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!

Is it ok to use real sand?

13037 views
30 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2007
  • 180 posts
Posted by Otis on Saturday, March 1, 2008 10:11 PM

Sigh [sigh]

Back to sand: I know that people are often looking for handy sources of this stuff from landscapers and masoners supplies.  I just found a new source.

My son works in a roofing shop while making money for college.  He brought me several small bags of finely crushed rock/sand in HO dimensions. It is used by roofing companies in their torch-on work on flat roofs.  The stuff is sprinkled on tarry margins where the roll of roofing does not extend properly.

It looked like it just came out of a hobby store.  There is a HO sized grey blend that looks like ballast, a reddish brick one, and a charcoal-coloured one flecked with the brick red.

It has some iron particles in it, but sure looks clean and sterile.  It is dustless. 

I like that it is anglar and not rounded looking like most other scenics rock material. 

I am going to use some as is, in spots far from the tracks for now.  It looks like running a magnet through it would make it perfect for many uses.

I know the roofing shops get this stuff in very large bucketfuls.  I don't know what they might charge.  Like other true rock stuff on your layout, it would be heavy in large quantities.

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!