I am in the process of redoing my layout and just pulled up all the track with the cork roadbed attached. Since I did not glue the turnouts down, I was able to remove them without any problems. I have two questions, is it worth trying to re-use the track and if so how do I separate the cork from the track? I used Woodland Scenics foam glue. Any help would be appreciated.
What kind of track? If it's Atlas track, I'd try to salvage as much of it as I can, since they are currently in short supply! I don't know how the foam glue works, but if it's water-based, then spray water on it until it loosens up. If not, use a flat tool to carefully pry the track up.
Soak it in the bathtub in hot water with some dish soap added. The hot water will soften the adheasive and may even rejuvenate the cork.
I suppose it's a question of how much your labor is worth, and how much your wallet is going to complain if you buy new track. I don't re-use track that's been laid before and glued to my cork because I want to make sure my track is level and since I use CA to sock my track down, it's too much of a hassle and I usually end up putting vertical bends in it anyway. I'm not sure what WS foam glue is made of, but I'm assuming it's probably not mineral spirit based...most likely an acrylic of some sort. Could be that if you remove as much cork by carefully breaking it off, then soaking your track in hot, soapy water in your bath tub for a while, you might discover that you can "roll" the remnants of the cork off along with the adhesive...maybe. Anyhow, you might want to just try doing it to one length in case it doesn't work so you don't waste too much time. If water doesn't work, maybe rubbing alcohol would. I'm just attempting to think of a container that you could use to soak a 3' section of track in, and I'm failing miserably. The more I write about it, the more it seems to me it's too much work and would be much quicker and cost-effective to just buy new flex. Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
Plastic pipe with a cap on one end..I use white glue & Weldbond to glue my track.Hot water and dish soap usually gets it done,if not,I'd try adding 93% alcohol...One little trick so it's easy to get this done,next time you glue your track,[just in case this didn't work...] mix some Elmer's school glue with whatever you use..It's water soluble,so any water based adhesive you use just dissolves like nothing..
