Ballasting Tool

Discussion in 'Tools' started by Len Thompson, Apr 4, 2021.

  1. Len Thompson

    Len Thompson Full Member

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  2. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    Impressive idea

    Paul
     
  3. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Not quite sure what is so special about vacuuming ip the surplus ballast of am I missing something. Been doing it for decades. :scratchchin:
     
  4. Len Thompson

    Len Thompson Full Member

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    More information required please Brian, on how you do it as my hoover simply sucks up all the ballast .
     
  5. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Glue it down suck up the loose stuff. Don’t have much loose stuff as I shape the ballast as I go along and stick it down with a 80/20 mix of water/pva. Spreads through like wildfire and holds it all in place.
     
  6. paul_l

    paul_l Staff Member Administrator

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    The point is I think, is that the vacuum head does the shaping, and very quickly - if the video is correct.
    Using centrifuge, is a good idea, allowing the segregation of the waste, without loss of vacuum, although now he lists all the parts from Amazon - apart from the head.

    Still needs the wetting and gluing stage, but is an interesting concept. I also like the idea of a sanding table, mmmmmm maybe get time to have a go at this in the future.

    Paul
     
  7. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Not knocking it but seems a lot of bits to do ballasting. What do you do with it once it’s done?
     
  8. jcm@gwr

    jcm@gwr Full Member

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    Once you've ballasted, the other attachments enable you to maintain (clean) your layout,
    with the added advantage of anything accidentally sucked up, being separated by the cyclone.
     
  9. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Already got a vacuum for that. I suppose if you haven’t already got one it’s a good thing to get.
     
  10. Len Thompson

    Len Thompson Full Member

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    The difference between your vacum and this system is that it seperates items vacumed up, ie static grass model bit, figures etc etc, don't know about you but the number of times I've had to remove the cleaner bag to retieve items especially on smaller scales :giggle:
     
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  11. Len Thompson

    Len Thompson Full Member

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    Ah but the ballast he vacums hasn't yet been stuck down and therefore saves a considerable amount of time adjusting and cleaning up, even works on turnouts according to the article.
     
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  12. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    So you stick it down afterwards.

    How does it know the difference between a bit of ballast and a bit of something else.

    I'm not convinced. Still each to his own.
     

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