Applying Ballast

Nov 18, 2003 22 Replies

Chris Curren under the impression NOT to use white glue, but matte medium; as white glue

Did you see any "whitish film" on my modules at Trainfest?

The main advantage of using "Matte Medium" is it dries into a somewhat flexible mass. Elmer's dries "rigid", and you may experience cracks in your roadbed.

The main advantage of white glue is it is NOT waterproof, and can be softened up again and the ballast removed if you need to relocate any track.

I use the Elmer's exclusively, in fact I buy it by the gallon.

Don

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I've always had good luck with that in the short term, but after several years it turns brittle and begins chipping. Not just the glue, but it takes big chunks of ballast with it. If I glued the track that starts popping up too. That's why I don't use white glue. The only time I've ever had a film problem was when my mix was too thick.

Here in the U.K. an increasingly popular method is to use wallpaper paste(glue) mix the paste and ballast and spread. the beauty is that in the event of pulling track up or making changes a misting of water softens the ballast and up it comes without ruining the track or turnouts.

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