What to use to hold the "crusher fines" in place.

[pennsyj1fan]

I saw a posting where someone used a powder called Stabilizer from Stabilizer Solutions in Phoenix to hold the crusher fines in place so they don't wash away.  I have made a couple of calls to them but haven't received a call back yet. Ths product is only available from them via mailorder.  Is there anything else that would work as well available at Lowe's that is the equivi;ant or would work.  I need to get something on mine soon as winter is close by in Ohio.

thank you,

Steve

[Rex in Pinetop]

I had good luck with a mixture of 50-50 Titebond III (wood glue) and water sprayed on the balast.  Note that Titebond II doesn't work since it's water soluble.

Rex

[two tone]

Hi Steve,   Im over the pond  but I use a wet mix of cement and then push ballast into it, seens to work ok for me BUT keep it away from switches.

[smcgill]

I used the stablizer in New England and it does wash a way, but not as fast.

I'm not to happy with it.

I'll use the glue meathod when I redue! 

Sean

[Flint Rock Mtn Guy]

Ok guys - how about this! There's a product made in Canada called TECHNO Seal, not Techni Seal, which is a similar product. Techno Seal is a polymeric sand, which comes in two colors, gray and tan. This product can either be used full strength or cut with any type ballast of choosing, but adding stone like stone dust (crusher fines) MUST be kept to a minimum (approx. 1/3rd or less mainly for color) for best adhesion.

Compared to other polymeric products out there this product is a bit pricey (approx. $30 - 40#), but in the long run well worth its cost because this product definitely WILL NOT *wash away when applied as directed. It's applied by brushing in dry, misted lightly with water three times and left to set.

*I used it on a concrete base and on 1/2" cement backer board for best results. On crusher fines, as a track base, I haven't had experience using it there, but wash away still shouldn't happen because its adherence to the track ties is amazing. Some cracking may occur over time depending on how heavily it's applied under and in between track ties set on a stone fill base.

After 4 years there's been no sign of cracking or wash away. I first saw it used on a layout in the West Virginia Highlands where winter's reach well below freezing with hot summers with no adverse affect on its use there or have I.

Hope this solves your ballast wash away problems? It has on my garden railway and what a nice ballasted in-scale look it gives!

Lowe's and Home Depot carry a Sakrete polymeric product for setting pavers, don't bother! Techni Seal, others, don't bother!

JW

 

[old train man]

  I tried using TiteBond 2 & 3, with small balist rock, cut 50% with water.  It didn't hold thru last winter and it was a mild one here in central Missouri, just east of Jefferson City.  One of my nabors is a turkey farmer and suggested trying turkey starters grit.  This is made from crushed granite and has very sharp edges. 

 I had previously talked to a fellow outside train builder in Wis. or Min earlier and he uses Elmer's Pro-Bond, cut   with 40% water, and has had no problems.

I figured since he is in a lot colder area, with a lot of snow, that I shouldn't have any problems. 

The turkey grit comes in 3 grade sizes - small, medium and large.  I re-ballisted my tracks (around 180 ft.) with the medium size grit, and used the large size for roads.  So far, no problems with the rain washing out anything and I didn't glue the road ways.

 Will let you know this spring.

Cary

[dwbeckett]

I placed my ballist on and around my tracks in June after wetting it down and brushing the excess away from the rails I tryed using my swiffer pad with rag soked in alcohal. All I did was make mud from the extra fine dust that spread on top of the rails. So after recleaning and removeing excess ballist from next to the rails, pick up by the wet rag. I took out my Aristocraft track cleaning car after two pass's and still jerky operrtion. I added chunck of 380 grit sandpaper to the car. All was well till the first rain then I had to reuse the track cleaner. NOTE: I did not use any type of binder with the ballist.  So if all I have to do is run my track cleaner before each run to have good operation then I'm happy.

Dave