Gravity fed ballast installation tools. Do they work?

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Hi All,

I’m getting close to ballasting time.

Has anyone tried these tools to lay down ballast?

Thanks,

-Ed

2

I’ve got a MLR Ballast Spreader. Used it once or twice. It was easier to just use a folded card and pour it, then use a brush to spread.

3

These things really don’t work that well. You still need to brush ballast around to make it even before gluing, and it’s just as much work as if you applied with a spoon, folded card, or some other tool that can be had for cheap or free.

4

Agreed, they really don’t work that great. Small plastic spoon and/ or the folded cardboard and brush to groom places it better

5

Save your money for the ballast and a small 1" brush – I’ve tried a couple of those ballast spreaders over the years and will probalby never use them again.

6

Probably be better to use a old Tyco operating hopper car with plastic or wooden ties glued on the backside of the hoppers to spread the ballast then one of those ballast spreaders.I never seen one yet that worked.

A 1" brush and plastic spoon or a spoon from the Dollar Tree or any dollar store is still the best method…

I would say a spoon raid on the kitchen would work but,I been told some wives throws a hissy fit over such raids.

7

Well, I’m glad that I asked.

Thank you, everyone. [:)]

-Ed

8

A mildly dissenting view. I did like the MLR tool for the way it brought the ballast very precisely to the top of the ties and no higher, which is exactly the look I was after. I did learn in time that I could make a sort of bulldozer out of a piece of cork roadbed that with repeated slow passings (and sometimes reapplying a bit of ballast) could achieve the same if not superior results between the rails. When I brush I use a cheap foam brush which I have cut to be just the right width between the rails, but it does tend to wear out with use. One problem with using a brush with ballasting is that it seems to create some static electricity particularly with the Woodland Scenics crushed walnut shell product. I had fewer static electricity issues with ballast made of real stone.

Dave Nelson

9

I use these childrens medicine spoons/measurers. They are free for the asking from the pharmacist, they keep them behind the counter. The whole handle can be filled with ballast and the tip of the spoon fits nicely on the track. A little tap with the finger as you go along and the right amount comes out of the spoon.

10

Excellent![Y][B]

11

I use a large serving spoon. Gravity helps to distribute what falls off the front lip of the spoon, and a 1" trim brush does the rest of the grooming.

12

I level ballast between by tapping the top of the rails with a screwdriver handle. I hold it down at the tip and gentley tap with the side of the handle

13

All well and goodfor between the rails…but what about the outsides of them? Every time I try to make a decent bevel to the table top, the ballast blows away. BTW, I use no roadbed just flex track directly on the foam (mostyly yards and switching so far).

14

Bruce:

Try painting the shoulders with white glue (I prefer undiluted) and then sprinkle on ballast. Allow to dry overnight. You can then dress the shoulders with additional ballast as need and fix it in place with wet water or alcohol follwed by diluted glue. The first step provides some “tooth” for the additional ballast to bind to. I don’t spray my wet water or diluted glue I carefully add it with a dropper.

Joe

15

Actually, I made a pair from some styrene and some acrylic I had on hand, and they actually work really well. They are based on a design that is currently being sold on eBay, but of course I wasn’t going to pay for what I could make myself.

The secret to its success is the tool used to tidy up the freshly laid ballast. It comes from an January 1978 MR article and works exactly as described!

16

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I appreciate it.

-Ed

17

Hi,

I’ve had one of those MLR tube ballast tools and never really had success with it. The holes would clog, or it would catch on ties, or too much or too little would stream out. So while I have started using it each time I ballast, I quickly migrated to the spoon or the folded (lengthwise) IBM card (dating myself here). Alas, I’m not too thrilled with them either. So recently I thought I’d try the cheap paper cup. I bought a pack from wallyworld and I’ll be darned, they actually work, and work quite well!

18

well you get some nice results, thats for sure ! very good…Jerry