Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

mix for white glue?

1141 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 53 posts
mix for white glue?
Posted by Hobojim on Sunday, January 6, 2008 10:41 AM

Hello all!

i know this has been coverd many time .. what is the mix for white glue and water to use in spray bottle?? thanks all Hobojim 

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Sunday, January 6, 2008 10:56 AM
About 1/3 glue, 2/3 water. I add a couple ounces of alcohol too. Pump hairspray bottles work great.
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Lake Havasu City, Arizona, now in Guthrie, Oklahoma
  • 665 posts
Posted by luvadj on Sunday, January 6, 2008 11:00 AM
I concur with loathar...be sure to spray some clear water thru the spray pump least you have to buy another sprayer next time you use it.

Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R.        My patio layout....SEE IT HERE

There's no place like ~/ ;)

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 53 posts
Posted by Hobojim on Sunday, January 6, 2008 11:04 AM
Hi thanks all
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Sunday, January 6, 2008 11:08 AM
P.S. I like using Mod Podge matte medium instead of plain white glue. Dries nice and flat.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Weymouth, Ma.
  • 5,199 posts
Posted by bogp40 on Sunday, January 6, 2008 11:23 AM

 loathar wrote:
P.S. I like using Mod Podge matte medium instead of plain white glue. Dries nice and flat.

Loather,

Instead of Mod Podge, I will use matte medium (basically same stuff). The dilution of them is 25-30% glue- 75-60% water and alcohol. But I find that with just white glue a 50/50 appears to work better (alcohol also added).

For ballasting, a small bottle that will dribble seems to have much better control over any type of spraying.

Modeling B&O- Chessie  Bob K.  www.ssmrc.org

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Lewiston ID
  • 1,710 posts
Posted by reklein on Sunday, January 6, 2008 3:04 PM
A thing to consider, white glue will soften in water after it has set once should you want to change something. Matt medium won't soften.
In Lewiston Idaho,where they filmed Breakheart pass.
  • Member since
    January 2013
  • 180 posts
Posted by 2021 on Sunday, January 6, 2008 3:17 PM

I agree with the 2:1 spray mix.  As an aside, if you want to apply a first layer of ground cover, use a 1:1 mix and brush it on.  Then sprinkle the ground cover.  When you add weeds, brush, sticks, etc. then use the spray.  I rarely use spray as I prefer to dribble the glue/water mix using the drip method similar to doing ballast.

For what it's worth,  Ron K.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Huntington WEST Virginia
  • 384 posts
Posted by ChessieFan13 on Sunday, January 6, 2008 3:52 PM

 

I have used a 50-50 mix of white glue and alcohol with a few drips of liquid soap.  It seems to work fine for ballest and foam, but i use thd drip method for all.

J.W.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: East Granby, CT, USA
  • 505 posts
Posted by jim22 on Sunday, January 6, 2008 9:57 PM

I'm an expert - I've been doing this for about 2 weeks! 

For ballast, I use 20ml Elmers Glue-all, 40ml tap water, one drop dish detergent.  I use eye droppers.  First I drop 91% Isopropal alchahol on the ballast to wet it without disturbing it, then go back and drop the glue mixture.

For ground foam, I put the alchahol in a spray bottle with a very fine but not forcefull spray.  I spray the foam with alchahol and then use a dropper to apply Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement (make sure you shake it well first). 

I have tried spraying a glue mixture and through my sprayers I get too much of a stream.  The Scenic Cement sprays much better with no mixing required.

Jim 

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 53 posts
Posted by Hobojim on Monday, January 7, 2008 7:18 AM

Thanks all for your wonderfull answers i am working on very low hobo budget so doing as cheap as possible.. will be posting a pic today to get advise on how my ground foam looks...

i would be lost with our ALL you great people and theis wonderfull forum!!!

Thanks again Hobojim 

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 53 posts
Posted by Hobojim on Monday, January 7, 2008 7:28 AM

Updat: picture would like opions on grond foam colors and scale size thanks all

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: El Dorado Springs, MO
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by n2mopac on Monday, January 7, 2008 9:50 AM

I use two different ratios for different applications. I use 1:4 glue to water for scenery like ground foam, etc. This works well, but isn't strong enough for ballast long term (I learned the hard way). Therefore I use 1:2 glue to alcohol for ballast with great results.

Ron

Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado. 

Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy

Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings

 

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Canada
  • 1,284 posts
Posted by wickman on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 1:30 AM
 n2mopac wrote:

I use two different ratios for different applications. I use 1:4 glue to water for scenery like ground foam, etc. This works well, but isn't strong enough for ballast long term (I learned the hard way). Therefore I use 1:2 glue to alcohol for ballast with great results.

Ron

I do the same. I also use cheese cloth as a strainer before I put it in my spray bottle it seems to help from clogging up the nozzle.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Tacoma
  • 170 posts
Posted by olequa on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 3:00 PM

As others have mentioned I prefer matte medium. I use a very dilute mixture of alcohol and mm when ballasting, namely 15 parts alcohol to 1 part mm. This goes on directly with no prewetting. The result is a nice rubbery ballast, not rock hard. I imagine this solution could be used for scenery as well but I'm not there yet.

George

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!