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….......................…--- Paver Sand for N Scale Ballast ---
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This is a controversial topic but I'll put it out there and let you decide if you want to go this route.
After using Paver/Jointing sand when I put the floor down in our greenhouse (see above) I got to thinking how would the sand I used be for ballast or ground cover on the layout? I gave it test on some code 55 ME track I had (see following pictures). I did some further research and found that other model railroaders had found paver sand some years before I did.
The controversy comes from if you run a magnet through it you are probably find particle attached to it, I did after reading this. I also put more sand down and wetted it and let it dry and ran a magnetic over it and came up with 'zero' particles attached to the magnet. So maybe before using it try some out, my lumber yard had a bag that was broken open and I got some there for nothing.
One nice thing about it is that the binder that glues it to the surface is in it. You don't have to come up with a formula for using it like you do with regular ballast where you usually mix water, glue and maybe something else and then use a dropper to apply it. From my testing you put the paver sand down and wet it with a squirt bottle or dropper and you are done. Pretty easy.
The color selection though is pretty limited. I liked what I used in the greenhouse for my UP red rock country them and picked up a bag of grey to also use. One might be able to mix a concrete coloring agent but I didn't try that so you are on your own.
I started by sifting it with a strainer we had in the kitchen and after it worked bought an even finer one to use that produces N scale ballast that is about 1 1/2” in diameter, pretty similar to the commercial N scale ballast I'd bought. This brings up the cost factor. This is by far the cheapest ballast out there if it works for you at about $17.00 for 50# and probably no shipping cost (when I bought it in 2020).
I plan to try it out for real when I start laying track on my main layout (happening soon as I write this) and will also use it some for ground cover. Un-sifted it produces some larger scale rocks.
On to the test pictures....................
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I'd like to hear from anyone else who has used it and their thoughts.
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23-12-14 UPDATE:
I had use the paver sand in one area as ground cover and like it for my 'canyon country' theme. I then bought some gray to try as ballast and like the contrast so might try using it when I get further along to the ballast stage. I had a hard time finding other colors until I found a different paver sand ( HERE ) that is in other colors. A little more expensive but not that bad considering how far it goes.
I wanted to try the black above since I thought it would work around the coal mine for ground and ballast color after looking at all the spilled coal in historic pictures. I think it would also be good to also use in my main large yard for ground cover. Maybe mix some of the gray with it?
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