I have heard that before with some of their scenery but I was also told that some people put a drop of Pine-Sol in their water when spraying it to help with mold.I have never had problems with mold but I use Arizona Rock and Mineral. I say leave it and call it moss.:tb-biggrin:
If you have mold it is probably not so much the ballast as the glue you used to bind it. Mold likes to eat food, just like we do, and glue is food. Add humidity and you've got mold.
Most likely your glue. I once dug up an old bottle (quart size) of Elmer's Carpenter glue, the yellow stuff. Mold was growing inside the container. What was odd was that it was almost full, cap kept on tight, stored in a dark and dry place! Another thought. Once the ballast is dry how can mold grow - no moisture - unless your layout is in a moist place, like the bathroom. (Note to self: additional layout space!)
Have not heard about mold but I have heard reports of the walnut shell based Woodland Scenics ballast being eaten by uninvited critters. However, there are so many prominent layouts that use the WS ballast so I would not worry about it being a source of problems. Jamie
I sho hope not.. I always used kitty litter, but just the other day ordered a buttload of WS ballast to give it a shot.. What a choice, the cat peeing on my track, or the rats eating it.. man.. don't sound promising.. lol
Do not have problem myself. Read this on another forum. I'm also getting ready to order WS ballast, so wanted to see if this had some basis in fact.
WS ballast is indeed crushed nut shells and can float while gluing. I have used it before an had not issues aside from the floting. But I did switch to Arizona Rock and Mineral and never thought about WS again.
I use 70% isopropyl alcohol to wet the WS ballast before I glue, and my glue is also diluted with water and alcohol. I wonder if that helps fight mold. I do it simply because it makes a huge difference in reducing beading when the glue is applied. You might try alcohol as a wetting agent.
