Using Sanded Grout For Ballast Article Posted

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's taken me a while, but I've finally gotten the writeup written up.

http://conrail1285.com/n-scale-ballast-using-sanded-grout/

Needless to say, I've been happy with the results:

[C855B]

Excellent write-up, Ed.

A "however" to be aware of... oh, gawd, here it comes... the D-I-Y stores and especially Lowe's change product lines like underwear. The basic idea and technique is great, but if you go through all the trouble of recording color mix formulas for posterity and reproducing results at a later date, well, you simply can't. They don't carry the brand any more, don't deal with the wholesaler any more, burned their bridges and put the supplier out of business, etc., etc., etc.

[soapbox]

I've been through this issue over and over in the course of two decades of restoring homes and other buildings. I even took the local Lowe's store manager aside a couple of weeks ago to discuss the problem, that we were in the process of moving $Ks of our business to Menard's expressly because given the requirements of big projects, we are simply unable to predict our large-scale building supply needs for purchasing all anticipated materials at once. I explained that Lowe's business model of constant supplier switching over the past two years has meant we are unable to match quality, color and finish in an ongoing project, and that I didn't appreciate the hours of rework this cost us on each phase of the project (namely, the layout building).

[/soapbox]

Sorry about that. I pick on Lowe's, but the others aren't much better. Anyway, everything you said is a great idea, just don't do it with the expectation of repeating the results in color and texture down the road. The home center supply chain doesn't work that way any more, and hasn't for a while. That's where the Woodland Scenics and other MRR-specific suppliers have us - they know we need product predictability one, two and five years down the... uh... pike.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's a really good point.

I agree, it's a real pain in the a$$.

I noticed, for example, while trying to find info about the brand that I used, that the branding seems to have changed in the two years since I stocked up.

Super annoying.

Although, at least, in the real world, railroads sometimes got ballast from multiple sources too, so all isn't always lost.

[John]

You can get lifetime supply of grout at HABITAT RESTORE ..

[DeltaBravo]

Ed, you can always weather it up with oil and dirt, just make sure you blend in the new grout mix with the old and most folks will not notice.

That's a really good point.

I agree, it's a real pain in the a$$.

I noticed, for example, while trying to find info about the brand that I used, that the branding seems to have changed in the two years since I stocked up.

Super annoying.

Although, at least, in the real world, railroads sometimes got ballast from multiple sources too, so all isn't always lost.

[Philip H]

So do what I did for the grout I'm using for the first layer of ground cover - buy a 25lb bag.  Its way more then I'll ever need, but I can also patch and redo to my heart's content.

[C855B]

So do what I did for the grout I'm using for the first layer of ground cover - buy a 25lb bag.  Its way more then I'll ever need, but I can also patch and redo to my heart's content.

Actually, that's a pretty reasonable strategy. But for long-term storage you have to do what I do - seal the (neatly) opened bag with tape, and then bag the bag, and tape and seal that, too. Portland cement is hygroscopic, and if you don't go the extra mile to keep the humidity out, after a few years you just have a 24lb bagged rock.

[GimpLizard]

Excellent article, Ed. I'm going to have to try this. But I do have one stupid question. (And please forgive my ignoramity.)

You say we want part 'C'. Does that mean we don't want parts 'A' & 'B'?

Thanks.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Correct, you don't want parts A&B. Those are the primary binders for grouting. The part C stuff is mostly just the sand "filler" part.

[Baronjutter]

As long as I'm only using part C will it only be the glue holding the ballast together?  I like to do all my track work with simple wood glue so that if I ever have to rip up my stuff I just soak it and it comes up, I don't want to encase my track in concrete.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm... not entirely sure, actually. The part c stuff behaves like it's got some sort of binder in it, but it's not quite as hard as concrete.

I can do a test.

[GimpLizard]

Thanks Ed. I thought that was the case. But wanted to be sure.

Mike

[hminky]

The Spectra Lock Mini Unit Part C can be mixed with latex paint and reground to get whatever color you want:





Used it to make wagon roads in larger scales:





The "painted" grout will grind down to the initial size:



That is not fully ground but it can be made any size.

My horse road article is at :

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/scenery/clods/

Thank you if you visit
Harold