Large Scale Central

Organic Binder?

Gardening
#1

Had a landscaper talking about stone patios on a local radio talk show this morning and he talked about an "Organic Binder’ to mix with patio sand to lock patio stones in place. I’m not familiar with this, has anybody tried it? Sounds like it might be something to try on ballast. Thank you in advance for any information.

#2

Wonder if thats a fancy pants word for “poo”?

#3

Could be that stuff called hypatufa(sp??)…peat moss mixed with cement…used to be a website devoted to it…

well, found one, but it wasn’t the one I had seen before…

http://www.efildoog-nz.com/hypertufa.htm

#4

Hi Ken,

I know about that hyper stuff. This sounded to me more like a dry powder mixed with paving sand that when it got wet locked everything together and would expand and contract and add some staying power to patio sand.
Sounds like it might work with ballast. Got to pick up a new oven today at Sears and a stop at HD may be in the works. I’ll see what hey say.

#5

Hi Ric -

Goggle “organic binder patio” and found this link http://www.stabilizersolutions.com/downloads/stabspec1_4page.pdf

A short quote: Provided by Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. 1-800-336-2468 – www.stabilizersolutions.com

Jon

#6

Portland cement?

#7

I got a walk and steps to put in…might have to take a look-see at that stuff my self…:wink:

#8

Gee,

I have to admit that with the title “Organic Binder” I thought you guys were talking about cheese. Must be my age creeping up on me. Good possibliltiy that this could be refering to “Crusher Fines” like some of us use for ballst. This stuff can set like cement.

Ron

#9

Hi Ron,

This is a product sold at landscaping or nurseries that specialize in landscaping rock, block or brick patios. It is in powder form. You sweep it into the cracks between the blocks after filling them with sand and it reacts like white glue does holding ballast on the inside layouts. It holds the sand together until it once again dries out.

#10

Ric,
I learned from a friend about polymeric sand. It is dry in a bag, you put it in place and water it. It has some kind of epoxy in it, and it hardens, but is a bit flexible. It is used as morter between pavers etc. However, we use it for making roads on our layouts. You can smooth it with a trowel or brick. The nicest thing about it, is that dirt doesn’t splash up on cars when it rains. It can be taken up, but mine is not going anywhere. I love it. I did a whole campground with the stuff, and really like it. You can’t get it just anywhere. I had to call around to find it. The best bet is a brick and block yard. Home Depot and Lowes did not have it here in Delaware or Maryland.
Paul

#11

Paul,

Thanks. Do you have a brand name or is it just generically “polymeric sand”?

#12

You might check out this thread. It is sometimes called “Joint Lock Sand.”

#13

The brand name I use is Techo-Bloc. As Paul says it works great for roads and parking lots. It is made in Canada and should be available at brick and concrete paver suppliers.

Karl

#14

Thanks Karl. He was my source of the information on this product. The material I got was a different brand than his, but all I ask for is polymeric sand, and got basically the same thing. The stuff we got is pretty fine, like sand, but it hardens, and isn’t dirty. Personally, I would not use it for ballast. But others may want to.
Paul

#15

Paul,

You said -

Paul Bottino said:
Personally, I would not use it for ballast. But others may want to.
Paul

How come? What is your thoughts?

#16
Ric Golding said:
Paul,

You said -

Paul Bottino said:
Personally, I would not use it for ballast. But others may want to.
Paul

How come? What is your thoughts?

My guess is that as ballast, it is pretty close to N-Scale. It might work as a binder for “crusher-fines,” though.

#17

Polymeric sand is anywhere from slightly to highly magnetic, aparently theres some metal filler in it, my experience with it in HO gauge indoors fried 3 engines. Not sure if this would happen in G scale, however i’m not donating an engine for research purposes!! Plus the fact that it’s not even close to being scalable size for any type of ballast. I do think it has a place for roads, although the manufacturer doesn’t reccomend it for gabs larger than a couple inches. Heavy periods of rain could soften the bonding and break down over time, but that’s purely speculation

#18

Mark,

I just wanted to point out that polymeric sand is not magnetic but it has a ferric metallic component to it that is attracted to magnets.

-Brian

#19

If the ferric components that are magnetic are in the bag then “polymeric sand” is magnetic…