Ballasting tools

[Pruitt]

I use a good quality clear plastic spoon.

It's a lot more robust than the flimsy ones you get a fast food places. It's clear because that's just what we had in the house.

A spoon and a 1" foam brush work great, so I've never investigated a ballast spreader.

[wp8thsub]

mbinsewi

As far as plastic vs metal spoon?  Your just making a funny, right? 

It must be plastic.  Preferably black plastic.  Because reasons.

[RR_Mel]

While not perfect I have a pair of ballast spreaders that work pretty good.



I bought them from my LHS about 12 years ago.  They are pretty good for spreading the ballast evenly but it requires a lot of touchup.  And Like I say pretty good I would still use them today, a lot easier than using a spoon at least for me they are.

I might add I ues real rock from Arizona Rock and Mineral for my ballast, that might have an impact on it working pretty good.
 

Mel



 
My Model Railroad   
http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[richhotrain]

hbgatsf

We had hundreds of plastic spoons around the house.  I went looking for one and couldn't find any.   When I asked my wife where they were she told me that she had thrown them out because we didn't entertain the way we used to. 

I guess I didn't react to that well because the next time she was in Walmart she bought a three pack of metal ones.  The next time I go to a fast food place I will get plastic.  

Forget the plastic ones that you get at fast food places. They are too small and too slippery. Use a metal soup spoon which easily controls the pour and holds a fair amount of ballast.

Rich

[hbgatsf]

mbinsewi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As far as plastic vs metal spoon?  Your just making a funny, right? 

Nope.  We had hundreds of plastic spoons around the house.  I went looking for one and couldn't find any.   When I asked my wife where they were she told me that she had thrown them out because we didn't entertain the way we used to. 

I guess I didn't react to that well because the next time she was in Walmart she bought a three pack of metal ones.  The next time I go to a fast food place I will get plastic.   

Rick

[richhotrain]

hbgatsf

While there are a number of items on the market to help with spreading ballast many still just use a spoon or small cup to get it onto the track.

That's because the spoon or small cup is the most effective ballasting tool on the market.

hbgatsf

Is that because you never tried a spreader or that you used one and didn't like the results?

It's because once you use a spoon or small cup, you will come to find out that there is never any reason to use a spreader.

Rich

[mbinsewi]

wp8thsub

This is the only ballast tool I care to use

.

The rest look like gimics or gadgets.

As far as plastic vs metal spoon?  Your just making a funny, right? 

Unless you make a habit of ballasting with the track power on. 

Mike.

[hbgatsf]

Anything special about a plastic spoon vs a metal one?

Rick

[wp8thsub]

DSC02142

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

I've found that ballasting tools save me no time or effort compared to using a spoon.  In fact, they create more work for me because they can only spread ballast to so many places it's needed, so I'd need to use a spoon for much of the work anyway.

This is the only ballast tool I care to use.  Accept no substitutes.

[mobilman44]

Hi, 

I do have the "tube type" ballast dispenser and gave it more than a fair chance when ballasting on my last layout.  It worked ok with fine HO or N but jammed up on anything bigger.  There is obviously a knack to using it, and I got tired trying to get the hang of it.  

So the majority of the layout was done with cheap paper cups, a plastic spoon, and a 1 inch wide new paint brush (cheapie).  With a bit of practice, I (IMO) got pretty good at it and would use this method again without question.

That said, others may find the various "ballast spreaders" to be just what they need, and can get them working "as advertised".  I just could not do that.

[hbgatsf]

While there are a number of items on the market to help with spreading ballast many still just use a spoon or small cup to get it onto the track.  Is that because you never tried a spreader or that you used one and didn't like the results?

Rick