Templot Club Archive 2007-2020                             

topic: 1840Ballasting Track
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posted: 21 Feb 2012 00:23

from:

Dellboy
 
Aylesford - United Kingdom

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I have recently come across a different approach to ballasting insitu track. It uses resinal powdered adhesive (e.g. Cascamite) mixed dry with the ballast at a ratio about 3 or 4 ballast to 1 adhesive. The ballast and powder mix is spread and levelled on your track, then sprayed with a water/IPA mix. This wets the ballast and the adhesive. Apparently ideal for ballasting S&C since there is slight shrinkage as it dries.

Has anyone tried this technique?

posted: 21 Feb 2012 00:53

from:

Martin Wynne
 
West Of The Severn - United Kingdom

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Dellboy wrote:
Has anyone tried this technique?
Hi Derek,

Yes, years ago.

Cascamite sets rock hard. It's worse than PVA in producing concrete slab-track. :(

Also, it's important that the correct amount of water is used in the mix. If too much is added, or more is added after the setting reaction has begun, it may never set properly and remain permanently sticky.

For ballasting, a latex adhesive (Copydex) is far more suitable.

But Cascamite is useful around the layout as a strong adhesive, although a bit messy to mix and the short working time can be wasteful. Unlike PVA it can be used as a gap-filling adhesive -- for which it's stronger than hot-melt, and much less expensive than epoxy resin.

regards,

Martin.

posted: 21 Feb 2012 11:47

from:

Pierre
 
Canberra - Australia

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Dellboy wrote:
I have recently come across a different approach to ballasting insitu track. It uses resinal powdered adhesive (e.g. Cascamite) mixed dry with the ballast at a ratio about 3 or 4 ballast to 1 adhesive. The ballast and powder mix is spread and levelled on your track, then sprayed with a water/IPA mix. This wets the ballast and the adhesive. Apparently ideal for ballasting S&C since there is slight shrinkage as it dries.

Has anyone tried this technique?


I too have been following the discussions on various forums regarding the use of powdered glue mixed with ballast as a simplified approach to the messy job of ballasting our model trackwork, it seems that there is little new under the sun and that this was a favoured method “in the (good/bad) old days”.
From the comments of others it looks like Cascamite is an old product (very old according to some) and has a number of drawbacks (set as hard as rock etc) and was replaced with the dilute PVA and eye dropper method commonly in use today.
However, things have moved on since the days of Cascamite. If you have a look on Google for “powdered glue” there are a number of modern alternatives available and perhaps it is time that we looked at the old method but used with a more up to date adhesive, perhaps we can even find one that retains a degree of flexibility once it has set.
By the way I hear a number of people say that Copydex smells of fish, which may be a bit off-putting.
Best regards,
Pierre
 

posted: posted: 21 Feb 2012 19:07

from:

JFS
 
United Kingdom

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Pierre wrote:
By the way I hear a number of people say that Copydex smells of fish, which may be a bit off-putting.


Only a very mild smell, not much worse than PVA, and it disappears as soon as the setting starts.

Best Wishes,

Howard.

21 Feb 2012 19:07

from:

JFS
 
United Kingdom

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Pierre wrote:
By the way I hear a number of people say that Copydex smells of fish, which may be a bit off-putting.


Only a very mild smell, not much worse than PVA, and it disappears as soon as the setting starts.

Best Wishes,

Howard.

posted: 21 Feb 2012 22:07

from:

Dellboy
 
Aylesford - United Kingdom

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Thanks for your comments guys.

I am already using a latex adhesive for gluing down my cork underlay and my track. One day in the not too distant future I will have to do some serious ballasting and there will be quite a lot of this so I am currently looking at different methods. The latex I am using is a commercial variety bought from a carpet dealer (much cheaper than Copydex). By the way I have not noticed any significant smell, fish or otherwise, from this and once set there is definitely no smell! With latex you get more than adequate strength and the ability to remove residues quite easily by peeling away plus of course the sound deadening benefit. I certainly wouldn't go back to using PVA. My hidden sidings were built with copperclad glued onto cork glued onto 9mm ply using exterior grade PVA and the noise levels from this are intrusive compared to using the latex. It is so noticeable that I will have to consider introducing some form of sound proofing in this area, maybe some cork lining to the sides and covers to the sidings to provide some acoustic deadening.
I recall from my youth that Cascamite was the bees knees for gluing wood as it produced a completely waterproof unbreakable bond, similar to exterior PVA today so I should have seen the comment on the slab track effect coming!
However I will explore the principle though to see if there is a viable alternative 'dry' adhesive that could be mixed with the ballast.

Derek



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