I would like to try smashing rocks and other suitable ballast material to make my own ho scale ballast. What kind/size/type of sieve would be good for this?
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
The one that has the correct opening for the size of material you want.
I found some tea/kitchen strainers at Good Will less then 2 bucks
Smashing rocks will get boring pretty quickly, especially when you find how much smashing is needed to get scale-size ballast.
A better alternative is to get some screenings. Around here I used to get them at one of the many local-ish quarries, although nowadays, most won't sell to other than contractors.
Instead, I got a couple of 50lb. bags of limestone screenings from the local lumber yard...big box lumber suppliers have them, too.To get the totally-too-big-for-anything-but-G-scale stuff out of the way, I first ran the stone through some fairly fine hardware cloth, then put the stuff that passed through that through, in succession, two ordinary kitchen-type sieves, one a finer mesh than the other. While either will produce useable-sized ballast for HO, a lot of fines (dust) remains with it. A good friend, who also makes his own ballast in this manner, suggested putting the smallest stuff (which contains most of the dust) through a splatter guard (meant to put over a frying pan when frying stuff like bacon). If you're going to use the household stuff (wife's), buy her some new ones first...otherwise, buy the new ones for yourself.
I'd also suggest that you not do the screening in the layout room, or in the house, either. It makes a lot more dust than I thought, but I never really noticed until I picked up a tool that I had set atop one of my rivers...here's what it looked like during the vacuuming operation, which encompassed the entire lower level of one aisle of my layout....
I had to remove two bridges just to get at it all...
Here's the freshly-ballasted (still wet) tracks...
...and a close-up of the ballast after it had dried...
Wayne
Thank you for the feedback! I guess what I should have mentioned is that I am planing on smashing up woodland scenics coarse ballast (I bought the wrong stuff) so I don't lose money reselling it or throwing it away. I want to rip it of the layout, smash it and sieve it out to ho, and then re-apply it.
As I understand it, WS ballast is crushed walnut shells. So there might be some question as to how effective crushing and sieving might be. I use Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast which is real rock.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
BNSF UP and others modeler Thank you for the feedback! I guess what I should have mentioned is that I am planing on smashing up woodland scenics coarse ballast (I bought the wrong stuff) so I don't lose money reselling it or throwing it away. I want to rip it of the layout, smash it and sieve it out to ho, and then re-apply it.
It's already layed? Well It will come up with wet water, But, It will have to be compleaty dry to recrush it, and then some if not a lot of glue will still remain.
Could be a bigger project then you think. May be better off to call it a loss, and toss it. Or could you leave most of the big stuff there, and go over with smaller?
Let us know if it works, I for one would like to know.
Like the good Dr. ,I use fines, from my driveway. Endless supply and free
WS ballast is WALNUT SHELLS. (They float)
You can go to any firm that supplies shandblasting materials. You can get a variety of sizes and materials, you will have to inspect them to see what will match for you.
You get a 50#bag for just a few bucks. (You can repackage it and sell it on e-bay as model ballast. You could make a fortune on your left over 48 pounds of material.)
ROAR
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Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I too have some of the Woodland Scenics ballast that is larger than I want to use. So far I have just glared at it as it sits unused on the shelf. But if I was inclined to mash it up (or down) into a smaller size, I think I'd check out the local Goodwill or other thrift shop looking for a cheap food processor or blender or coffee bean grinder rather than try to mash it manually. There are other uses for those utensils in scenery making by the way.
Dave Nelson
dknelson is onto something with his grinding idea
Ballast isn't very expensive. I'd suggest getting some real rock ballast like Arizona or Scenic Express. That stuff doesn't float when you try to put it down.
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If you compare the prices of Arizona Rock & Mineral, and Scenic Express make sure you also compare the quantity for the price.
Thank you for the responses! Yes, the ballast is laid, but I am working on a 4x8 with expansions on the way, and I have already removed most of the ballast, and it was quite easy. I am loosly modeling bnsf track, so the ballast color and material I have is just fine.
I bought a large bag of crushed walnut shells on Amazon. They were listed for use as bedding for lizards. I poured some into a plastic container that had a lid that sealed the container. Then I added some ebony wood stain and shook the box to mix it. When the walnut was coated, I spread it on some cardboard to dry. When dried...I had coal.
I should have ground the walnut shells to a smaller size first.
I was going to use some of the walnut shells for ballast, instead, I bought Scenic Express. Much easier and cleaner.
( If you need to clean a coffee grinder, run some uncooked white rice through it. )
While I try to go cheap, biting the bullet and getting manufactured ballast is the easiest method. Good on you for making it yourself. I don't have need for 50+ lbs of it.
Actually, I am just smashing up woodland scenics ballast, so I am biting the bullet too. Thanks for the compliment though. :)
Hello all,
Check out this thread on ballast.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/267078.aspx
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"