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Removing old ballast and glue Track and electrical/DCC
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Prolific poster 1,305 posts Greg Williams GregW66 Prolific poster 1,305 posts
Greg Williams GregW66

I have a couple of Peco turnouts that I want to reuse. There is some glue and ballast on them. Aside from picking it off with a screwdriver, is there anything I can soak them in to release the glue. I have thought of water, alcohol or vinegar but wondering if anyone has tried any of the above.

GregW66
Greg Williams
Superintendent - Eastern Canada Division - NMRA
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dkaustin Prolific poster 1,515 posts
dkaustin

Warm water...

Try soaking one in warm to hot water.  Should allow the glue to be removed.

Den

 

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     Dennis Austin located in NW Louisiana


 
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Tim Moran Speed-Mo Tim Frequent poster 767 posts
Tim Moran Speed-Mo Tim

Removing old glue and ballast

Good evening,

I have safely removed ballast from lots of turnouts and flextrack.

What has worked so far is a soaking bath of water, 70% isopropol alcohol, and dish soap. I soak everything for at least 24 hours. Then the track is gently scrubbed with an old toothbrush (or a brass wire brush for the tough parts).

If it all doesn't come clean the first time, simply repeat until it does!

I've recovered over 12 Shinohara turnouts and 20 feet of flex track with this method.

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!

Tim Moran

Akron, OH

My blog: https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/21964

My YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/user/wrfreemo2006

Thanks for looking!
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LMACKATTACK Regular poster 219 posts
LMACKATTACK

isopropol alcohol

Soak the area around the switch in isopropol alcohol, While its soaking remove any spikes or nails holding the switch in place. then use a putty knife to get under the ties. and it should come out fairly easy. If it does not want to lift out. try to get the alcohol under it with the help of the putty knife. once its out the ballast should wash off with a light scrub brush.

 

I just did 20' of mainline today with this same process.

 

 
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