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!

Using common paver sand for ground cover

3356 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Dover, DE
  • 1,313 posts
Using common paver sand for ground cover
Posted by hminky on Monday, October 18, 2004 11:08 AM
I have an updated webpage discussing the use of home improvement sand as a replacement for decomposed granite as a simple ground cover.

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/gravel

Hope that helps someone[:D][:D]
Harold
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: Columbus, OH
  • 492 posts
Posted by dano99a on Monday, October 18, 2004 11:41 AM
Thanks for the tip, that's a lot cheaper than woodland scenics AND you get far more of it!!

I use a grey paver sand (looks almost like kitty litter) as balast. It's cheap and I can get a ton of it for a fraction of the cost for a woodlandscenics canister.

[:)]



DANO
C&O lives on!!!  
Visit my railfan community site: http://www.crtraincrew.com

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Crosby, Texas
  • 3,660 posts
Posted by cwclark on Monday, October 18, 2004 1:15 PM
be careful about the sand you choose...there are some sands out there that contain iron...not a good thing for motor winding internals..picks it up like a magnet from the track and trashes your engines...Chuck

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 18, 2004 7:26 PM
I've been buying "brown" colored sand from Hobby Lobby. It works well and actually looks better in photographs than it does in person, but it makes a decent ground cover. Perhaps it's a little bit "Oklahoma Clay Red", but I like to look of it. If I can figure out how to post a picture on here I will.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 18, 2004 7:31 PM
two things to think about if you use pavers sand as dano sand it looks lik kitty litter. Therefore if you have a cat IT IS kitty litter. I learned the hard way. Also if it gets wet it makes a clay like soup that if it gets on your track you will have a whole lot of cleaning. Andrew
  • Member since
    October 2002
  • From: Columbus, OH
  • 492 posts
Posted by dano99a on Monday, October 18, 2004 7:37 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by george745

two things to think about if you use pavers sand as dano sand it looks lik kitty litter. Therefore if you have a cat IT IS kitty litter. I learned the hard way. Also if it gets wet it makes a clay like soup that if it gets on your track you will have a whole lot of cleaning. Andrew


Andrew-

Correct you are BUT, if the sand is glued down (with the traditional 50/50 water/elmers mix) then cats hate the stuff cuz it's like scratching at a rough concrete block, I should know i have 2 cats. At least one of my cats only sleeps on the undeveloped (pink foam) areas. The other ignores the layout completely [:)]

DANO
C&O lives on!!!  
Visit my railfan community site: http://www.crtraincrew.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!

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!