KITTY LITTER

Nick....What I did was put the kitty litter where I wanted it and then lightly sprayed it with water only.  That bound it together...

Alan

Just make sure the cat can't get on the layout.

Kitty litter is mostly clay, too much water will make it mud.

Thanks guys.Nick

I first mist it with wet-water (water with a few drops of dish detergent). Then I drip on a 50% solution of white glue and water, using an eye-dropper.

i do the same as Allan.. There are huge differences between brands.   Lightly misting, keeps the stone like integrity and binds it together.

Never had an issue with cats and the layout. using kitty litter for ballast. Don't use the stuff with deodorizing crystals however.

Jim Mc.

I used kitty litter for ballast also.    Kitty litter, at least the stuff I bought, was just clay.    Which means it did get mushy when wet.    I put it in place, sprayed it with wetting solution, then dropped a 50-50 white glue-water mixture on it trying very hard not to disturb.    Once it dries,it is hard again.

I had a cat when I first used it.    She did not mess with.    she liked it loose and once glued down was no interest.   

I used a Krogers house brand at the time that was a nice color and had not preservatives, additives or anything in it.   

Yep.  The cheaper the better. You want clay and nothing else. A big bag from Walmart will last you forever. The other option is oil absorbent from an auto-parts store.  Same material.

The trick to realistic ballast is to sift it first using a colander. Use the big pieces for ballast and what is left for random landscaping.

I am being sort of "forced" into considering kitty litter for ballast. The cost of the WS stuff, in those tiny bags is nothing short of foolish. Add to that a hefty delivery charge even within Canada and, well, I just don't feel it's a fair deal.

I contacted a well-known vendor of ballast in the US about shipping to Canada. Not even a reply, so heck with him!

Last night I put a sample of kitty litter down, applied wet water and a 50/50 white glue mix.

It looks at least as good as the WS product! A matter of opinion but maybe better!

So, it looks like kitty litter for me. Frankly, after trying it and seeing how it looks, I don't know why anybody buys "ballast" at all! I wonder if its critics have ever even tried it!

For those who use it as ballast, can you post some pictures and explain if you add any paint at all?

 Tom

It must be me….I am having no luck.And I re did it several times.All I am getting are these broken up flakes and loose material under it,kind of like when a mud puddle dries up.I wet it with wet water then 50/50 diluted Elmers.Can any of you guys that have done well with it tell me the specific brand you are using?Thanks,Nick

Sure the cat isn't using it ??  The darker color the original is the better- it has been fired if it has brown or reddish color. Look for that if I were you. The pure gray stuff is just dried clay and will dissolve. A long time ago I sold the stuff and our clay was brick color and would stay hard but I think they are out of business. 

Can someone recommend a specific brand that works well.  I am with Terry, once you add the cost of shipping it gets expensive when you need a bunch of it.  I don't know anyone that has cats and cat litter well enough to ask to borrow a cup of kitty litter 

Ed

Boy, I just can't understand the problems arising with cat litter turning mushy.  I used it on my last layout (never bothered ballasting the current one) with never a problem.  Maybe too much water/glue mixture is being used?  Not a lot is necessary - just enough to make a crust on the top, which will hold it all down.

Like has been said, the cheaper the better.  But even among store brands, I found differences:  Some had bigger granules.  I think the smaller look best.

Woodland Scenics is in Missouri.

Their Ballast carries the following Message:  "ALLERGY CAUTION: Contains tree nut by-products."

Is their Ballast just ground up Black Walnut shells?

Other Ideas:

They make Kitty Litter from ground up corn on the cob - might be a better alternative to clay

English walnut Shells - they grind these up for reptile aquariums

Walnut / Corn - blast media for sandblasting.  

Check this stuff out - look about right?   http://www.amazon.com/Walnut-S...0XVMQGQDFKS97WGZAWE0

rockstars1989 posted:

It must be me….I am having no luck.And I re did it several times.All I am getting are these broken up flakes and loose material under it,kind of like when a mud puddle dries up.I wet it with wet water then 50/50 diluted Elmers.Can any of you guys that have done well with it tell me the specific brand you are using?Thanks,Nick

Try using a spray bottle, (plant mister bottle), or any other spray bottle that atomizes, with waterbase urethane. 

Don

I've put down more kitty litter ballast in the past day or so and learned more about it.

As reported by others, it will dissolve into a mess if worked while wet. But, this only happens when “smushed up” or stirred about while still wet.

Here is what I've done.

1/ Lay the stuff down on dry roadbed. Smooth it with a dry brush and get it neat and tidy.
2/ Wet it with “wet water,” tap water with a drop or two of dish detergent in my case. A wetting agent  is ESSENTIAL!! I use a mist bottle for this. Keep it far enough away it does not blow the ballast out of place.
3/ I dribble a mix of white glue and water, a little less than 50% glue. I tried a mist bottle but found it did not do a good job with this stuff. Too viscous it seems. So I had better luck just dribbling it out of the orginal plastic bottle the stuff come in. To do this I pour the stuff out, dilute it with water and pour it back in. Works much better for me than the two squirt nozzles I tried.

My findings:

The litter I used is not very uniform in size, ranging from coarser than the WS product to a fine dust. The WS stuff is, of course, uniform. I am using “coarse, gray” BTW.

On large areas, such as a yard, the litter seems to shrink a lot, causing cracks. These can be filled in with a second application. No yard on my layout but I experienced this in a tunnel where I layed a lot of litter down compared to a single track.

My conclusion: The WS stuff is much better to work with! No cracking. Does not turn to mush if worked while wet. But it costs me about $1.50 per running foot of single track . . . plus a very hefty charge for delivery. The cost of litter is essentially “free!” I can't include the delivery cost as the stuff I ordered came in a large order with other stuff. But to place an order for the ballast alone would add very considerably to that $1.50/ft cost. Depends on how much is ordered.

Final appearance of the litter is “a little different” than the WS product but for the better or the worse is really a matter of taste. After thorough drying, both seem perfectly satisfactory. My litter is a tan colour. The WS is gray.

No point in mentioning the brand of clumping litter I used. A house brand of the local supermarket. I'm sure it varys from area to area. Needless to say, other litters could produce entirely different results. This stuff is as cheap as it gets . . . $10 for a 40 lb box!

If I could get “real” ballast, without incurring a delivery charge that essentially doubles its cost, I would likely just do that. But I can't. So, the KL ballast is the option I'm happiest with.

Picture of a transition from WS “coarse gray” to “Kitty Litter” tan is attached. Likely the tan colour WS product would make the transition even less apparent.

This is my display yard, I used a gravel mixture from a science kit from one of our elementary schools. I used water base urethane floor finish in a spray bottle after spreading the material. The black material is Black Beauty that I sprinkled to represent spilled coal. The urethane holds up well, but after moving the yard from place to place, the ballast has begun to fall out. This would not be the case with a stationary layout. If I was going to use this process for a modular layout, I would use more urethane. It just needs to be wiped off the rail heads before it dries, or scraped/ sanded off after. 

Don

Terry,

Thanks for the report. Glad you are making progress! I was still puzzled by your difficulties, since my experience was very different. Then I noticed your comment about varying sizes. I ALWAYS sift the material before using it. A colander works well. You really don't want the fine stuff in the mix--I suspect that is your problem. 

I just tried a little experiment: I threw a handful of "Special Kitty" brand kitty litter into a cup of water and let it sit.  The large kernels did not clump or lose their identity at all. The fine dust was a mess, though.

P.S. -- Many brands of "Oil absorbant" that you can get at an auto parts store are identical to kitty litter, and often even cheaper.

P.P.S. -- I think you kitty litter ballast looks more realistic than your WS section.  As you say, though, it is a matter of taste.

I like the way this looks. What is the secret to placing this on the tracks to make it look this good?

Bob,

Who is your question directed to? 

Don