I was going through my tool box this afternoon & came across a small tube of graphite powder.
Has anyone ever used this to weather pieces of their layout?
I’m going to try it on some items that I have no intention of using, I was only curious if anyone has done this before & to what success if any did they have?
Gordon
I would not use it for weathering as it is might produce electrical shortcuts and you will get dirty fingers all the time, it’s a mess:-)
I guess it is indended to be used for lubrication.
About the only thing graphite powder is good for in model railroading is lubricating coupler knuckle pivots.
The stuff is conductive, so getting it on the track in any quantity can lead to a mystery short that will have you [banghead]. It can also cripple motors if it gets on the commutator, so I’d keep it well away from any locomotive. (Maybe the prototype rubbed the smokebox with graphite, but I sure won’t!)
What you want is Powdered Charcoal - you can get it at any good art store. Much better than “wet” weathering because you can wash it off, and it doesn’t leave droplet “blobs” and smears. When the car is done, you can spray it with a flat finish and seal in the charcoal, it doesn’t dissolve like chalk weathering does.
I appreciate the advice! Thanks
The graphite goes back into the tool box
Gordon
lol!
Rather than producing a weathered effect, powdered graphite will make an item appear very glossy. Graphite is for lubricating wheelsets and coupler pockets.