Ballast screen

[wcfn100]

I was at IKEA yesterday and I saw a splatter screen that looked really close to what I've been looking for and thought I'd post the results here.



From left to right:

WS fine ballast, faucet screen, IKEA splatter guard.


I had originally been using the screen that is inside faucets but was still getting some larger parts. The IKEA screen doesn't leave a lot left over but I hoping to recrush it somehow.

Here's the item if your interested:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10112530

For $2.99 it looks like a pretty good option.  I may cut mine or extend the sides to make a more proper screen where the ballast won't bounce off the edge.


Jason

[wcfn100]

So, as a follow up.


I screened a bunch of loose 'fine' ballast that I had in different containers.  When I was done I weighed the contents of the pass and fail samples.  I got 2oz for pass and 1oz for fail.  So I guess I would expect that out of the 7oz bag of fine ballast, I'd get 2/3rds of the bag or a bit over 4.5oz on the initial screen. I know I could get some more if I did a second pass.   I may try and crush the fail pile again but I need something to sift out the really fine particles.

I think I'll see how this compares to AZ rock stuff next.

Jason

[railbuilderdave]

Jason,
The ballast from the IKEA screen looks like it's the finest, is it too fine?  The other 2 piles look almost the same.
Dave

[wcfn100]

Jason,
The ballast from the IKEA screen looks like it's the finest, is it too fine?  The other 2 piles look almost the same.
Dave

It's possible that it's too fine but then so might be the AZ Rock because 98% (visual test) passed through the screen too.

I took some sample measurements and here's what I got (in N scale).

2.4", 2.24", 2.56", 2.56", 1.84", 2.4"

It would seem that I could be missing some 3"-3.2" inch pieces that would be nice but I have to be aware that when I measure, the little piece of walnut might be flipping to it's skinniest cross-section each time when I squeeze it in the calipers.  If nothing else, I can probably assume that I'll never measure a piece at it's widest point unless I go under the optivisor and try and guess when I first touch the edges.

As for the other two piles, there is a difference.  A larger sample would show that or maybe I should have just had a pile of the stuff that didn't pass the faucet screen and you'd see the difference for sure.

Jason

[railbuilderdave]

I do see a difference from the first two piles it's just not as much as the difference between the first two and the third pile.  Thanks for the info on this but I'm not sure I'm going to run our to Ikea because I'm modeling in HO right now but thanks.
Dave