Im going to be dismantleing my current layout to rebuild, and I realize that I cant use some od the stuff in it, Im wondering if there is a way to remove and reuse the pink foam board thats quite securely attached to the layout with construcktion adhesive. Id also like to reuse some of the coark roadbed since my layout has SO much of it and I want to keep costs doen as much as possible. Its all been glued with white glue and more adhesive, is there a way to take it off and remove the chunks of glue stuck to the bottom? If I need to buy these new, I can, just want to try and be resourceful.
I do know however that track can be reused, but I had it all glued in place, again,..with white glue and when I pull it up it tends to hold the shape it was layed in (Im using flex track), is there a way to get the "flex" back into it?
For the track....let it soak for several days in a water/detergent solution, that should soften the glue up and allow you to remove it (as much as you can...). That should make it 1/2 flexible....
For the foam...You're gonna have to saw the glued parts apart. Use a keyhole saw or a hacksaw blade. Once apart, use a Sur-Form tool to get the glued side more or less flat. You'll loose some foam, but salvage a good deal of it.
Good luck..!!
P.D. Use the Sur-Form tool outside.....It'll save you a lot of grief cleaning up.....
I have found that the soaking part, which I agree is the way to go, goes very quickly. Warm water (hot is not necessary, and possibly harmful to the spike heads and such) should have the glue good and soft in as little as 10 minutes, depending. I would soak a length, then try to use a vegetable brush along the spike heads. Rinse in warm water and see if the sliding rail moves freely. It should be that simple....
unless you also painted/weathered the rails. The paint could be a show stopper because it will want to stick to the rail foot and create hundreds of little dams of paint against which the spike heads won't budge.
This process may or may not work for your cork. Cork doesn't last forever, and it does get brittle. It costs you nothing to try, though. Soak it for somewhat longer, say a full hour, and see if gently prying it up with a metal ruler as a shim, or a putty blade, won't have it up and in one piece.
Turnouts....it goes without saying...if they worked nicely previously, take care lifting them and look forward to using them once again.
I intend to make use of as much framing as possible, and probably will use the boxes as shelf layout elements for the next one. Legs too. I will preserve as much of my spline roadbed as I can use, and the rest I will manufacture once again. One 4 X 8 sheet of 1/4" MDF will make over 60' of 6-ply HO splines if the sheet is ripped at 15/16". It is very sturdy stuff once the glue is set, so if I can use some of the curves in my next layout, I certainly intend to save myself some expense and time. That goes for their numerous risers, too. And the screws that hold it all together...they don't stretch or wear out.
-Crandell