Question: Should you do anything to sand before use?

I've not used sand on a layout before....but I know some 'clean' sand has a good amount of very small metallic content. I have seen a good magnet pull metal bits from sand. That may be a bigger issue than anything 'living' in it. I'd get one of those 'super magnets' and run it through any sand to be used to check.  

I have used white play sand (the kind you use in a kid’s sandbox) for ballast.  I’ve never baked or microwaved it and never had a problem later with mold, etc.  I have seen sand that has been sitting around wet/moist in its bag for a while that had a greenish mold tint on part of it so I didn’t buy it.  I go through a tedious process before I use it for ballast to get the right scale and color.  First I let it dry if it’s wet/moist.  Then I sift it through a window screen.  Whatever doesn’t go through the screen is large enough for ballast.  Whatever does go through can be used for a gravel path on the layout or discarded.  Then I color it by pouring a wash (a mix of 1 part latex paint and 8 to 16 parts water) into it.  I just use a little wash (enough to moisten the sand and get it all colored) and mix it in with a table spoon.  Then let that dry and its ready to apply.  Letting the stuff dry takes a long time.  As I said it’s tedious, but you get a lot of ballast for cheap.  If you find sand that already has the right color like maybe GP sand for tan color ballast you can forgo the coloring/drying time.

Bob

Hi Art

     I don't know of any issues with the seedum. I pick then when they have dried for some time and seal with some dark paint to keep them together. Hitting them with hair spray and flocking probably helps also.

     We have over 1000 on a mountain at my club. If there are any suspicious creatures, they are probably members.

Best

Ray

Art,

When ever I needed more "play sand" for ballasting & scenery work, I always poured the 50 pound bag into 4, 5, or 6 five gallon plastic pails, and let them dry in the garage. Every few days, I would transfer the sand from one pail to another, and in a week or two, all the sand was nice and dry.

Then the dry sand could be spread on the track, covered with the proper ballast material, lightly soaked with cheap alcohol, then quickly glued with thinned Matt Medium. You have seen how ell it came out on our layout, and by using lots of cheap sand box sand, lots of money is saved on expensive ballast materials.

With sand out of the creek, spread it out on a shallow pan and let it dry.

When it's dry, put it in a 350 - 400 degree oven for a minimum of an hour.

This should kill all.

Good idea.

I have some dirt from the very area I model, my Mom got me a big jar of dirt and some rocks so I can use them on the layout (the rocks for a creek bed, the dirt mostly for a corn field I plan on 'planting' with real soil from the area) from a time my parents were out that way. There's a very high iron content in the soil there, so I'll have to run a magnet over whatever I'll use before it goes into the scenery.

Running a magnet over your dirt, sand etc. is not necessary as long as you glue it in place. After gluing, let it dry, then vacuum. I've used various natural materials for years without any problems. 

As far as mold, just thoroughly dry any material before using. Using wet water and then bonding with water and white glue will not produce mold in the amount of time that it takes for it to dry. 

Regarding bugs, once the material is bonded, any unseen insects would also be bonded. I've never seen an infestation after the fact. 

Thanks for all your replies, there are very helpful.  I have a lot of ballasting to do, but plan to get started sooner rather than later.  I think I will make a couple test track pieces to make sure I am happy with it.  I also have more track to paint before I can start.  And lastly, There are areas where I need to finish the area leading up to the tracks first.

But, I am tired of not having any track finished and have to correct that soon.

Art

Been using Sedum for trees for awhile. Picked in the late fall after they have dried out naturally then I store them in the basement for about 6 months to totally dry out. 

When ready I will cut and arrange them to look like trees in most cases gluing a few stalks together, then sealing with Brown paint. I shy away from the hairspray as it will break down and use Aerosol glue 'Super-77' to adhere flocking. Another GREAT plant from the yard to do this with is ASTILBE. The stalks are harder and the shape is more tree like

when I need sand I go out back and dig some up. sift it and apply.

Bob, Jacksonville, FL

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