I have heard a lot about this miracle medicine and wonder, what is it and how is it used in model railroading?
What is Durham’s Water Putty?
Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty™ is a gypsum-based filler – a powder – that becomes very hard when mixed with water. It never shrinks and has great bonding strength. That’s why so many people use Durham’s to fill holes and cracks in wood, plaster, furniture, stone, and concrete. Once Durham’s is set in place … it stays in place.
Who uses it?
Painters, decorators, woodworkers, electricians, carpenters, cabinet makers, handymen, housewives, pattern makers, electronics repairmen, manufacturers, plumbers, and practically everyone who has a repair job. Artists, modelers, and hobbyists use it, too.
Directions For Use.
Mix Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty and water to a fairly stiff, dough-like, consistency – approximately 3 parts powder to 1 part water. Press firmly into clean, oil-free cavity with putty knife. Continue adding more and pressing again until putty “bounces” back, leaving an excess of putty. Do not attempt to smooth off the excess putty while it is wet. You can clean around the area with a wet cloth. Prepare only the quantity you need because Durham’s sets quickly.
Let set about 20 minutes. The putty will be like hard soap. Shave off the excess with a putty knife, leaving very little sanding to be done. This method gives a firm, smooth texture – perfect for shaving, cutting, and carving!
About 40 minutes later, Durham’s will become very hard and have great strength. Let set about 8 hours, however, before sanding if an especially smooth, light ivory surface is desired. For craft items, or repair jobs in which large quantities have been used, let Durham’s dry even longer.
For special jobs where slow hardening is desired, add a small amount of vinegar or milk to retard setting time.
Coloring Your Putty.
Durham’s dries to a light ivory color. Add dry colors such as umber, sienna, ochre, or poster black to Durham’
I use it, its a lot better than most other plasters, dries real hard. Around here it comes in cardboard containers like milk does.
Bob Boudreau
Is it expensive?
The container I bought some years ago has 1.75kg (3.85 lbs) and has a sticker price of $5.69 Canadian. That’s about $4.75 US, so I’d say it isn’t very expensive. The container is, as I mentioned the size of a 2 liter milk carton. They also have ones half this size.
My biggest problem was finding it. The large home improvement centers don’t seem to carry it. I found my last two containers in a small neighborhood hardware store.
Bob Boudreau
Ok, thanks for the great info my railroad friend.
Durham’s Water Putty is FANTASTIC !!!
I’ve been using it for probably 50 years now, My local lumber yard orders it for me in 20 pound drums. Plus I’ve also gotten it directly from Durham’s. I have used hundreds of pounds of it. Extremely useful for outside repairs. I use it for all of my scenery. Plus I have used it for hundreds of thousands of a wide vartiety of castings. EXTREMELY versatile product.
Two Walmart stores near me sell 4 pound cans of it, plus smaller cans.
My hat’s off to the inventer of this super product.
I like using it for making roads.
It is the strongest material known to man ! ! I’ve used it for hundreds of uses, I even think you could fix your car with this stuff, just forget about dismantling your layout with any amount of this in or on it, you would need a jackhammer to loosen anything(dynamite would work also)