Does anyone have a filler they use before topping it off with commercial ballast?
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A common filler to use is simple sand. We got lazy and used #16 construction sand as ballast and filler because it was the right size and we got 100 pounds of the stuff for $10. If you want, you can spray paint it.
davidbross posted:Does anyone have a filler they use before topping it off with commercial ballast?
Yes. Simple, and cheap, dried sandbox sand (less than 3$ a bag at Home Depot).
...or, just use kitty litter--cheaper than filler and looks great.
Years ago I mixed acrylic paint with the glue and water to color the ballast of simple sand. No painting necessary. It works especially well in creating cinder ballast found in yards and service areas.
Anyone want to chime in on the exact process of painting the sand with glue and water and paint. This would be great for my yard.
Do you glue them sand then glue again. Do you apply it with an eye dropper or spray it on or something else?
davidbross posted:Anyone want to chime in on the exact process of painting the sand with glue and water and paint. This would be great for my yard.
Do you glue them sand then glue again. Do you apply it with an eye dropper or spray it on or something else?
I prefer to use ink/alcohol solutions to color stone. More of a dye than a paint. Just put some in a glass jar with a screw-on lid, add some sand or gravel, seal and shake. Then strain the material and spread it out to dry. This is a very useful technique for all kinds of uses.
As for glue--Just dribble dilute white glue onto the finished work after spraying with wet water.
BTW: you can use this technique to make things like coal piles:
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I use chick grit. You can find it at any farm supply or Tractor Suppiy. Cheap and comes in two sizes. I think it works great
davidbross posted:Anyone want to chime in on the exact process of painting the sand with glue and water and paint. This would be great for my yard.
Do you glue them sand then glue again. Do you apply it with an eye dropper or spray it on or something else?
First, why "paint the sand"? Simply put down the sand (which has already been dried in 5 gallon buckets and/or 3 pound coffee cans), nice and think. Then, apply a VERY thin coating of the ballast/cinders of your choice in order to cover the sand. Once you have it looking EXACTLY the way you want it, while still lose, then moisten areas with cheap 70% alcohol. After moistening with alcohol, carefully apply thinned Matte Medium (thinned to about the consistency of whole milk). You can purchase various sizes of Pipettes at most hobby shops, or Hobby Lobby, for applying the alcohol and Matte Medium.
Our whole layout was done using the above method with excellent results, and big cost savings on expensive scenic materials, i.e. ballast, cinders, earth, grass, etc..
