7 replies to this topic

[Shiggy]

On our wood track we have a few lanes where the slot wore badly in the corners. Widened and no longer vertical. 
Is there a reliable method to restore it short of replacing the entire section.?

[Paul Menkens]

It's hard saying without seeing what you're up against. I'd prob try Bondo and then smooth it out with sand paper. If the track was a T-Slot, then all bets are off. Good luck.

[jimht]

It depends on the damage.

 

The standard Bondo, sanding and rerouting may be more hassle than just to route the slot out even wider.

 

Fill that with a glued in strip of MDF. Route a new slot and braid shoulder into that, if you can use the adjacent lane as a guide.

[Bill Seitz]

Track builder Bob Scott has been involved with a raceway here in Arizona for several years and built their 6-lane flat track. One corner in particular has incurred a problem with excess slot wear in the 3 inner lanes that sounds similar to what's described here. Bob's repair was to remove the whole roadway surface piece of mdf from the section and replace it with a freshly routed one. He's done this twice before he altered the layout to try to alleviate the wear problem in this corner. I assume this is the best way to make the longest lasting fix. I've not tried to make a repair like this before with filler, though I've heard of it being done, but I'd be concerned about how thin the bondo-filled area would be after re-routing and whether it would stay in place for long. Jim Honeycutt's suggestion would be better and should last well, but is still a lot of work in cutting a curved "repair plug" to insert and take the new slot. I can appreciate why Bob Scott may have chosen to just replace the whole roadway section.

[Ramcatlarry]

It depends on the damage.

 

The standard Bondo, sanding and rerouting may be more hassle than just to route the slot out even wider.

 

Fill that with a glued in strip of MDF. Route a new slot and braid shoulder into that, if you can use the adjacent lane as a guide.

This should work on worn  T-slot tracks as well as tracks that have braid recess too deep.  I talked to Chris Dadds about this idea years ago.  In order to get the insert to bend easier, you might want to use two or more narrow strips and glue it in high so that you can reroute to suit your new braid shelf as well.

[PCH Parts Express]

It won't work. But the wear is only so deep. Maybe try a deeper guide flags. Something maybe 1/16" of an inch deeper than what you're using. The Cahoza CAH27T might be a good one to try. 

[Dennis Krivacek]

My 2 cents:

 

When Rt 93 in Canton was open, the white lane on the king track was notorious for launching F1's.

The reason: years of use, the high side of slot became worn. 

Lift the braid and move to the side.

Get a piece of teflon the EXACT width of what the slot is supposed to be. 

Cut that to length a few inches past each end of the "affected" areas. 

Place the teflon into the slot being sure to bottom it out into the slot.

Cutting the teflon a few inches past the affected areas will hold the teflon securely in place and insure a smooth transition

of the repaired area to the original slot.

Next, using masking tape, build "dams" on each end of the teflon.

Mix liquid fiberglass and pour it between the teflon and the affected wood areas.

Be careful to pour the fiberglass to the exact depth of the routed area for the braid.

Once dried, remove the teflon (fiberglass doesn't adhere well to the teflon).

Replace the braid and you'll be good to go.

Sounds involved, but is really quite easy.

Final note:

Be careful pouring the fiberglass allowing it to self level. If this is done with care, there is no reason for re-routing.

[Shiggy]

Thanks for your feedback