I’m new at this, but was told that a 1 to 4 ratio of white glue is good to bond ballest. But I was also told that if I have the mixture to thick, that when I spray it on grass, that it will be to heavy, and move the grass that is not matted down.
What ratio do you find that works good for you???
Thank you; Robert
Robert,
Although I used to use 1:1 and later 2:1 water to white glue, I have recently moved to 4:1 water to white glue for ballasting. Two tips that are worthwhile. Put a few drops of liquid detergent into the mix. It helps absorption. Also, before spraying (or better yet, spooning) the mix, spray rubbing alcohol over the area to be ballasted or landscaped (e.g., ground cover). The rubbing alcohol will reduce static and prepare the surface for a more even distribution of the mix.
Rich
There are as many answers to this question as there are posters on these forums. This is one of those cases where there is no right anwer.
By coincidence, I agree with Rich. 1 part adhesive to 4 parts water, although I use matte medium instead of glue. I too add dishwashing liquid, 1 drop per cup of solution
I differ with Rich on the wetting agent. I use water with 2 drops of dishwashing liquid per cup (so called “wet water”). My tap water is very low in dissolved solids, though, so if you have very hard water, distilled water or rubbing alcohol is a better option.
Thank you Rich…I will do just that.
Robert
Most scenery gluing we use at the club uses either 1:4 ratio with white glue, or 1:2 with matte medium. I would not try to ‘spray’ it on(I know it is tempting). No matter how good you clean the sprayer, it will clog up and have to be thrown away! We ‘paint’ the glue on the area to have grass/turf applied - just use cheap ‘throw away’ brushes. We do ‘spray’ a 1:1 solution of 71% alcohol/water over the area first so that the glue seeps into all of the are evenly. With large turf, we ‘dribble’ the glue mixture on later to make sure everything is attached.
Jim
I agree with Jim, don’t spray glue on the scenery. Spray water to wet it and then spoon or dribble glue, from a squeeze bottle like those used for ketchup or hair color, on the wetted scenic material. Much easier to control.
Use whatever glue mix ration you want, I have used 1:1 water/glue on the prewetted scenery.
Actually, CTV, we agree on one other thing as well. I use matte medium as a preferred substitute for white glue. I find the dried matte medium to be more pliable than white glue which turns brittle.
On our point of disagreement, I used to use the so-called “wet water” and it works, but I gotta tell ya, the rubbing alcohol works better.
Rich
Yeah, I agree with you guys on the spooning versus spraying on the white glue (matte medium) mix. I spoon it on, never spray it on, and I should have said so directly, rather than parenthetically, in my earlier reply to the OP.
Rich
I use a matte medium that I buy with a Michaels or Hobby Lobby coupon to cut cost. I mix about 1 to 1 mix.
I use an Alcohol water mix for my wet water.
I use the plastic cone top bottle ( also at Michaels or Hobby Lobby ) to lay it down. For real tight spots an eye droper or old eye drops bottle can be used.
Actually, Jim, I have a $1 sprayer that I got at the Dollar Store or similar place six years ago. It’s still going strong, even with almost weekly use.
I have generally good results with spraying for large areas where I’m not too concerned about overspray, but for smaller areas and ballasting, I use a pipette. To do large areas, I spray the adhesive on the area, sprinkle on the scenery material and let it soak up the adhesive, then respray with adhesive and add another layer of scenery material.
A lot of good advice. I will only add that I have found a small Elmers glue bottle to make an excellent applicator to dribble on the mixes.
Good luck,
OK…thanks to all…time to get to work!!!
Robert