Thanks for making this video Rick, as I am going down the same path. I bought a 100 sq. ft. roll (4' x 25') of the cork 1/4" thick at Lowes for $80 where it is sold as underlayment for laminate flooring. In addition to being more economical, it gives you the option of cutting very large pieces to cover an entire yard, smaller pieces in various sizes for turnouts, cross-overs, double track, etc., plus strips for single track like you showed. I do like your cutting jig to do the split bevel. Art...
Great. I'm so glad i could help someone. The jig was easy to build but a little difficult to get the cork placement right. Cant stress enough the use of a mask, ears, and eye protection. Also... some advice, when u open ur roll i would take the first few feet and cut off ur long strips for later use as single track. It seems the closer i get to the center of the roll i cant seem to get the curve to go away. Gluing does help but when cutting the bevel its hard to keep flat. I would leave the center, curved pieces, for the larger yard which is going to be glued anyway.
Great how to Rick. You show us how to save money buying in bulk, then you show us how to set up a jig to cut the bevel. Happy New Year to you and your family.
Rick , do still have any left, three years ago name of cork company, Midwest cork, interesting jig, if you had the correct blade, table saw would work , cool video. ,you need a layout like me
What a slick Idea you have there. Would be interesting what the savings are doing this. Im sure its well worth it. Would it not be better to put down the roadbed and then sand it smooth before painting? just a thought. Great video Rick Happy New Year, Rob
never thought of that rob, but i painted the cork wit a spray can of matte grey. I did it outside so i didnt color all the layout. also i got yelled at before for spray painting in the house. my layout is in the foor where the house blower is. so when that kicks on the whole house smells like spray paint. Iguess i could us liquid paint and a brush but this was faster. and it gets covered with gravel anyway so mistakes are hidden.
Yo dude Happy New Year brother! Got the Mummers on! This is a great DIY cork roadbed. Midwest cork roadbed is a 1/4 of an inch thick. Looking good brother!
The micro mark micro table saw might work to cut this if you get the correct blade. I'd rather cut both sides at a bevel instead of one cut cutting it in half. But it might have to be cut in half to make bends for curves. Great idea for sure though. I looked at some rolled cork one time and thought about it but what I found was thinner and not as big a roll. I'm sure this would save lots of money on a large layout. 👍
@@FBMRR If you doing the cork roll to save money then I'd say you don't want to buy one of those mini table saws. I think they are $350 to $400 for them. Unless you where gonna use it for other stuff afterwards. I'm going to get one for sure because I think I can put it to good use for all types of things. It's definitely a nice tool to have. 👍
Hey Rick nice jig setup , have you tried cutting it all the way through maybe it will leave a better edge . Cork is probably hard to cut with a spinning blade . Great tip on buying it too . thanks
@@FBMRR Something I do to keep track of how parts relate is make witness marks . They can be as simple as a few slashes with a sharpie , once you cut them apart you know how they relate to each other . Does that make sense ?
I hope it helps Ray. If you go this route, small word of advice. Use the outer most few feet to cut off your long road bed pieces... once you get toward the center of the roll the cork has a slight curve to it from being rolled up. The center of the curl you can use on larger sections like the yards. Im guessing your going to be gluing those down so the curl wont matter.
its a lil stiffer. i think the midwest stuff must be a manufactured material. this is all natural cork. bends well enough to get around a 18" radius. it would work for N scale also. the thinner the line the easier it is to bend, but this works.
Great tip Rick! I like how you created your jig and the end results 👍🏼. You saved a bundle and have a great end result.
thanks man. hope it helps someone.
Great DIY how-to!! Thanks Rick!!
Thanks Ralph. every dollar saved helps improvement on the railroad.
That is a good idea.....ballast covers up all .....looks really good
yes not too worried about mistakes. gravel will get it.
Thanks for making this video Rick, as I am going down the same path. I bought a 100 sq. ft. roll (4' x 25') of the cork 1/4" thick at Lowes for $80 where it is sold as underlayment for laminate flooring. In addition to being more economical, it gives you the option of cutting very large pieces to cover an entire yard, smaller pieces in various sizes for turnouts, cross-overs, double track, etc., plus strips for single track like you showed. I do like your cutting jig to do the split bevel. Art...
Great. I'm so glad i could help someone. The jig was easy to build but a little difficult to get the cork placement right. Cant stress enough the use of a mask, ears, and eye protection. Also... some advice, when u open ur roll i would take the first few feet and cut off ur long strips for later use as single track. It seems the closer i get to the center of the roll i cant seem to get the curve to go away. Gluing does help but when cutting the bevel its hard to keep flat. I would leave the center, curved pieces, for the larger yard which is going to be glued anyway.
@@FBMRR Thanks for that extra advice Rick.
Great how to Rick. You show us how to save money buying in bulk, then you show us how to set up a jig to cut the bevel. Happy New Year to you and your family.
thanks John. hope it helps someone.
great money saving tip Rick...thx for sharing... vinny
Hope it helps someone.
Rick , do still have any left, three years ago name of cork company, Midwest cork, interesting jig, if you had the correct blade, table saw would work , cool video. ,you need a layout like me
I bought it on Amazon. The company that makes it is called AmCork.
safety first.. you are the man..
Always. Thanks for watching.
Good idea and it looks great 👍
Thanks man. Hope it helps someone.
Great cost saving measure.
yea the wife got tired of seeing the credit card bill so i had to get inventive.
@@FBMRR LOL :D
Thanks for the insight to the cork board. Happy New Year to you and your family
thanks man. hope it helps someone. Happy new year back at ya!
What a slick Idea you have there. Would be interesting what the savings are doing this. Im sure its well worth it. Would it not be better to put down the roadbed and then sand it smooth before painting? just a thought. Great video Rick Happy New Year, Rob
never thought of that rob, but i painted the cork wit a spray can of matte grey. I did it outside so i didnt color all the layout. also i got yelled at before for spray painting in the house. my layout is in the foor where the house blower is. so when that kicks on the whole house smells like spray paint. Iguess i could us liquid paint and a brush but this was faster. and it gets covered with gravel anyway so mistakes are hidden.
Yo dude Happy New Year brother! Got the Mummers on!
This is a great DIY cork roadbed. Midwest cork roadbed is a 1/4 of an inch thick. Looking good brother!
you know it man. I got the TV blasting from the living room. Happy new year back at ya.
The micro mark micro table saw might work to cut this if you get the correct blade. I'd rather cut both sides at a bevel instead of one cut cutting it in half. But it might have to be cut in half to make bends for curves. Great idea for sure though. I looked at some rolled cork one time and thought about it but what I found was thinner and not as big a roll. I'm sure this would save lots of money on a large layout. 👍
Ill have to check out micro mark. Didnt even think of that.
@@FBMRR If you doing the cork roll to save money then I'd say you don't want to buy one of those mini table saws. I think they are $350 to $400 for them. Unless you where gonna use it for other stuff afterwards. I'm going to get one for sure because I think I can put it to good use for all types of things. It's definitely a nice tool to have. 👍
Hey Rick nice jig setup , have you tried cutting it all the way through maybe it will leave a better edge . Cork is probably hard to cut with a spinning blade . Great tip on buying it too . thanks
I have but since none of the pieces are exactly the same i get confused on which halfs go together. This way kinda keeps it uniform for me.
@@FBMRR Something I do to keep track of how parts relate is make witness marks . They can be as simple as a few slashes with a sharpie , once you cut them apart you know how they relate to each other . Does that make sense ?
@@BoxcarJerry sure does... so simple.. thanks jerry.
Pretty slick.
Thanks James.
Looks good to me rick I'm sure you saved some money doing it that away. Happy new year
Thanks Dwight. Happy new year also.
Nice job Rick! I may have to look into this!
I hope it helps Ray. If you go this route, small word of advice. Use the outer most few feet to cut off your long road bed pieces... once you get toward the center of the roll the cork has a slight curve to it from being rolled up. The center of the curl you can use on larger sections like the yards. Im guessing your going to be gluing those down so the curl wont matter.
Wow that's alot of cork! ,good deal there, very clever way to slice that up. Does it bend the same?
its a lil stiffer. i think the midwest stuff must be a manufactured material. this is all natural cork. bends well enough to get around a 18" radius. it would work for N scale also. the thinner the line the easier it is to bend, but this works.
wow what a good tip
thanks man. hope it helps someone.
Hi Rick a cool idea mate ..
thanks man. hope it helps someone.
Happy new year
to you as well Duane!