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I am moving my layout to a 10'X15' room. I will not be able to use all but most of the room for my trains. I know that is not huge but it is an improvement over my current 8'X8' space.

 

I have secure tables in the following dimensions:

 

2'X8'....... 2

30" X 8'.. 2

2' X 4'..... 2

 

It is my intention to place this layout around the outside edge of the room. Before I do anything else I want to cover all the table tops with a fine napped green indoor/outdoor carpet for looks and to help deaden the sound of the Fastrack.

 

Requirements for the carpet are:

 

1. I need to be able to cut and trim it at home without professional carpet cutting tools.

2. It should be somewhat fire retardant as it will be used in a mildly electrical environment.

3. I need to be able to drill holes in it without it bunching up.

4. With the color being and appropriate shade of green it the nap on the carpet should be relatively fine.

 

Any help anyone can give me in finding the right carpet is much appreciated. THANKS!

 

Other related advice as to layout covers also appreciated.

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I used Home Depot dark gray indoor/outdoor carpet as road bed and am satisfied with the results based on ease of use and cost. I also used  another type  bought at a local store, a dark brown, for roads. I tested he carpet with a match and it melts but doesn't support combustion. Didn't ry to drill through it but someone said to cut an X at the spot and drill through that so that is what I plan to try. Use a good sharp box cutter type of blade to cut it.

I bought my green indoor/outdoor carpet from Home Depot. They did not carry this shade of green in stock but they were able to order it for me. It easily cuts with a utility knife or metal shears. I drill through mine all the time and have no issues with the carpet bunching up.

 

 

2013-06-20 21.13.14

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  • 2013-06-20 21.13.14

Michael:

 

I wish that I could, The carpet we bought was on one of their large rollers. It was two-tone green and replicates manicured grass very well. They were kind enough to cut it onto strips at no extra charge that I has premeasured which made the installation job much easier.

 

The issue with the indoor/outdoor carpet is it has a very weak pile. The carpet we purchased was very thick, but easy to work with for custom cuts.

 

Wish I could give you more specific information. I will stop by a Lowes this week and see if they still have this carpet and get you more specific information.

I found some carpet that looks like the carpet that is used in your car trunk.  I found it at a fabric outlet in PA.  It's like a heavy felt material and came on a roll about five feet wide.  I forgot what I paid for it, but that was my plan for my FasTrack layout.  The carpet is gray, but with a little green paint it becomes green.  I didn't use it on my platform.  I covered my L girder frame with 3/4 inch plywood and 1" foam.  I covered the foam with gypsolite and painted it.  I just started running my trains on the finished track plan and don't have much of a noise problem.  The electronic engine sounds must drown out the track noise.  I just noticed your in PA.  The place i found the carpet was The Pa Fabric Outlet in Lemoyne, PA.  It's just across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg.

One thing to watch out for when using FasTrack.  I experienced the connectors slipping off the tabs underneath.  The hot wire came in contact with the strip that connects the two outside rails and started sparking.  I replaced the section and put a piece of electrical tape over the contact strip to prevent it in the future.

Originally Posted by Michael Hokkanen:
... Got a note from Home Depot. Their carpet supplier will not recommend their products for layout use. (fear of lawyers I suppose)

Nowadays, no supplier will go on record backing use of their product for something it was not originally designed.  Just the way of the world today.  Everybody operates in a CYA manner, so we need to filter everything we hear/read with that premise in mind.

 

Obviously, you don't want to do anything unsafe.  But there's tremendous latitude before you cross into that territory, and no company will say that to you -- at least not in writing.  

 

The green indoor/outdoor carpet has been used for DECADES on toy train layouts with no ill effects -- especially tinplate layouts.

 

David 

 

 

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer

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