coffee grounds as a coal load?

I would think that the chance of mold growing would probably shoot that idea down.

People have used dried used coffee grounds as ground cover for years without problems.  It is used like dirt and other ground covers.

 

I don't think it would make a good coal load.  I don't think it would look correct.  You would have to experiment.

 

I imagine the best way would be to fill the hopper car with a piece of pink foam or a cardboard form and then glue the coffee grounds to the top.  This would simulate a loaded coal car and would avoid other problems.

 

I have a friend who uses seeds to simulate sugar beets using this method.

 

Joe

 

 

I went to the local pet store & got a 20 lb. bag of aquarium gravel (black) didn't cost a lot and looks great. Used the white school glue that drys clear. Office Max had a school sale for $.10 a bottle.       TRAIN NERD AL

     Brad I have used Black Beauty sandblasting sand over top of foam for my loads. The only problem with this is there is pieces of short (round bar stock like) material in the sand that have to be taken out if you want. It sort of looks like fine short pieces of wire that is black like the sand. I just did not like the look of these pieces so I picked them out with needle nose pliers. Choo Choo Kenny 

guys, good input.    I was hoping to construct an operating coal tipple that kids could push a button and load the cars.     not sure if this is too complicated an endeavor....   I thought the coffee grounds would look good, flow well etc.

same approach as AL,  but with Kitty Litter, painted on plastic, ( you have to keep rolling'

it around to get all,covered.  but)  then the plastic ice cream containers make good sturdy

holders in the hoppers,  not but about 1/2 inch thick.

Look up Bobby Ogage, he has a nice tutorial , some time back. coffee grounds would be like dirt,  -- microwave 1st , then us as ground cover

I agree that it probably won't look right, but why not give it a try?  Don't worry about mold (assuming proper drying).  No more likely to happen with coffee grounds than any other of the many organic materials on the average layout.  

 

If you want to give it a try, this is how I would do it:

1) Make a rectangular form out of cardboard the same size as your car.

2) Pile the grounds (or other material) in the form and shape to suit.

3) Mist with wet water.

4) Carefully drip dilute white glue onto the pile, using an eye dropper.

5) Let dry and insert into the car

6) Post a picture for your forum friends.

I think Black Beauty is made from steel mill slag.  I have found numerous bits of melted steel in it.  Run a magnet through it if you want to use it loose, so your motors/gears don't pick it up - especially if you have magnatraction.

I also use Black Beauty for my loads. I use luan plywood instead of foam. I had some older loads from Blue Mountain on foam, and the foam dries out and begins to powder. 

Besides the black tubular shapes are also white and brown specks in the material. I use a pair of precision tweezers to remove these. Sometimes, they can be buried in the material.

That looks very good.

Rail, you have an outdoor layout?

I haven't tried, but I can think of reasons not too - mold, other bio-problems, moisture retention and swelling, etc. - mentioned earlier.

 

In addition, coffee grounds, while not quite as messy as using real coal (at least the way I use it) is not much easier to use than coal.  It just doesn't seem worth the effort.  I use real coal that is already granular enough, etc.  

I used coffee grounds as a ground cover years ago and did have some mold problems.   I think they are too soft to represent coal.

 

Get Woodland scenics "cinders" coarse or medium grade, or other scenic coal from you local hobby shop.   Or if that is not convenient, I have found that aquarium filter charcoal also works great.   Not sure if this is still sold, but when I had aquariums, you put charcoal in the filters and replaced it every few weeks or so.    It was nice black and about the right size and consistency.

What a concept,

The few cars that I still have from John Armstrong all had real loads (loose!) in them.....

Another Black Beauty load glued with PL 400 construction adhesive to a Masonite template.

Not yet John, but I'm hoping to get started in the spring. The photo of the hopper was taken outside on my display diorama. I use it for the different hoppers and loads, and for taking photos.

Don

try Woodland Scenics coarse "Cinders" in black as mentioned earlier

Too fine for "O"

Been there, done that in H.O.

Used them for track ballast and after several years, they mildewed. Started turning into white fungus in Tampa Fla.

 

Coal for "O" I started using fish tank charcoal filter pellets from the pet store but you will have to crush them with a 2lb. hammer.

It takes time but they look good as coal after spraying with gloss Krylon.

 

See coal car pics on link below.

That's the nice thing about Black Beauty, it's already the correct size, (the fine grade), and it has the sheen of anthracite. As I mentioned before, there are just the occasional particles to remove. Only problem with Black Beauty is that it comes in 100 lb bags. If one were to go to a building supply house, it may be possible to get a small quantity from a broken bag.Don

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Been there, done that in H.O.Used them for track ballast and after 2 years, they mildewed. Started turning into white fungus.Coal for "O" I started using fish tank charcoal filter pellets from the pet store but you will have to crush them with a 2lb. hammer.It takes time but they look good as coal after spraying with gloss Krylon.   View This Reply
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For some coal loads and scenes I use Ashland coarse (black) decorative sand which I purchase from Michaels Craft Store. A 1.75lb bag is $2.99. I glue it on either a piece of cut poly styrene or half inch pink foam.

I think there are many ways to make good coal loads, but as I said above, I think coffee grounds aren't one of them.

 

I will even go so far as to say that real coal is not among the most realistic looking coal loads in O-gauge.  Yes, you can grind or pound it down to fine nuggets, but it looks a tiny bit unrealistic to me, a bit too shiny and too something.  Regardless, I use it, despite its mess (considerable!) just because it is cool to use real coal.  

 

I think black sand or charcoal filter rocks (as for fish tanks) when well prepared looks more realistic.  But I will stick with coal for the reason I said plus I have about two pounds of it left which will cover a gob of tenders and cars.