Can't find crusher fines

[gileng4]

I live in southern Maryland and I can't find any one that sales crusher fines in the area. I do use chicken grit but it does move some after a good rain.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Better stuff available!

I know several people who are now using concrete block aggregate as ballast rather than crusher fines! I first heard about a guy up in Cecil Co, MD who was using it, then a couple of people in my club tried it. It is a better size so as to be more in scale, yet still angular so it will lock in.

Go to the local manufacturer of concrete block and see if they will sell you some. Often, I've found that once I tell people what i want it for, they are quite helpful. For several years a local rock yard sold the "stuff that fat bob used for his trains"!

Are you in Southern MD on left or right side of the bay? We have a club over here on the Eastern Shore that is right active, several members from Ocean Pines, Salisbury, and even one down in Pocomoke!

[gileng4]

I am on the left side of the bay, in St. Marys Co. Does the block aggregate harden after it gets wet?

[markperr]

Home Depot sells a product used for beneath pavers which oddly enough is called "paver base". It's basically a powder that can be leveled to put under paver walkways and when it becomes wet, dries to a near concrete like state. You could possibly take that stuff and spread it over the top of your existing roadbed and then water it in. It should make it's way down in between the gaps of the grit and help to solidify your base. Haven't tried it myself, but as scientists will tell you, "It looks good in theory". At $3.00 per 50 pound bag, I imagine it would go quite a long way for very little cost using this method.

Mark

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Does not harden unless you mix portland cement or some other agent into it. It just catches one upon the other and as gravity settles it, it locks together.

[kstrong]

What part of southern MD? My dad's in Upper Marlboro. He's got a rock yard close to him where he gets his materials. Palagrio Bros. Stone comes to mind, but I'm not positive that's correct.

Later,

K

[Karl Reichenbach]

Some block manfactures that you can try on the western shore are Ernest Maier Inc. in Bladensburg, Laurel Block Corp in Annapolis Junction, Gomoljax Block in Annapolis. There may even be some other small manfactures in the area.

As Capt Bob says this stuff works great and looks good. I have been using it for almost 3 years now.

It is very easy for me to get as I am a commercial masonry contractor. I have used almost 6 tons of it to date.

Karl