Advice needed on removing ballast from track

I think I would use water to loosen the diluted white glue.  Not sure if you need to use a hose... seems kind of extreme.  I haven't tried this, but that is how I always thought it would be done.

First, what kind of track are you trying to clean? If it's Atlas"O" NS, I'd soak it in warm/hot water to loosen the glue and it should fall off by itself with diluted Elmers or matte medium.

If we're talking steel railed track, options are limited and involve more effort on your part....

It's Atlas NS.....I'll try soaking it using one of those plastic storage bins like you can get at any of the bog box stores.

Thanks guys.....Greg

denatured alcohol.

Power washer?....Put some ammonia in the additive tank?....soak low pressure?....wait a few minutes for the solution to weaken the Elmer's?....Final wash at high pressure?  Dry thoroughly, though!

The question marks are because I've never tried it myself.  Might work.  

Still sounds messy.

THIS is the reason I won't glue the ballast down.  Unless the ballast used can be prone to carrying a static charge (non-mineral in nature) I don't know why I'd glue it down.  Gravity does a pretty good job of holding ballast....and me....down.   The layout is permanent...it's not going to go from horizontal to vertical seasonally.  And I've had a couple occasions to change trackwork...add sidings, re-align curves, etc....that the thought of fighting through glued ballast is...well....a P-I-T-A prospect. 

Besides, gluing is so messy to begin with.  I do enough of that on the surrounding scenery....for different reasons.

But, that's just MHO....

KD

Spray bottle-50/50 alcohol water mixture it will come right off after a few minutes.

"Power washer"? Just how much glue did he use?

Anyway, soaking it in water for a while might do it, then rinse with the hose - medium strength. That might do it.

Needless to say, try one section of track first for each method you are considering...and if it's GG with wooden ties...do the same thing...results will vary. Test samples are always called for.

D500 posted:

"Power washer"?

 if it's GG with wooden ties....  Test samples are always called for.

So, he stated it was Atlas NS....already removed from the layout....pretty durable stuff, methinks.

I know the words "Power Washer" conjure up images of blowing holes in the old vinyl siding of your house, but the one I have is, well, simply very quick, versatile, and useful.  The least aggressive setting for the washer wand is actually pretty gentle, but can soak a lot of material in a hurry.    The more aggressive settings of the wand nozzle will make short work of softened, loosely bonded material.  I like it for this sort of opportunity.  

But, you're right about trying it on a single test piece first.  Good advice.

TEHO...

KD

Ditto with the rockstars...i use 90 percent iso alcohol ...its loose in a minute or two

Greg,

I haven't tried the alcohol or alcohol + water method, but I have removed ballast using very hot water on atlas track.  Food for thought since it sounds like you've already removed the track and are just cleaning it up definitely use the storage bin to soak the sections in warm / hot water (with or without alcohol) and gently remove the ballast letting it settle in the container.  When finished rinse the ballast with clear water, break up any clumps, rinse again.  It may take a couple of rinses but eventually you'll wind up with clean glue free ballast that can be reused.  I let mine dry on old towels and have since reused it.

Hope this helps.

bd

Needle nose pliers, time, and patience.  The pliers should fit between the ties and make quick work of removing that ballast, even a square stick to poke in between them.  All the liquid methods of removing ballast were too messy for me.