I recently learned a lesson and thought I'd pass the experience on to others. My wife teaches first grade and at the end of each year she has numerous small bottles of Elmers white glue left over that she gives to me. I use them for my modeling projects: scenery, cardboard or posterboard buildings and for ballast. I've done a 50/50 water-glue mixture for many years and it has worked great for me. Recently, I purchased some Santa Fe "mauve" ballast from Arizona Rock & Mineral. I worked my normal ballast laying procedure and after a couple of weeks the ballast felt rubbery and started to chip away. I inquired to AR&M, the local train shops, a couple of local clubs and even Model Railroader. I tried a few of their methods and I still had ballast coming away from the track. While talking to my wife the other night I mentioned this problem to her and asked her if she thought Elmers glue could lose it's adhesion properties after so long. She told me that the glue I'm using is meant to break down when wet so it will wash out of childrens clothes. I had been using a batch of "WASHABLE" glue. Switching back to regular Elmers glue has fixed the problem. I've learned many things in this hobby from making mistakes but I never thought I'd get done-in by a first graders bottle of glue. SantaFeDan
Exactly why I never use Elmer's school glue or any other school glue for that matter. Back in the early 70's there was something called elephant school glue available in the school supply section that must have been the little brother of epoxy. I spilled some on a pair of pants one time. Over a year later it was still there and just as stiff. That would hold your ballast in place forever. It went off the market that same year and I've never seen it again.
Something like Elephant glue is still used itn eh mailing business. MY uncle gets 55 gallon drums of it. The drums are always different, as it has bad qualities in steel drums, and cardboard drums. he once noticed his shipment was not in for a little excessive amoutn of time,a nd started calling around. he finally got the warehouse in california, the middle men.."Ah yes, we know very much about your barrel of glue. Ran a forklift through it!! Now that might seem no problem, right? Think of it this way. he was driving homa barrel in his van, on a pallet and not very secure. He took the corner off the main road and it tipped over, leaving a trail of glue marking the course of the final journey. And that glue has stayed there since it happened - something over 4-5 years ago. It makes you wonder why we keep using asphalt sealers. A little elephant glue and we're good!!!
I've been using the "titebond" brand white glue from lowes. It's cheap and dries a nice flat finish, not shiny or semigloss like some other glues. My ballast is almost a year old and despite being in a garage where its been moist or dry, hot or cold, it's still tough as nails.
Thanks for your posts; I've learned quite a bit from it. And yes agreed amazing what kids can teach us, and or teachers for that matter
I wonder if elephant glue is similar to the gorilla glue that is available... I haven't had any personal experiences with either but I've heard that gorilla glue is REALLY good.
That's funny because I just got some of the "washable" Elmer's instead of the "ALL-Purpose" stuff and for modeling it sucks for sure. Oh well live and learn But the all purpose i have used for years and it works great
i learned to not put together a train that requres glueing 5 years ago i got a sanding tower and i used "Super Glue" (now i think you are starting to get the point) to put it together well after getting my fingers stuck together a few times a piece of the directions got stuck to the table and it was there ever scince wen i got done i looked at the back of the box and it said "Snap Together Kit" and i thought i was pretty stupid for the next day or so...
I think we all have the teeshirt for something like that For me it's knowing I need to do step d before e, but forgetting it until I got to about k .... But thanks for putting a on my face :thumbs_up:
Oh my, I haven't stopped laughing yet That is soooo like us isn't it LOL Onme reason I started to read the instructions decades ago. Thanks for the memories
the only thing that you dont need directions for is the athearn BBox kits after your first 2 or so P.S there is a train going by with a P3 horn and i am wondering if it is an EX:Southern Pacific
I have used the Elephant and Gorilla glues and believe if not the same they are very similar. I have no horror stories though. :tb-cool:
