ballast fixing etc

[tegfan railway]

Today I bought a bag of Tarmac Alpine Green Basalt grit from B&Q, its more of a grey than green size from 1mm to 3 or 4 mm. Only £2.90 a bag so I bought one to do some tests. The question is how to fix it:

a) mix it with 4:1 PVA and spread it in place

b) spread over track then pour or spray the watered down PVA

c) dry mix with cement, then water

d) open to other ideas

PS I will post a pic of the test tomorrow

[tegfan railway]

As I said I have done a dry run with the Alpine green which is more of a grey and matches my slate boulders really well. Its only a dry run and as I mentioned I am after advice as to how to keep it in place.

[freelander]

Hi Tegfan , I have used this grit before and yes if you thin the PVA (WATERPROOF) as you have mentioned it does work, try to do it on a dry day as any damp will prolong the drying process. I have looked on the B&Q site but cannot see it on the site I have contacted my locol B&Q and they don,t what I am on about, which B&Q did you get it from or if you have a bar code I could use that.

regards Freelander

[TommyDodd]

What a useful discovery! Thankyou, TR. I only hope all their branches stock it, because it's got to be worth a try.

[tegfan railway]

Hi Tegfan  ,  I have used this grit before and yes if you thin the PVA (WATERPROOF) as you have mentioned it does work, try to do it on a dry day as any damp will prolong the drying process. I have looked on the B&Q site but cannot see it on the site I have contacted my locol B&Q and they don,t what I am on about, which B&Q did you get it from or if you have a bar code I could use that.

regards Freelander

Yes its good stuff, I am away from home for a while with work so I cannot give you the bar code, I to searched the website but couldnt find it. I bought the bag in the Swansea branch, they had a good stock of it, hopefully they will stil have some when I get home in a few weeks.

[freelander]

Hi TR, found some today in Wrexham, the make I have used was by Borderstone based in Welspool but they dont deal with the public only trade and in large amounts but they gave me the stockists for my area Cheshire, they deal with garden centres and although I phoned around to most of them they did not stock the alpine cambrian green 5mm. the garden centre I used was
Ferndale home and garden centre, Berse road Wrexham. todate the lady told me they had about 20 bags.

freelander

[TommyDodd]

I only hope all their branches stock it, because it's got to be worth a try.

I can now confirm that Lincoln B&Q had a good palletful when I visited earlier this evening. They now have 2 bags fewer....

[tegfan railway]

Well after buying a trial bag I drew a blank at getting any more, as it does not appear on the website. Anyway after visiting B&Q again today I could only find 3 broken bags in a box. I asked the guy if they had any more sure enough they had loads so I bought 5 more bags and bonus they were only £1.48 a bag!