Two questions:
I need to fix some trackwork. I use Atlas code 100 and it is glued down on foam roadbed. I used yellow carpenter’s glue. I can kift the track off the foam, but it has dried glue on the ties. Any suggestions on a simple way to remove the dried glue?
Does anyone know where i can get extra screws fro Atlas selectors and connectors? There are more connections I have to make than screws provided by Atlas.
Thanks
White glue is water soluable, yellow is water resistant. Soaking in warm water will start to soften the glue residue. Chunks of foam and heavier glue can be scrubbed off. Resoak and scrub until all is removed.
If the carpenter’s glue you used was one of the more stubborn (almost) water proof formulas, you may need to try some alcohol.or other more aggresive agent. If needed use a test piece as not to damage the plastic ties.
This is a good reason to fix track w/ a cheap acryilc caulking. Translucent or gray works quite well.
A brand new #11 blade in your exacto knife and carefully chip the dried glue away.Any type of solvent strong enough to loosen or dissolve yellow carpenters glue more then likely will destroy the foam.
At a party store buy a cheap vinyl table cloth. I have seen them for 99 cents. Using wood or bricks or other solid objects, create a sort of trough just over 3 feet long so that the vinyl “tub” can be filled with warm water, or a water/alcohol mix (not recommended if pets or kids can get to it). that way several pieces of the track can really be soaked for a good long time, maybe even a few days. Obviously take care not to tear the vinyl. Even fairly stubborn yellow glue should be fairly easy to snap off the ties, if it doesn’t come off on its own, after a long soak.
Only geezers such as myself will have to remember NOT to do this with their old fibre tie flex track! [:-,]
Dave Nelson
I have had good luck dissolving white glue and yellow carpenters glue using windshield washer solvent. I soak a rag with it and lay it on the track and wait a half hour or so. Then I carefully pull it up with an putty knife and then soak it in a tub with the solvent and scrub brush.
Pete
Soak it in a tub?? You must be 1) single or 2) have a very tolerant “significant other”. When I was single, and drag racing, I discovered the degreasing qualities of the dishwasher on valve covers, carburetors, etc. NEVER tried it after the look my mom gave me when she saw me loading my dishwasher with a rebuilt Holley.
Been there and done that![:D] Then I got married, when my new wife pulled out a set of M/T valve covers out she put a stop to that!
Cuda Ken
Dave - This sounds like a mess waiting to happen. As an alternative I would suggest using either a short piece of gutter with caps silicone sealed on each end or a piece of PVC pipe with an end cap glue on to prevent leaks. The problem with the trough is how do you get the liquid out of it when you are done?
It would be interesting to know what other strange things we modelers have put in the family dishwasher!!! [(-D]
The tub I meant was a plastic tub like a Tupperware or storage container. Not the bath tub. That is for making Gin.[}:)]
As for the dishwasher deal. My mom was going to shoot me when she found the 426 hemi pistons and rods in the top rack and the heads in the bottom rack with as much hardware I could fit in the silverware basket. Had to buy her a new washer and took the old one out to the garage and used it for years. That was 34 years ago and I can still see the look on her face while she was yelling to my brother to get the gun.
Pete
Yeah well you can gather up the four corners of the vinyl tablecloth and walk it to the big sink near the wash machine. It isn’t that much water. But I should have admitted that I do this kind of project in the garage!
Dave Nelson
Pete, at least they were Mopar parts… [:D]