SqueakyWheels wrote:After a few weeks of pounding cinder blocks down, screening, and washing- I eneded up with the best HO scale gray& black ballast one could hope for. But then-- I decided on getting down the blender- a 40 year old tool that hasn't been use in years. Needed to speed up the process- as the pounding was wearing me out. It did fine- growling, and grinding the concrete particles into the Ballast I needed. Until I over did it, and the solder connection on the motor failed- up in a plume of smoke. Anyone else tried this? At first I expected the glass jar to explode- but no- it did well. The blades came out good, as well. It was just that I played it too long (pushed it too hard) as to when it failed. It made the best. finest ballast though Boo Hoo
JPM335 wrote:I tried it with a cheap blender with a plastic cup. But the cup jsut shattered and little rocks when flying everywhere. Havent tried again
CSXFan wrote: Great idea. I've been discouraged by the high price of commercial ballast and this seems like it might be the answer. Could you post a pic?
Someone posted on here awhile back that they use cat litter that they strain , then paint it. Anyone ever tried this? Also have seen postings about some guys using sand. Ed
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The majority of ballast on our HO scale club layout is Cat's Pride litter. No other litter can be used as ballast because other brands swell up, clump, or otherwise turn into a real mess. Cat's Pride, made by Oil-Dry Corporation, is granulated Kaolin clay and has no other ingredients except some scent, so it does not dissolve, swell up, or clump when wet. You can also use it to soak up oil spills on a garage or carport floor.
As far as not using litter if you have a cat, I don't think that would be a problem because you don't apply the litter in a large enough volume to attract a cat, and it needs to be glued down, anyway. Once the glue has set, the cat wouldn't even try to use it. We used the typical 50/50 rubbing alcohol and white glue mixture, or water with a little liquid dishwashing detergent if we didn't have the alcohol.
Tim,
I used a coffee grinder. I ran a peeled fir branch through the chipper, and then continued to reduce the size with the coffee grinder. It takes a while and you do not grind much at one time. The coffee will never taste the same in that thing. I bought another coffee grinder for the coffee.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Concrete blocks are still made in the US, I can think of at least 3 plants within 50 miles of where I live in GA. Instead of that, simply head down to the local quarry and get some of what's call "M-10's" (at least at the place I go to it's called that, it may go by another name elsewhere). It's basically rough sand. Sift and screen out the smaller and larger stuff to end up with suitable HO scale (or S scale, or N scale, or whatever scale) ballast. Pass it under a magnet before use, just to be safe. G scalers may try "89's" or "washed 89's" which is basically pea gravel, which, when screened or washed the smaller stuff is the M-10's. Gravel is cheap, about $30 per ton where I live. A couple five gallon buckets will hold about 100-200 pounds, and that should last an average modeler a lifetime or 2. If you want the grey color of concrete blocks you can go to the concrete block factory and get concrete block waste, to save the trouble and cost of buying and breaking up larger blocks. Some places have contracts for the waste, but if you explain what you want it for and that you just want a couple five gallon buckets worth, they may help you out.
Brad
EMD - Every Model Different
ALCO - Always Leaking Coolant and Oil
CSX - Coal Spilling eXperts
fiatfan wrote: Someone posted on here awhile back that they use cat litter that they strain , then paint it. Anyone ever tried this? Also have seen postings about some guys using sand. EdI don't have any personal experience but from what I have read on this and other forums putting cat litter on the layout is not a good idea if you have a cat.Tom
twcenterprises wrote:Concrete blocks are still made in the US, I can think of at least 3 plants within 50 miles of where I live in GA. Instead of that, simply head down to the local quarry and get some of what's call "M-10's" (at least at the place I go to it's called that, it may go by another name elsewhere). It's basically rough sand. Sift and screen out the smaller and larger stuff to end up with suitable HO scale (or S scale, or N scale, or whatever scale) ballast. Brad
Concrete blocks are still made in the US, I can think of at least 3 plants within 50 miles of where I live in GA. Instead of that, simply head down to the local quarry and get some of what's call "M-10's" (at least at the place I go to it's called that, it may go by another name elsewhere). It's basically rough sand. Sift and screen out the smaller and larger stuff to end up with suitable HO scale (or S scale, or N scale, or whatever scale) ballast.
gear-jammer wrote:Tim, I used a coffee grinder. I ran a peeled fir branch through the chipper, and then continued to reduce the size with the coffee grinder. It takes a while and you do not grind much at one time. The coffee will never taste the same in that thing. I bought another coffee grinder for the coffee. Sue
Tim, Exterior spackling paste will work for transitions as well, if your track is not permanently attached.
Sounds like you want to be using eye protection and putting the blender in a good strong wooden box!
Years ago a friend of my brother's dad made his own wines... he had a corner of the garage sandbagged off for the suspicious bottles. I also came home to a girlfriend's place once and a bottle of Elderberry wine had blown up... the whole kitchen was covered (Thinking back... it was probably "my fault" )
They don't make blenders like they used to do they?