Question regarding glueing ballast

[kirk59]

I am in the process of glueing ws n scale ballast on my door layout and am having problems getting the glue and water mixture to wick into the ballast.  I know this topic has been flogged to death but I don't know what to do.  I have tried everything from a fifty fifty mixture to thirty seventy.   Also tried a couple drops of dw detergent to break surface tension.  Alcohol same,  glue mixture seems to lay on the surface.  Videos  I have seen the glue seems to soak right in.  What am I doing wrong.  This is taking all the fun out of this 
Thanks Kirk

[glakedylan]

I seem to recall a wetting down of ballast with wet water (H20 and alcohol). then after it is wetted down let the glue flow as per the mix you noted 50/50 with a bit of alcohol or dw detergent.

hope someone will chime in to confirm this or add correct info.

respectfully

[Kisatchie]

I have a question. Which brand of glue are you using?


Hmm... I always use
crazy glue...

[havingfuntoo]

What kind of ballast are you using?

[peteski]

The ballast has to be first moistened with "wet water" (Google it for more info), then the thinned glue mix is applied to the wet ballast. At least that is the old tried-and-true ballasting method I have used.

[kirk59]

thanks for your interest.  using woodland fine and elmers white school glue.  Bottle says its washable if that means anything.  Kirk

[loyalton]

As noted by Peteski, you spray and and thoroughly wet the ballast first with alcohol (cheapest isopropyl, 70% or thereabouts, without additives like oil, from the drugstore) or detergent in water solution (dish detergent). I prefer the alcohol -- it soaks in to the bottom a bit better and it's somewhat less water to dry out. Then you eyedropper the 50/50 glue/water mix (or a slightly thinner mix) on so it saturates the ballast, to the point where you see it nearly leaking out of the sides of the ballast. I've always used Elmer's white glue (cheap and good stuff), with some cheapie brands found being very poor glues.

[glakedylan]

feeling rather invisible

duh

why bother...

[Santa Fe Guy]

After many years in N Scale I have found Woodland ballast floats (it is not rock) so try another brand of Rock Ballast. Then as suggested wet the ballast with a mix of Alcohol and water 25% alcohol to water. Let is soak right in. Then with a good brand of white glue mix 30% glue with 65% water (make sure it is mixed properly) and then add some alcohol.
Start slowly and just let the mix sink in bit by bit the gradually go back and keep repeating the process until you see the mix coming from the sub road bed. This means that it has soaked right through the ballast. If you do not let it soak in the ballast will develop a crust and eventually fail.
Once you get the hang of it it is easy.
So don't give up and have fun.
Rod.

[peteski]

feeling rather invisible

duh

why bother...

You ask for others to confirm your info - we did.  Why bother?

[garethashenden]

After many years in N Scale I have found Woodland ballast floats (it is not rock) so try another brand of Rock Ballast. Then as suggested wet the ballast with a mix of Alcohol and water 25% alcohol to water. Let is soak right in. Then with a good brand of white glue mix 30% glue with 65% water (make sure it is mixed properly) and then add some alcohol.
Start slowly and just let the mix sink in bit by bit the gradually go back and keep repeating the process until you see the mix coming from the sub road bed. This means that it has soaked right through the ballast. If you do not let it soak in the ballast will develop a crust and eventually fail.
Once you get the hang of it it is easy.
So don't give up and have fun.
Rod.

There's a question, who sells actual rock ballast?

[C855B]

There's a question, who sells actual rock ballast?

http://www.rrscenery.com/

[kirk59]

ballast not staying put is not the problem I am  having here.  I have read many posts about other modelers using woodland scenic ballast with no issues.  Its the lack of good penetration  of the glue that is my problem.   Kirk

[davefoxx]

Kirk,

Here's the method that I'm currently using.  I spray 70% isopropyl alcohol over the ballast.  Start high and mist over it.  As it gets soaked you won't have to be as careful spraying, because the ballast is less likely to get blown around once it gets wet.  Then, I dribble a white glue and water mixture (I use a ratio of ¹/₃^rd glue to ²/₃^rds water) over the ballast and allow it to dry.  I have also used Woodland Scenics' Scenic Cement successfully, but you'll still want to use a wetting agent (e.g., alcohol).

Hope this helps,
DFF

[glakedylan]

You ask for others to confirm your info - we did.  Why bother?

as if writing "as Gary has said" would be a toilsome and burdensome four words!

I get it...it is clear as air.