I've heard that using cat litter for ballast can cause rust on the track. I've had my track ballasted for over a year with cat litter and have had no sign of problems. My layout is located in a spare bedroom and is not exposed to high humidity. Anyone else out there have this problem.
Thanks STEVE
Dave
It's a TOY, A child's PLAYTHING!!! (Woody from Toy Story)
Steve The rust thing is probably a rumor started by a ballast manufacturer!!! Are you using standard old school clay cat litter??? I'm always interested in any $$$ saving ideas! Saw something interesting for road material today. It's called mineral surface roofing paper. The backing is black, and the stones on the surface are a dark and varying grey black. Looks like black top that has seen some use.
underworld
I used crushed walnuts,ouch! But seriously if you have a pet store that has this product for bird litter, get it. Really great stuff and if you don't like color can always paint it. I got a 50 lb bag of this stuff for $20 bucks.
laz57
Thanks for all of your input. I'm using pain ole HARTZ cat litter. Used full strength glue as a base then a 50/50 glue water mix in a spray bottle. Topped it off with a dusting of black and dark brown spray. I think it looks pretty good. I got the rust input over on the O-Guage forum. I'm sure some well meaning scale guys that have their layouts in a basement or garage and have some moisture issues. I use gargraves track which is stainless steel rails so even if the litter holds or absorbs moisture I don't think it will rust. Cost was a big issue for me as well. I got a whole bag of litter for 4 bucks.
Thanks again STEVE
Where did you see this mineral surface roofing paper. I might give it a try on my roads.
STEVE
It was at Anderson's in Maumee Ohio. Stores are in the Toledo and Columbus area. There is probably something like it available at Home Depot/Lowe's/Menard's etc. What I really liked about it besides the not so black and slightly varied color was that the mineral/stone material was pretty flat. I know most of the standard shingle type material the stones are usually thicker. Let me know if you can find it. If not, I'll check with Anderson's to see who the manufacturer/distributor is.
Possibly the person that had the rust issue would have had it anyway if the track was old enough or the humidity was high enough over time. The Gargraves track is awesome!!! I have some for my Marklin Gauge 1 prewar 3 rail stuff. They are about the only company that makes gauge 1 in a 3 rail format. I got mine in tinplate....to save $$$ and for a more authentic look for the OLD stuff!!! But yeah, with the stainless rails I don't foresee you having a problem anyway.
I know of several people that model in larger scales and have used kitty litter and no real issues to speak of. The only concern normally is dust....but with your glue method there definitley shouldn't be any dust!
Laz
I've heard of the crushed walnut shells used for media blasting.....sounds like it is awesome ballast material!!! There is another thing they have at the blaster's shop called Black Beauty. It makes really awesome coal! No dust and shiny like real coal. I get used stuff from my friend Todd. The stuff is reusable but he doesn't like to filter and clean it....plus I guess it isn't that expensive anyway. I'll have to post a photo of it.
"Cat litter is designed to absorb moisture, not cause it."
A sponge absorbs moisture too. Would you surround your track with a sponge? The fact that it absorbs moisture means that it may be damp. If you haven't experienced a problem it's because you're not in a damp environment.
I started ballasting my first layout yesterday using sand/gravel I picked up in the desert. Here in the Mojave I get all the free ballast I want. I just sift and sort it myself using Gladware sandwich containers with different sized nail holes. I didn't like the natural color for ballast so I soaked the gravel in watered down black acrylic paint (used the same wash to stain my ties. Using O31 tube track, BTW). It went from a reddish color to a nice charcoal grey. Secured it with watered down white glue. I am really happy with the result.
For the folks in the desert, the best place to find homogenous sizes of gravel is in a wash or dry creek.
I could have used cat litter but I'm doing this on the extra cheap: the only part of the benchwork that wasn't recycled are the angle brackets and screws.
DennisB-1 "Cat litter is designed to absorb moisture, not cause it." A sponge absorbs moisture too. Would you surround your track with a sponge? The fact that it absorbs moisture means that it may be damp. If you haven't experienced a problem it's because you're not in a damp environment.
underworld Laz I've heard of the crushed walnut shells used for media blasting.....sounds like it is awesome ballast material!!! There is another thing they have at the blaster's shop called Black Beauty. It makes really awesome coal! No dust and shiny like real coal. I get used stuff from my friend Todd. The stuff is reusable but he doesn't like to filter and clean it....plus I guess it isn't that expensive anyway. I'll have to post a photo of it. underworld
UNDERWORLD,
I had seen that stuff. Freiend of mine use to have a tombstone company and would use this media to blast the stones, and engrave the names.. Wish he was still here, he retired to Florida and sold the company.
Tomstone business sounds interesting! Well, if you...or anyone else here is interested in Black Beauty I have a source for it. Was thinking about buying a bag and breaking it down into smaller bags for train hobbyists.
Thanks for the offer, but I already have enough of the real stuff(coal) here in Pa. I get the rice coal and put it in a bag and then smash it up into little pieces, works great.
LL675,
Surrounding your track with anything that absorbs moisture is not a good idea whether your basement is damp or not. Certainly track will rust in a damp environment However, all basements have a certain amount of moisture in the air, but why use something that will retain it? Why take the chance? One other point is that kitty litter looks like, well--kitty litter. There are better non-absorbing alternatives.
I agree. I had never thouht of using litter untill I read a story in CTT where someone had used it. It looked pretty good,and it's cheap. I had it down for a couple years, and had no signs of rust,until I redid my track and just went with bare track.
Haha....oh yeah....I guess in PA you've got coal comin out of the ground!!!!!! I've always wanted to get or build a live steamer....sounds like you've got the perfect model size coal!
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