Hey Guys,
I know this topic has been discussed before and site search comes up with nothing, probably due to the age of the topic. Would someone please advise the receipe for glue/water/etc., used when placing ballast. I lost some notes I took when I seen it previously, sorry, and thanks for any help!!
Dan
I think the free article you get when you sign up for the MRR newsletter (aka Step by step column January 2007) may have the recipe.
sfb
You can mix water with white glue, yellow glue, or matte medium. Add a bit of dish detergent to help it to wick properly though all the ballast material. Many of us pre-wet the ballast with an isopropyl alcohol in a 70% solution (see your drugstore shelves).
The recipe depends on the person using it. I use a very dilute solution for my fine beach sand ballast. Others use a mixture closer to 50/50.
Crandell
The recipes I’ve seen have varied from 2 to 5 parts water to 1 part glue. Some add a little detergent to the mix but most use either water plus detergent or 71% isopropyl alcohol to pre-wet the ballast prior to adding the glue mix. I use 3 parts water to 1 part white glue and pre-wet the ballast with isopropyl alcohol
Joe
I use a 1 to 1 mix. Because when you soak the ballast with 70% alcohol then add the glue mix, it will dilute it even more.
I have tried all kinds of suggestions in the past. Here is what works best for me.
Wet the ballast with a good coverage of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle.
Follow up immediately with a 4:1 mix of water to matte medium with a drop of liquid dish detergent per 1/4 cup of mix. Apply with a spoon directly over the ballast till the mix seeps through to the margins of the ballast.
Leave sit for at least 48 hours to dry thoroughly.
Rich
Go to the “How To” section above which is just below the MRR Logo and type in Ballast.
Here are two concerning ballast.
The link below is a video.
Larry
Thanks everyone for your input. The recommended alcohol applied prior to the glue mixure really made a positive difference to the glue absorbing. I am now experimenting with different glue/water mixtures to see what is going to work best for texture of ballast I am using. Some great ideas and references, again thanks!!!
Dan
Dan:
Just make sure that you allow the ballast dry completely before you do your review of your experimental results. It may take a day or so with some mixtures.
Joe