Comments on: Alternatives to Isopropyl Alcohol for Ballasting Wetting Agent

By: Kevin Ching

Kevin Ching — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 02:17:35 +0000

Also add dish wash liquid to the glue water mix helps spread the glue however does take a day or so the completely dry and set rock hard.

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:28:35 +0000

In reply to Andy. Meth short for Methylated Spirits.

By: Alistair

Alistair — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:29:01 +0000

i’ll give dishwash liquid a try much appreciated for some many good ideas

By: Alistair

Alistair — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 23:27:10 +0000

In reply to Joe Graffi. Joe, I am not keen on having solvents around the house.

By: Joe Graffi

Joe Graffi — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:14:05 +0000

A huge number of us have been using the (very cheap) 70% for years and years with NO issues!
I found that the methods others have listed above are all “highly” recommended. I chose the alcohol because I use it to clean medical equip. etc. I also use it on 2,000 grit “wet’n’dry” sand paper on a sanding block to clean the tops of my rails when needed and a course (denim) cloth moistened with the 70% to wipe the rail tops after the cleaning.
Personally, I don’t know how well any of the other products work.
Just wondering – what is the issue with using the alcohol?

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 17:00:41 +0000

In reply to Craig.

“”METH”” – surely you mean something other than the drug, right…..;-)

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 08:36:25 +0000

In reply to Jim. Good old Meth is the only way to go. I use it for alot of things to do with scenery, air brushing, weathering, ballasting. then i use white glue matt of course one of glue three of water sets like a rock.

By: Paul Kust

Paul Kust — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 07:04:17 +0000

I use Windex, the window cleaner all the time and add it to dilute the glue for the ballast, works great and the application is REALLY CLEAN!?

By: phil johnson

phil johnson — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 06:38:36 +0000

I like denatured alcohol. I use 50% wet water solution for wet water. I also use it in my white glue scenery mix

By: Romeo

Romeo — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:07:32 +0000

Ajax brand dishwashing liquid is key, I have used this soap forever, I guarantee you it will surprise you. This is my mixture, I do a typical spray bottle from a dollar store, I do 5 drops to clean water. My Wood Glue mix is 50/50 deluded, set your ballast down to what you want it to be on your track. Then apply your water soap mix on ballast a section at a time to insure a nice bed. While ballast is wet then apply the 50/50 glue mix thinly on the ballast, it ballast should absorb the mix very evenly. If you apply too much glue by chance, just spray water soap mix over again lightly and it should help. The results will have you laying more track down, give it a try.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 04:06:00 +0000

IPA isn’t an aggressive, cacogenic solvent as some of the products we use. It is distilled from plant material, just like Bourbon, gin and other spirits. It does have an ingredient to make it unpalatable (drink it and you’ll throw up).

It is safe enough to briskly rub into the skin and to use on bruised and sore muscles, so the small amounts used in wetting the ballast before adding dilute PVA will cause not harm. I believe in safety but to fear rubbing alcohol is snowballing of the first order.

The traditional alternative, before Mentholated Spirits became IPA, we added some washing up liquid to water – that still works.

By: Hervey

Hervey — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:41:35 +0000

A few drops of dishwasher rinse agent or photo flow (if you can find it in today’s world of digital photos) also work just as well as dish soap.