Has anyone used the ballasting tool sold by Micromark (and probably others)… It’s basically just a tube with slots for the rails, you fill it with ballast and slide it along. Seems far easier than the old methods (spoon, folded stiff paper, etc.)… IF it works…
Don’t waste your time with this gadget. Ballasting should be done with the same care and attention as track laying, a gizmo like this only gets the ballast down, then you still have to push it around with a small brush and work it into position. It won’t save you any time or effort. At least that is my experience, maybe somebody else knows a better way of doing it.
It is quite good at putting the right amount of ballast between the rails, but does not put enough on the outside of the rails. I find myself using it as a pourer. It is far from the perfect solution.
I have it and have been disappointed in it. Theoretically is should work well but it doesn’t. It clogs easily and snags on the track. Don’t bother. - Nevin
[#ditto] I have one too, don’t use it ,as it just doesn’t work that well. hand ballasting looks better.
Make that 5 against wasting your money… A plastic spoon from any fast food joint and a cheap 38 cent paint brush will work much better.
Jeff
I don’t know about waisting the money on it. I bought a couple differenet diamemter PVC couplers.Took a file and filed the rail grooves in one end of each tube. Don’t go too deep or it will hang up on the spikes in the track. I used 2" and 1.5" couplers. The 2" put down too much ballast, but the 1.5" worked “OK”. It’s kind of a help but I’d be bummed if I’d paid $7.50 for it. You still have to do a lot of brush work.[2c]
I saw it and decided to make my own. The one I made probably works as well as the commerical one discussed here. I threw it away and switched to a plastic spoon.
KJ
In a word, “worthless” best described the ballasting tool. I have far better luck with a small spoon and brush.
I’ve had good luck with a turkey baster. Of course, you still have to brush it around, but it works good for me.
I can be so bold, I recall that Randy Rinker also turned a thumbs-down on this idea, having tried it.
I used an aluminum pie-plate and had good results. The problem is that, regardless of what you use, you still have to groom it with a small brush. So, save the dough for another tanker car, and have She pick up a blueberry pie for supper tonight.
In case you are wondering, I placed a half-cup of sand/ballast in the plate, lowered one edge over the track ties, ouboard of the rails, and gently sawed back and forth releasing a cascade at the rate that suited me. Worked very well.