Railway design, construction, and gardening

That would be awesome if you could keep me updated!

Thanks

jhsimpson62:

mixture rate was 15 lbs to 1 ton.

That’s something in the neighborhood of 0.34 grams of stabilizer to a pound of fines.  One pound of crusher fines will ballast about 5 foot of rail.  Sounds like you have enough to last a lifetime.

Tom, That sounds about right for ratio. I haven't looked in the bag yet, but it must be some really fine power. We had some real heavy rains last week and I have a few places which will be attacked first. Jack

Tom, Thanks for the hints on mixing and laying the ballast and stablizer. Your method of ballasting sounds just like I've been doing (without the stablizer). My biggest concern is in getting the crusher fines dried out enough to get a good mix. Not a big deal, its just going to take time. Jack

Sounds to me like you have the situation solved!  I have given up trying to figure out why the stabilizer does not wash away in rain or sprinkler systems.  I’ve been using it for 4~5 years now and just love it because it is renewable/reusable.  It is 99.9% idiot proof, so long as you keep it away from the points in a turnout.

How are you ordering it?

Go back to the first page of this thread.  There is a 1-800 phone number.  Ask them for a vendor in your area. 

Optisailorusa:

How are you ordering it?

Hi all,

I must first say, Thanks Tom, for the information about these folks and their products.

I have been corresponding with TINA, a representative of this company.

I 've explained to her that it is my desire to try and use either their Stabilizer or maybe the StaLok All Weather product.

I"ve explained to her, that I want to try and use one of their products, to hold in place, a product in this area called "Hardshell", I want to try and use it, as a scale track ballast, it's made from Calcium Carbonate, it's commonly used as "Chicken Grit", to feed chickens, so's the egg shells are harder.

This stuff looks just like mini "G" Scale Ballast Rock, looks just like and is about the size, "G" scale wise, as the ballast used on the real railroad tracks in this area. White in color.

I've tested this stuff for hardiness' in water....have soaked it in a bowl for days...holds up well...also put some on my layout for a time, and it does not seem to really dissolve in the heavy rains either. Looks like it could be dyed to different colors too....have not tried that, as yet though. 

I Will let everyone know later how this venture turns out, and what is maybe suggested as best to use as a stabilizer, to hold it in place.....We're always experimenting.....Right folks !!!!   

 Byron 

Byron, you are dead on, so long as after (or during) the experiment results, both fair and foul, be shared.  We can all learn for each others success’s and non-success.  I will not use the word fail, as it is a learning process, we learn what works and learn what does not work.

ttrigg:

Byron, you are dead on, so long as after (or during) the experiment results, both fair and foul, be shared.  We can all learn for each others success’s and non-success.  I will not use the word fail, as it is a learning process, we learn what works and learn what does not work.

Will Do, Tom

Now that the hot season is finally starting to break down here, It cooled down a bit just this past evening, It should be real nice to start getting back outside and do some further testing and cleaning of the mainline. I'll try and keep y'all posted as to how this works out.......

Byron 

Dave: read this