Cork vs Track-Bed

[brubakes]

Anyone using Woodland Scenics "Track-Bed" in place of cork roadbed? Does it really make a difference?

 

[MrTrain]

I use cork , it works well, not sure about the Woodlands track bed

 

[Fazby]

I am using the WS roadbed, and it was really quiet until I ballasted. I used diluted white glue and it seems to have reunited the track with the plywood base. The noise level went up. Not bad though. It's just hat it is not as quiet as before.

 

[brubakes]

I use cork , it works well, not sure about the Woodlands track bed

Same here. I always have used cork in the past and wondered if this new stuff was worth a change.

 

[UP2CSX]

I used the WS foam roadbed. Easier to lay, better ballast profile, and is at least as quiet as cork, probably a little quieter. No crumbling or unwanted breaks like cork and no soaking in water to get good curves. I give it a thumbs up.

 

[ramcneal]

I used the WS foam roadbed. Easier to lay, better ballast profile, and is at least as quiet as cork, probably a little quieter. No crumbling or unwanted breaks like cork and no soaking in water to get good curves. I give it a thumbs up.

Noob question on the soaking. Is that required for all curves or only needed once you get to a certain radius? How long do you soak the cork? I'm using 2" pink foam for my subroadbed. I thought I read somewhere that folks are using caulk to hold the cork down to the foam and caulk to hold the track to the cork. Most caulk that I've used are water soluble until cured.

 

[brubakes]

Well Track-Bed is on sale today at Walther's so I think I'm gonna try it.

 

[mike8693]

Once ya go foam ya never go back

 

[UP2CSX]

RA, how much soaking depends on the cork roadbed type. You can buy cork roadbed that's already preformed in common curve radius's that don't need any soaking. If you are laying flex track with non-standard curves, you have to bend the cork to follow the curve. If the cork is fresh, just a quick dip in water is enough to give the flexibility to bend without breaking. The problems with cork is that it has sometimes sat around for a year or two in hot warehouses and is very dry. Any attempt to bend it results in crumbling and breaks. In that case, you might have to soak it for as long as 30 minutes. You can lay the wet cork down on fresh latex caulk and they will cure together. You may need some T handle straight pins, also called florist's pins, to hold the roadbed in the correct curvature until everything is dry. You can find florist's pins at any craft store.

 

[ramcneal]

You can lay the wet cork down on fresh latex caulk and they will cure together. You may need some T handle straight pins, also called florist's pins, to hold the roadbed in the correct curvature until everything is dry. You can find florist's pins at any craft store.

Thanks for the answers to my questions.