I am ready to start adding some ballast to hold down my track. In some of the previous post I learned that using MM instead of white glue would allow the ballast to hold well but remains flexable instead of drying hard like the white gule. I tested it several months ago with 3-tbs of alcohol and 1/2 tsp of MM and the results seemed acceptable. Not that I am ready to start putting down my ballast I find that the MM will not mix with alcohol. Does this mean that the MM I purchased about six months has gone bad? Has anyone else had this problem?
Does it still diute w/ water OK? I have had Matte Medium diluted w/ 1:1 water and one container is still fine after 1 1/2 years. I imagine if it is a container that is in repeated use or somehow gets contaminated that it could go bad. WS scenery cement has been found to go REAL bad on me. Would almost look to take on a mildewed smell and darkened color.
You can also use 50:50 alcohol:water. It helps to mix the MM with the water first and then add the alcohol to the mix. It’s an old pharmacist’s trick called “order and manner of mixing”.
If you use full strength MM from an art supply store a mixture of 1 part MM to 3 parts water will be good for most all purposes. i usually add a few drops of detergent. don/t dilute Woodland scenics MM as it is already diluted, a little too much in my opinion. MM may go bad, but I’ve had some for years with no problems except you sometime get white specks which can be eliminated by letting it set until the specks sink to the bottom. jerry
If you don’t have anything to contribute why take the time to make a fool out of yourself! Does it make you feel better to add something to every post?
Jerry, that white particles is the talc and/or other fillers. A lesson learned from Dave Frary, dilute 1:1 w/ water and allow to sit for a good few days. The sediment will settle. Just decant into clean sealable containers, (I like those 1/2 gal juice bottles) and toss the crud on the bottom. The talc is to allow to dry flat, however I haven’t noticed any difference or sheen once dried.
Edit: I did note that I only mentioned the 1:1 Ratio, this is just for initial dilution to allow the sediment to settle. Now this mix can be diluted 1:3or 4 pending use and initial viscosity of the MM. A slight varation of mixing water/ alcohol since it is already diuted 50-50.
There are several possible ratios that can be used. My favorite is 1 part matte medium, 2 parts isopropyl alcohol (70%) and 3 parts water. I have also used 1 part MM, 1 part alcohol and 2 parts water. By the way, I have found that the first mixture allows me to add it directly to the ballast without having to pre-wet with alcohol or “wet” water.
I was also trying to eliminate the pre wetting part and am sure it worked on my trial track several months ago. I mixed the MM with only alcohol and it seemed to work well. When I was ready to start on the layout the MM would not mix with the alcohol. The brand of the MM is Mod Podge from Hobby Lobby and I just thought it may have gone bad. I tried the 70% and also the 91% alcohol and nothing worked.
I will try and mix some MM with water and let it set a few days and then add the alcohol and see how that works.
Because it gets the post count up! “Top 200” contributor doesn’t count the quality of the contributions… Comments in the Beer Barn or Trackside Cafe count the same as layout advice.
Although, in fairness, I got a chuckle out of it. What did it really hurt?