smith & son ballast?

[Caleb Austin]

   Has anyone used this stuff? I've tried AZR&M ballast, WS ballast and highball. Some of them are ok but I wanted to try the S&M stuff. thanks

[keystonecrossings]

I'm using Smith & Son and I really like it.

Woodland Scenics floats; avoid.

[Chris333]

I use it, they have a color called Penn/Ohio that looks perfect for my area. The fine stuff looks good for N as well. You can get it from Scenic Express.

I screened it down more and use the stuff for Z scale too.

[Caleb Austin]

sounds good, thanks

[nwline]

Where can I find Smith & son ballast ?   do any  on line dealers carry it or do you order direct ?

[Chris333]

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1107
Everything with a number starting "ss" is from them. It is just a guy with a crusher in his shed near Columbus, OH. I think Scenic Express is the only place to get it, but shops may have it through them.


(#50 (screen) is the smallest)

[nwline]

Thanks , looks like something I've got to give a try .

[Allentown Hump]

So wait, what the heck is up with this warning for the Cinders?

"CAUTION: Cinders is an all processed material. Processing may cause a slight residual iron content and could cause damage to track and DCS electronics."

Do you really want to ballast your engine terminal with this stuff?

[SAH]

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1107
Everything with a number starting "ss" is from them. It is just a guy with a crusher in his shed near Columbus, OH. I think Scenic Express is the only place to get it, but shops may have it through them.

(#50 (screen) is the smallest)

They sold "direct only" at one time.  Maybe they still do.  No e-mail or website.  The last address I have is Chardon, OH and have received product from that address years ago.  Met Mr. Smith at a train show in the Cleveland area once.  Really nice guy.  The business might have moved since then though.

They also sold "fines" of each of the products.  Too fine for N scale ballast IMO but I use it for parking lots and gravel roads.  The slag fines are especially effective for modeling NE Ohio "back in the day" lots since a lot of the slag byproduct from the mills went to the road construction business.  Probably the same for other areas of the country with steel mill activity.  Not sure if that still happens.  Probably an environmental hazard now.   :

Steve

[Chris333]

Know what I think it was closer to Akron than Columbus (so Chardon could be correct), there is a Z scaler in Akron who goes to the guys house and even bought him a #60 screen for Z scale ballast.

[Pray59]

I'm still waiting for Don to post photos of that Z Scale version of the Smith & Son stuff. I still like the Arizona N Scale stuff for Z use, as it's very fine.

[sizemore]

Know what I think it was closer to Akron than Columbus (so Chardon could be correct), there is a Z scaler in Akron who goes to the guys house and even bought him a #60 screen for Z scale ballast.

Has there been any results to this? When I ordered my ballast from S&S a month ago they stated they had no screens smaller than #50.

The S.

[BCR 570]

If you want anything from Arizona Rock & Mineral, I would order soon.  i spoke with him the other day and he is planning to retire sooner than later.  The business is up for sale on his website.

Tim

[ednadolski]

I wanted to try the S&M stuff.

I hope you meant "S&S"....

(Otherwise, I don't want to know about it...)