Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Nailing EZ Track to Plywood
Mike sent in this question. Perhaps you can help:
“I want to nail down to plywood my EZ track. I have some Atlas track nails which are long enough. Some of the track pieces need to be drilled in order for the nails to work. Do I use a pin vise or a mini drill? How do I determine the drill bit size I need? The hole is the size of the Atlas track nails. Thanks”
4 Responses to Nailing EZ Track to Plywood
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
The first thing I will say is: I don’t like nails or spikes if avoidable. Use caulk. The caulk I use is DAP Alex Plus. A 10.1 oz tube/uses a standard caulk gun, costs less than $3 at HD or Lowes. Comes in colors or what I use is clear. Very easy to use. Very easy to pry up if needed. And a lot easier & quicker than nails. Nails can put dents in your track. Be sure to spread it thin. Just barely visible. I used a 1″ putty knife. I spread it on one surface only, put the track on immediately, weighed it down with 2×4’s and left it set for at least 2 hours or more. It does take 24 hours to fully cure. But if you don’t mess with it, the 2hrs is enough and you can keep on. I did 6′ at a time. Making it easier to do. All IMHO.
Drill size: just a fraction smaller that the nail. This makes it firm, but allows removal and repositioning.
A set of micro drills is only a few dollars. Experiment to get the firmness you want.
An electric drill is faster, but a pin vice or spiral drill (Archimedean drill) will work. Go electric if you are doing a lot !
I USE A DREMEL CORDLESS, ITS MUCH EASER. IM RUNNING N SCALE WITH NAILS AND GLUE THE SAME KIND THAT MORGAN USES. THE DREMEL HAS A EXT. ON IT.
I ALSO USE A HAND CLAMP . I TAKE THE SOLID END THAT DON’T MOVE AND PUT A # 10 IN THE CLAMP THAT DOSEN’T MOVE. THEN USE THE CLAMP TO CLAMP DOWN ON GOING INTO THE WOOD.
FOR NAILING TRACKS AND WOOD THAT U CAN’T CLAMP I USE A TACK HAMMER.
You can always use a micrometer to see what the nail diameter is and just go a tad smaller on the drill bit size so that it will have some “grip” into the plywood. On my layout I first laid down cork road bed which I glued down and then laid the track on top of the road bed. Then I tacked it down using small nails. I don’t think I even pre-drilled the holes. If I can remember I just tacked the track to the road bed using long enough nails to penetrate the road bed and sink into my substrate which in my case, was 1/4 inch plywood. The other part of my bench work was 5/8 inch pressboard. I then ballasted it with small gravel I sifted from a rock plant quarry and held down with 50% water and 50% Elmer’s glue.