Laying track with hot glue

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Haven't tried it but the best way to lay your track is with some thing like Liquid Nails or a good foam safe Silicon. I have used Liquid Nails and find it works very well BUT also lets me take the track up if need be.
 
Mister Bill said:
I saw that on u-tube. Has anyone done it with success?
Click to expand...
No I have not tried it. The club tried it on spline sub-roadbed with limited (as in time) success. About 5 years after the construction it let go. All I can figure is that it was not applied hot enough (liquid enough) or that the glue can't stand torsional shear stresses. Track shouldn't have too much torsion and no shear stress issues.
 


I've had my spline put together with hot glue for over 10 years now. There has been a separation or two of the spline from the supporting riser, but not from each other. The glue gun has to be able to really liquify the glue, (extra hot), and then the spline has to be clamped quickly and securely. Spring loaded clamps have worked best for me.

To repair where the spline has separated from the risers, I just reheat the glued area with a micro torch.

The system of spline that I use was in an old Allan Keller video of a B&O layout. He used 3 pieces of spline separated by 1/2" blocks. His crew could put down a good 30-40' of spline in about 30mins, IIRC. But this also included curves of different radii, and various grades. For flat areas like yards, towns etc, he did use plywood.

What would make it better would be to use some furniture makers hot glue, but that's expensive stuff.
 
I have tested a few things on this too, personally I like white Elmer's glue the best. :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
apu2u8a3.jpg

This is the white Elmer's glue, dries evenly, firmly & clear.
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Works for me :-)


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for cork roadbed and track both I use DAP acrylic caulk, Just a thin layer is all you need, pin it over night and holds just fine. Need to take it up, soak with hot (not boiling ) water. Comes up really easy.
Hot glue will melt the foam board unless you use the low temp glue and gun.
 
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