BALLAST!

[Anonymous]

can normal sand from a childrens sandbox be used as ballast or does it need to be treated or something cause i want to ballast my mainline and dont want to waste unneccaceray money at the hobbie store

[Anonymous]

Yes, sand can be used. I would suggest two things - screen it to remove any really big chunks, and also run a really strong magnet over it in case there are any metallic (ferric) components. I know that it is all supposed to be stuck down when complete, but the last thing you want is some magnetic particle coming loose and lodging in your best engine's motor...

Andrew

[orsonroy]

You can use regular sand, but you might have to screen it to remove large debris, and be sure to run it through a strong magnet to remove any metal bits. And believe it or not, sand might be too big for your needs. If you've got a good hardware store near you, look at sandblasting medium, which comes in several colors and varieties (and is already pre-screened!).

[jwmurrayjr]

Cody,

Often common "dirt" will make better ballast than sand if you have access to granular "rock-based" soil. This will still need the screen and magnet treatment but may give you the blended color that you want. It can be darkened with ink washes once it's down.

Just another idea. [:)]

[Anonymous]

I used sand for part of my layout - it looks better than the gravel ballast I bought to fini***he job, and was easier to use around switches - the gravel particles are larger and therefore more likely to jam moving parts. I'd suggest painting it though, as sand ballast tends to look far too tidy/bright.

[Anonymous]

The sand we have in my local has shinny pieces of quartz in it. It would need something to get rid of this. Painting my well subdue this.

[AntonioFP45]

I would prefer to use store bought ballast on the rail lines and "painted sand" only around turnouts (switches). Ballast is still relatively cheap. If you intend to purchase several bags you'll probably save some money with online discount stores.

As mentioned, you have to be aware of potential problems with metal particles so do make sure that if you use sand run a magnet through it..

[bcammack]

Besides pulling any magnetic material out of "homemade" ballast, be sure to bake it in the oven for half an hour or so to insure that there isn't any "organics" remaining in it. No need to turn your layout into a biology experiment... [:)]

[cacole]

Yes, sand can be used but be aware that it will amplify the sound of the train running on the track if you glue it in place. A better choice for ballast, at least in HO scale, is Cat's Pride litter, which is Kaolin clay that does not clump or swell up when you apply the glue. I ballasted a section of a club layout with sand and wound up scraping it all off and replacing it with cat litter because of the sound amplification factor.

[Fergmiester]

If you get it from a beach you will want to wash it as the salt within it will cause oxidation on adjoining rails, etc.

[jrbernier]

Fine sand can be used for ballast - make sure your 'dry' it in the oven(kill off any organic stuff). I would also 'screen' it as most sand is a little 'coarse'. I belonged to a model railroad club many years ago and we used sand that was screened to the correct size. We even dug up cinders from and old ashpit location for yard ballast!
Most folks will use comercial ballast. I have used Campbell, John's Lab & Highball through the years - not sure they are still available. I would tend to use real 'rock' ballast as sold by Great Northern or Arizona . Some of the more popular ballasts available are really something like ground up walnut shells. The stuff 'floats' when spraying it with a water/glue misture to fix it and after time in a humid enviroment, strange white/green stuff starts to 'grow' on it.

Jim Bernier