ballast is separating, cracking

[Anonymous]

I am curious about what to do next after I used glue for my ballast, but after the summer, it is now cracking all over and starting to look bad.

Any ideas on how to rectify this, do I just pull it all up and start over. use a differerent glue?

regards,
richard

[TomDiehl]

What kind of glue did you use to bind it down? It needs to be something flexible, even after it hardens.

[CMSTPP]

You want to use Elmers school glue for that. The stuff is flexible and doesn't crack like other glues. Super Glue tends to crack after awhile if its forming the cork. (thats if you used the super glue) Like TomDiehl said it all comes down to the type of glue you use.

James

[Medina1128]

One other thing can cause this. If you don't presoak the ballast well enough before you glue it, the glue won't penetrate the ballast completely. I would remove the old ballast and redo it. If you used a water based glue, it should come up fairly easily if you re-soak it. Make sure you add a few drops of liquid detergent to your water that you use to presoak the ballast, or use rubbing alcohol.

[selector]

Or, you cuold let the cycle complete itself (wait until summer and let what is to happen happen), and then add ballast over the damaged crack, if that will work, and re-glue. Try a patch first, and see if you like the results.

Pulling it all up may be inevitable, but I would wait to let the cause (humidity change is most likely) run itself out, and then patch or redo as needed.

I have had no problems with my partially glued ballast. I used beach sand and sprayed the carpenter glue and water mixture only enough to wet the first 1/4" or a bit more. That way, when I modify my track plan, it comes up so much easier.

[tangerine-jack]

What are you using for roadbed? Where is your layout located? Is it heated/cooled or "climate controlled"?
I agree it could be a glue problem and this seems most likely, but maybe you have another problem underneath that needs to be fixed first. Just asking!

[ATSFCLIFF]

I think you have not soaked your ballast well with the wetting agent. For the glue to bond the ballast must be thoroughly soaked with either detergent and water or alcohol. You can loosen and remove the old ballast by spraying water and redo again.
Cheers

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