I actually noticed today that cat litter up close looks far more realistic than WS ballast. Has anybody ever used cat litter for their layout? I want to use it for mine, it looks great, but I’m a little embarrased about it, plus it smells like baby powder…
But so far, I’m really impressed with the rocky appearance.
I put it a coffee bean grinder to reduce the size of the pellets. Be sure that it is well glued in place, and well vacuumed, before running a loco over it. Yes, it is a good cheap way to pour ballast, if it is well “wetted” before applying the glue. Bob hahn
Might want to make sure no cat has access to your railroad room.
Bob
Yeah I tried it. Now I have a new industry on my layout… kitty litter in, loads out…
[(-D]
[tup]
Being a cat owner, here are two things to watch out for if you’re using kitty litter as ballast.
A lot of kitty litter has blue or white deodorizing crystals mixed in with the litter.
Do not use clumping kitty litter since it goes into a mushy state before it dries into a solid blob.
Kevin
Only one brand of cat litter is suitable for use as ballast – Cat’s Pride, because it is ground up kaolin clay that does not clump or swell up when wet. Other brands will just turn into a messy glob.
It’s also great for absorbing oil spills in your garage or carport because it’s made by Oil-Dri Corporation, whose specialty is actually the cleanup of oil spills and not cat litter. The litter is just a sideline for them.
I’ve long been using clumping litter (the kind you’re being encouraged to avoid) for another purpose - as a component of my Cell-U-Clay-based ground goop. It imparts a limestone color and texture, allowing me to craft rock faces “carved” in place. Actually, it’s more like sculpting in place; I use a plastic spoon to both hold the material and to trowel it on, working in strata lines with the edge. The conbination of Cell-U-Clay’s lumpiness and the litter’s grittiness and tendency to crack results in good-looking stone surfaces with relatively little effort. Of course, one can fine tune later on just by carving when dry, or by re-wetting and working it additionally; this must be done with large cracks (that do develop) to close them up, but the reworking just makes it look better still.
As a ballast material, one might consider using clumping litter as an admixture to other non-dissolving ballast, since the clumping litter will soak in the glue and will itself act as a glue for the rest. Mixing litter with other materials will dilute the smell, and give you better control over color & texture, while extending the amount of coverage you get out of the more expensive ballast.
Ditto! Cat’s Pride worked well for me many years ago. I’ve tried some other brands but many of the just broke up after they were wetted and before the glue was even applied.
I would be watchful if your running a “Chessie” themed layout especially if the locomotive stops and starts scratching the roadbed.