dirt

walt rapp posted:

I'd like to use about a quart's worth of real dirt on my layout this year.  How have you sanitized it?

as always, thanks - walt

Wait until your wife (should you have one) goes out shopping and put in the microwave. 

Entertaining and informative from OGR member Joey Ricard.  I've followed his procedures.  Note your answer at 1:55.  I have to assume that the application of wet water and glue is going to take care of anything that might be bad.

 

Here is my real dirt.

Have Fun!

Ron

 

Ive heard of baking itin the oven for an hour or so at 350

Hi Walt:

I like to start with real play sand, this is very fine and then I add other colors of real dirt. The sand is a great base color because it is light and other real dirt colors are darker. I also add some modeling static grass from Scenic Express, with a variety of colors.

Hope this helps: Gary 🚂

walt rapp posted:

I'd like to use about a quart's worth of real dirt on my layout this year.  How have you sanitized it?

as always, thanks - walt

I've not - after it's sifted and spread out, and then glued in place, that's not a problem.

thanks for the suggestions.  a few comments, not to be a contrarian or anything.

None of my scenery is permanent since I only have a Christmas time layout, so glueing it it is out of the question for me.

Microwave: makes sense but I still would need to know how long to ensure I killed everything: weed seeds and bugs.

Oven: 350 for an hour or so.  that's the kind of detail I was hoping for.  To just offer "bake it" doesn't help me since time and temp are the questions at hand.

thanks - walt

Here’s some stuff I read.  This is for what it’s worth.

You can use the oven to sterilize soil. For the oven, put some soil (about 4 inches deep) in an oven-safe container, like a glass or metal baking pan, covered with foil. Place a meat (or candy) thermometer into the center and bake at 180-200 F. (82-93 C.) for at least 30 minutes, or when soil temp reaches 180 F. (82 C.). Anything higher than that can produce toxins. Remove from oven and allow to cool, leaving the foil in place until ready to use.

Another option to sterilize soil is to use the microwave. For the microwave, fill clean microwave-safe containers with moist soil — quart size with lids are preferable (no foil). Add a few ventilation holes in the lid. Heat the soil for about 90 seconds per every couple pounds on full power. Note: Larger microwaves can generally accommodate several containers. Allow these to cool, placing tape over the vent holes, and leave until ready to use.  Alternatively, you can place two pounds (1 kg) of moist soil in a polypropylene bag. Put this in the microwave with the top left open for ventilation. Heat the soil for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes on full power (650 watt oven). Close the bag and allow it to cool before removing.

I also am not concerned about sanitizing dirt since it will be sprayed with isopropyl alcohol, then encased in white glue or matte medium.   Last week I did use the oven to dry some sifted dirt.  I spread it in a couple of old pans that my wife had thrown out and put them in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 min.   Yes, and she caught me doing it.  She was a good sport about it, but it may come up again under the category of "dumb things my husband has done."

I had a bunch of condensation on the oven window.  Next time I may crack the door a little.

Bob

walt rapp posted:

None of my scenery is permanent since I only have a Christmas time layout, so glueing it it is out of the question for me.

Might have been a wee tad helpful to have that info up front,

walt rapp posted:

thanks for the suggestions.  a few comments, not to be a contrarian or anything.

None of my scenery is permanent since I only have a Christmas time layout, so glueing it it is out of the question for me.

Microwave: makes sense but I still would need to know how long to ensure I killed everything: weed seeds and bugs.

Oven: 350 for an hour or so.  that's the kind of detail I was hoping for.  To just offer "bake it" doesn't help me since time and temp are the questions at hand.

thanks - walt

Hi Walt,

Since you are using such a small amount of dirt, here is what I'd do in the microwave.

Moisten the dirt and put in a microwave safe pan, leaving room on your microwave turntable for a coffee mug of water. Place the dirt & mug of water in the microwave for 3 minutes. Most microwaves will have the water boiling in 2 1/2 - 3 minutes - I'd assume that if the water is boiling it would have been enough time for the dirt to become sterile.

 

mwb posted:

walt rapp posted:

None of my scenery is permanent since I only have a Christmas time layout, so glueing it it is out of the question for me.

Might have been a wee tad helpful to have that info up front,

mwb, Its OK.  We learned what to do if we wanted to use sifted dirt on a permanent layout as well as a temp layout this way.

Walt

It's from my yard.

I first sifted it with regular screen, then placed it on a metal tray cooked it with my BBQ grill for 350 plus degrees for a hour or so.

After cooling placed it in glass mason jars.

I used about 5 pounds on my mountain projects.

Good luck.

Larry

 

 

 

 

I also go through it with a magnet, don't want any tiny metal bits getting where it shouldn't be

this forum is awesome , but not as awesome as the members.  Every time that I've come here for help I'm always happy with the amount of help that i get.

thanks to all that helped here.

walt

I'd go with OVER 180° and bake until dry. I'd feel safer at 350° though.  A turkeyA barelyt becomes safe at 180° , so I'd open a window and go for well done.

(fun with spellwreck... I'm done fighting googles crap programs today)

Once that dirt is dry, I'm not sure what you have to worry about, especially since it is a temporary layout. I think this is overthinking a problem that isn't much of a problem. On the other hand, being a dairy farmer for 50 years, I never get too worried about dirt, as I spend a lot of time with it.

John, my concern is this: my layout is up close to 3 months.  I don't need bugs emerging or weeds growing, you know?  The dirt area will be in the very back of this year's upcoming layout and I won't be able to easily reach it, so I'm trying to make sure that I have zero issues.

Thanks for being a Dairy farmer!!!

walt

I agree about the bugs, but weeds growing might be kind of cool. 

Avanti posted:

I agree about the bugs, but weeds growing might be kind of cool. 

Scale static grass.  No applicator needed.

those comments about the weeds are funny!  Made me laugh.  The sense of humor of many on this forum is just plain enjoyable.

walt

I think using scenery materials from the real world like real dirt that costs nothing and that looks good on a layout  is what makes model railroading most fun.

IMO, all of the real dirt on the layouts shown in the above photos looks great. Arnold