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Hey guys,
Working on my mountain cut right now - long story short, sucks that I sceniced everything else besides the track/ballast and little weeds on the side of the right of way.
I have put down matte medium, and Woodland Scenics fine ballast and was wondering-
Is it safe to suck up the loose leftover stuff with a regular vaccum cleaner? I have sucked up the foliage before, but not the ballast. Didn't know if it was a bad idea or not.
If I shouldn't use my vaccum (I use the attachments), what else can I do to get rid of the excess?
Thanks!
Kyle
It won't hurt anything.
Rotor
Yes, but test it first. My vacuum could pull the track right off of my layout!
Josh had a point. My vacuum works really well to get the excess junk off track but I have to be careful when I vacuum roadways. Most of mine are painted thin styrene and the vacuum will suck the paint right off the road.
It would be nice to have a powerful vacuum for things that are glued down tight and another, weaker vacuum for more fragile details.
I use a feather duster when I want to keep things glued down and also a gentle blowing !
My Shop Vac has a little plastic valve that can be adjusted to reduce the vacuuming power of the machine. When I do areas that may be negatively impacted (how's that for terminology?) I open it up fully. I also have a small Auto interior vac that I use at times. It picks up next to nothing but is great for removing bits of foam on the tracks when i am doing scenery.
one time, while salvaging a failed coffee-table layout, I put a new bag in my mom's mini-vac (says something about how long ago it was... still living at home.) I vaccumed up everything in a different bag, I still have useable ballast in one ziplock and the foliage in another.
Secure a piece of panty hose over the end of the vacuum hose (I just use a rubber band). That way you won't lose any thing that comes loose accidentally.
Ray
Secure a piece of panty hose over the end of the vacuum hose (I just use a rubber band). That way you won't lose any thing that comes loose accidentally.
Ray
Same thing I do. Works every time!
For those mechanicaly inclined, turn your air compressor into a mini-vac.
A T-fitting, some 1/2" hose, a valve, some male and female adapters, and some quick connects.
One end of the T to the valve, one to the compressor, and one for your vac. Stick a vacumn regulator inline, and you're good to go.
Same principal as your air brush.
If you can get by with it - borrow the wifes sewing machine vacuum attachment. It fastens onto regular hose and has small, soft bristle brushes and other attachments. Also adjustable air flow. Use the above mentioned panty hose where the reducer attaches to the main hose. I may have to get her one of her own :]
Be careful of what is near by. I sucked up 3 cars and some little people in a heart beat with my Shop-Vac. Now I always use a handheld with a small nozzle
I do the same as Ray and Jeffery, but I use an old tube style sock. I stuff it part way into the nozzzle, secure it with a rubber band or two, and open the little slider mentioned earlier to reduce the flow. When finished just dump the sock into a container and reuse the remains for sidings etc.
I skipped this procedure the other day and snorkled up a $5.00 moose and all my trackside deadfall without thinking!
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