What does everyone use for ballast?

[jlrocks]

I am getting to the point where I am ready to start laying ballast on my track. Checked out the local hobby store and found it is expensive stuff. Is there somewhere that it can be purchased in quantity or do you make your own? If so out of what material? Thanks, JLROCKS.

[Anonymous]

I use the ground rubber, in 2 different colors available from Scenic Express...Tim

[FJ and G]

Slurry; quarter-minus, crusher fines, aka crush and run and about a dozen other names; mostly granite and dust from the local quarry. Cost about $17-$22 per ton.

[jlrocks]

Thanks guys. Guess I should have read the forum before I posted the question. Many good replies in the other post.

[FJ and G]

No problems. We all were beginners at one time. Just take yer shoes off and feel at home.

[Anonymous]

Search my post on expensive ballast from Feb 18,06 in the forum jump below in the CTT forum.

[BobbyDing]

Just do a general furum search on "Ballast" and you'll find much.

Bobby

[andregg1]

Hi
I use absorb-il is close to real ballast.


And very cheap.
Andre.

[Anonymous]

I use cat litter, the unsented type. Sift out the big stones and you got yourself cheap ballast.

[Fred Bear]

Aquariam gravel in the big bags is one heck of a good deal and about the right size. Many colors available, including natural . Jake

[lyle_styles]

Hello,

I also use a rubber ballast which comes in two colors from the LHS. I believe he gets it from a person in Ohio whose company is called Ballast King.

The guy at the LHS recommended this type of ballast because if or when some of it might get into the engine, it wouldn't harm the motor or gears like real stone will.

Hope this may help.

Lyle R Ehlers

[Kooljock1]

Back in the fall of 1992 my wife won a goldfish playing one of those ping-pong ball games on the Midway at The Champlain Valley Fair. Mr. Fish lived for the next 11 years, right up until I was ready to ballast the railroad. After he died, I soaked the acquarium rocks in a water/Clorox solution, rinsed it through a strainer, bought some ties from 3r Plastics and went to work!

I haven't painted the rails, but otherwise it looks like what I wanted:



Jon [8D]

[Anonymous]

I use Woodland Scenics ballast. Not the cheapest, but still among the best in terms of appearance and varieties (sizes and colors) available. I figure trackwork is the most visible and single most important item on a model train layout, so I prefer to treat it appropriately.

[zwbob]

Chicken grit, its about 5 bucks for 50 pounds.

[Jumijo]

Landscaper's stone dust. $3 - $5 for 50 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Check out Brennan's Better Ballast::
http://www.brennansmodelrr.com/products.asp

[cnw1995]

You know those little rocks that accumulate at the end of your driveway after the winter in northern climes. I sweep them up - sift and wa***hem - and fill a 5 gallon bucket with them to use. Perfect size and "free."

[FJ and G]

Lots of fresh material here on an old topic. Goes to show that it pays for veterans of this forum to pay attention to an oft-repeated post.

BTW, there's a large-scale guy who used several tons of ballast gleaned from his workplace. He works at a distillery and used the tiny stones that accumulated over the decades in piles outside (they're thrown there when the tanks are cleaned). I forgot if it's beer or whiskey distillery. But I believe the latter as I think he's from Scottland.

BTW, I've also used Doug's method. Those are similar to the crusher fines I mentioned above. They actually are the closest thing to reality as they are miniature granite rocks, in irregular shapes that are used in real railroads as ballast (only in larger size).

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,

I used inexpensive chicken grit, also, which is crushed granite. It comes in at least 2 sizes, the one called "Starter" is for little chicks and has smaller pieces.

Take care, Joe.

[cnw1995]

David, I actually called the town once (on a slow day) to find out what they put down on the snow / ice (which is essentially the remains of what I'm collecting) and they liked to chat with anyone expressing interest in their work: it's actually crushed granite and some local shale / gravel. LOL at myself for being so cheap (albeit creative.). Lots and lots of gravel mined open pit style out here.

[jlrocks]

Thanks to all you vets of the hobby. Very good info to a relatively new guy (old but new). Really appreciate all the input. Now I can go shopping. Thanks a million.

[jonadel]

Fine chicken grit--$4.97 for 50#, hard to beat.

Jon

see this for details http://jands.logicalgeek.com/main.php

[Anonymous]

Has anyone considered using Oil-Dri oil absorbing material?

Oil-Dri looks just like ballast.

Oil-Dri is a company that uses a fleet of Thrall Car 5150 Cu. Ft. 3-Bay Covered Hoppers.

Andrew F.

[macdannyk1]

Ballast? We don' need no stinking ballast! Just make a mess, since I use RealTrax. :)

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pigseyes



I use the ground rubber, in 2 different colors available from Scenic Express...Tim

[#ditto]
And I use RealTrax.

[Anonymous]

I use Woodland Scenics medium sized grey blend ballast. It's a bit pricey but the look is worth every penny. If I remember correctly, Allan is also running on Atlas track...and I bet he uses Woodland Scenics for the same reason. The Atlas ties and their spacing are probably the best scale representations of the real thing, requiring a fine grade of ballast if you're shooting for realism.

I wouldn't hessitate to use larger ballast with tubular track where realism isn't critical. I have my reservations about using real stone because of it ability to transmit noise if it's glued into position.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Woodland Scenics course ballast.

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ. Glued stone doesn't transmit any more noise than glued rubber or anything else. I did an experiment and could not hear any difference between several different types. Actually, if you want to be scientific about it--increased mass would tend to reduce vibrations rather then enhance them.


Dennis

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Dennis B

I beg to differ. Glued stone doesn't transmit any more noise than glued rubber or anything else. I did an experiment and could not hear any difference between several different types. Actually, if you want to be scientific about it--increased mass would tend to reduce vibrations rather then enhance them.


Dennis

This is good to know, Dennis. It puts to rest an assumption I had about using stone. I should know better than to assume. Thanks.

Bruce Webster

[Anonymous]

Actually I believe the "absorb it" is kitty litter. I've used it and it's fine. However, If you are worried about scratches to the bottom of your trains and or small scratches, this along with the crushed rock off-shoots should be avoided and rubberized materials should be used. now, that's really not a problem for most, but then if someone is worried about stuff like that 9the possible scratches, then that person probably shouldn't be running anyway and stick to collecting. For those who use kitty litter, Do you sift out the blue speckles? Or do the cats poop on the mainline?