removing ballast

Depends what you stuck it down with! Having quite a bit of experience at this I recommend childrens white glue from Early Learning Centre or similar, much easier to do the removal and its cheap to. Holds the track and ballast perfectly well, until you soak it.

Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

"tmd" wrote

You need to be careful if wetting the ballasted track. Too much moisture and it can be absorbed by the baseboard causing it to well irrevocably.

John.

"John Turner" wrote

That should read *swell* irrevocably.

John.

I've used the industrial version of this from B&Q which was about £8 for a big tub. I've used the waterproof version though so my ballast won't be coming up if it's wetted!

Peter Cheap Train Tickets:

Well, thanks for the advice, I braved it this morning. Safely removed, making sure (hopefully!!) that I did not use too much water. Track re-laid and time to start again!

Just out of interest I thought all PVA was imperveous?

Pete

Maybe I was conned - there was a standard version in an all-red tub and a waterproof version in a red and blue tub!

Peter Cheap Train Tickets:

"Pete" wrote

There are internal & external grades.

John.

Yes but I am sure PVA once dried being a polymer simply bonds tightly not allowing water to act as a lubricant between its strands either that or the acetate is insoluble... I'm no chemist :)

Anyway just found this from a woodworking forum:

Anyway I suspect also it depends on the thickness of the dried PVA and whether water can get behind it to easy removal.

Pete

Ill go and by meself a paint brish immediately!!

He's just as bad at smelling as me :o))

What I could'nt fathom was that he gave an example of the metal brish parts rotting away in water but then gets rather excited about an acid...

Pete