How Do You Glue Track Ballast?

A bit, but normally you are putting down track first, so there is nothing except bare benchwork around it to get atomized glue on.  I used a spray bottle that had been filled with Windex, and it worked great as long as the mixture was at least 45% or so water, and well shaken up.  Spraying is fast and thorough - so it is preferred (at least by me) - and cleaning up the track afterwards easy with acetone and a rag is easy, etc.

 

In cases where I was working close to existing finished layout, I used a plastic squeeze-squirt bottle instead - a yellow one from the grocery store meant for mustard.  This worked nearly as well but is not ultimately as fast.

I use the Dennis Brennan method of mixing glue and paint. The only difference is I use Woodland Scenics Latex rubber instead of glue. It is more flexible, and hence makes the track quieter:

 

http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...ow/Item/C1204/page/1

 

 

As for spraying, I use this #11022 "Finest Sprayer" from Griots Garage. It gives precise control of both the spray pattern and the spray pressure:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Griots-G...prayer/dp/B003POL69C

 

 

 

Yes, but you're only using it to apply the "wet water" prior to applying the glue mixture.  The water mist really won't hurt much of anything and it doesn't cover much outside the immediate area of the roadbed itself.  But if you have an accessory or other item located trackside that you don't want to get wet, it's just a matter of shielding it temporarily with a bit of Saran Wrap.

Is matt medium and white glue the same? They sure smell alike. I don't have any problem removing and reusing ballast that was held down with matt medium. Stays in place until I want it out.

 

clem

Matte Medium is primarily an artist material used to provide a clear (gloss, matte, ultra-matte) protective finish to art work.  White glue is, of course, primarily used as an adhesive.  Both do have adhesive properties, with matte medium being a bit more "flexible" than white glue.

Here is what I have been using (I guess a picture is better than written explanations.)

 

 

• Old Windex bottle to spray the 50%-50% Alcohol-Water mix to pre-soak the ballast

• Small Elmer's bottle to mix the glue (50% white glue, 45% water, 5% alcohol) and dispense it over the ballast.

 

Alex

Is this the same mixture you would use for ground cover as grass?

It will work just as well for most any scenic materials.  Looks pretty gross when you apply it, but when it dries you'll never even notice it is there.

I mentioned this on a another thread on this subject a couple of years ago. I have drop leafs on one side of my platform so as to facilitate the movment of appliances in and out of the basement.

I used the glue method but after a rased and lowered the panels a few times the ballast started to come lose. What I used was Minwax water base, low gloss varnish, it comes in a blue can. Lee's dispenser bottle looks as if it would work perfectly as an applicator.

I guess it's a twist on the paint idea mentioned above. But, I have had it down for about ten years now and it is still holding fast.

 

I had to remove it a few times for track work and it came up with a putty knife nicely. I guess it had alot to do with the foam track bed I have under it and the glue base.

 

It dose dull the ballast color a little but I never had any one notice it as yet.

 

Have Fun.

Yes, for ground cover Elmer's white glue, straight or diluted, works OK.

 

However, I prefer to use Tacky Glue. It is very thick, and if used without diluting it, will hold small vegetation on a nearly vertical surface. I dilute it 50-50 with water for ground cover and spread it with a sparse-bristle brush such that the brush will no keep or absorb much of the glue.

 

Spread a good coating of the diluted Tacky-Glue, and add your favorite ground cover. The only drawback may be that it takes a long while to dry (overnight); but then again, this gives you ample time to work. It does dry perfectly clear. Give it a try and develop your own method and tricks!

 

The Tacky Glue is available a Walmart, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc.

  

  

Example:

  

 

Good Luck!

Alex

 

I've used Woodland Scenics dry ballast cement with great success in the past. You simply mix this dry with the ballast. Apply the ballast to your layout, and then wet it well with 'wet water'. 

Liquid Matt Medium

available at Art supply stores