by the appearance of the glued flextrack as I don’t want to paint and ballast for a couple months while I work on other areas. Am I missing a big advantage to latex adhesive other than perfect photos ?
I use glue exclusively, but my roadbed is WS foam and my base is pink extruded foam. So, there’s nothing for me to sink a nail into. I’ve been very happy with the glue.
A while back, someone pointed out that a nail in a tie, if it is pushed in too hard, will distort that tie and shrink the rail gauge by just a bit.
Without a doubt, latex or liquid nails! I spread it real thin with an old plastic card. I then put down the track and tack the sides temporarily with sewing needles (ones with really big heads help). The neat thing about latex is that it’s flexible which is good for expansion issues later on… It can also be clear.
Latex caulk is the way to go. Liquid nails holds too firm and ruins the tracks and surrounding scenery if you try to move the tracks later. Latex caulk lets you take up the tracks without damage.
Yes, I agree. I tried it on my current layout, and have been quite happy with the caulk’s ability to hold the rails on my spline roadbed. My flextrack is glued directly to MDF splines. Where I had any alignment problems, I also drilled tiny holes in ties and inserted spikes while I worked onward. Just before ballasting and finishing the between-rail ballast and ties with the weathering that Joe F. recommends, I removed nails that would detract from the overall appearance.
For about the hundredth thread this has come up in - latex caulk, latex caulk, latex caulk. Oh, and latex caulk.
If it looks unsightly - you are using far too much. See my web site for the plan of the fisrt 8x12 section of my layout. ALL that track AND all the roadbed under it was fastened with ONE tube of caulk.
I too am using pink foam as my base, but even if I went back to traditional plywood I would use the caulk, no more nailign the track down for me.
–Randy
Another vote for latex caulk. Just run a bead about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, then spread with a putty knife, bondo spreader or those fake credit cards you get in the mail (about the only thing they ARE good for). Use push pins to hold roadbed or track in place on curves.
This is what I use. Alleenes tacky glue. Available in craft stores. Cheeper than caulk, stays flexable long enough to adjust track before drying, drys quicker than caulk, drys clear. Use push pin to hold track in place. You are done. Use it for the roadbed also.
Larry
Cast my vote for latex caulk!
And a good carpenters square for straights helps me with final positioning, and natural bends for the curves and I am good to go. Once the track is in the adjusted and desired position, I just push down along the length of the track to seal the final positions in place. Then I test it with my clear plexi test car for smoothness of operation.
I’m using both caulk and Ailene’s (or however it’s spelled) in different places right now. I haven’t pulledup any track with Ailene’s but it looks like it would be harder to pull up than caulked track (which I have pulled up). Just an observation - I really like the Ailene’s.
nucat78 Not hard to get track up. Just get a putty knife under one end and just work it up.
Larry
Sorry for the 101st posting. It was caused by lack of understanding of the site search engine rather than laziness on my part. When i did my original searches on “flextrack adhesive” and “nail flextrack” (to see if there was already the info I needed) and the “advanced search” pop-up appeared instead of a list of postings to read I assumed that there weren’t any hits under these terms. I re-tried it now using “advanced search” and the trail of postings appeared.
I use a carpenter’s glue that is intended for use on tongue and groove flooring. It is a little thicker than the regular carpenter’s glue and sets up quicker. I usually only need to hold the track down for a few minutes before the glue will hold it in place on its on. I use whatever I have handy for a glue weight.
Fellers,
The Ailene’s tacky glue IS harder to get up, but it’s a wicked good cement. I use it for putting down ballast and for any wood or foam structures, etc. It’s thick and tacky and sets up very quick and clear. It’s especially useful for maing structures out of foam core and paper products, but works VERY well to lay down roadbed.
Respects,