Andrew P Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Hi all, I am currently drying out the contents of some used Tea Bags and they dry a wonderful brown colour, BUT my Question is this, Would they rot, go mouldy, or anything else NASTY over a period of time. I had intended to use this as ballast on my new Scottish N Gauge project Glenfinick but I need some answers first please. Andy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Taylor Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I can tell you through experience that coffee grounds certainly do go mouldy but don't know about tea specifically. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 I can tell you through experience that coffee grounds certainly do go mouldy but don't know about tea specifically. Thanks, thatis a good guide. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dorset Wanderer Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I have had some as ground cover under some trees for about six years and no sign of mould or disintigration up till now. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith George Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I used dried used tea bags as ground base in a loco shed model about 15 years ago and there as not been any deterioration to date. Just fixed with PVA/water mix and added colour as required. Keith. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev_Lewis Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I would have thought that once they're glued with PVA to the layout they'd be fine. The problem would be storing them until you need to use them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyb_imp Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Andy Have you tried reading the leaves, maybe theirs a clue in what they say Edited February 12, 2013 by billyb_imp 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I would always use something non-organic to be honest, I've used some of the Polak range from http://www.allscalesmodels.com/shop/Ballast successfuly and it's quite inexpensive. Here's some, weathered, on my O gauge layout. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith George Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I would have thought that once they're glued with PVA to the layout they'd be fine. The problem would be storing them until you need to use them. I just dry out a batch in the oven, open the tea bag and then store the dry tea in a tin. Keith. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRealistic Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 If you add milk to your tea with the tea bag still in the cup... give the bag a rinse in cold water first before storing. I compost all mine at the moment (they 'test' neutral by the way) but if all goes well, Andrew, let us know and I'll divert a few bags towards the oven! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 If you are successful with the tea leaves perhaps you could name the layout Glengettie? cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Back in the early 1970's, when I was a new father and money was tight I ballasted my, then, OO layout with tea bag contents. Just emptied a quantity of used tea leaves onto the grill pan gave them 5 mins under a low grill, stirring occasionally (this is begining to sound like Delia Smith), when dry emptied them into a margarine container. No mould- nothing. Glued into place with watered down PVA: note they do shrink slightly, so be generous when ballasting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 Thanks ALL, and especially to Billy, YOU JUST HAD TO BE A silly Billy didn't you ANDY. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Campaman Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 I have used the contents of Tea Bags as undergrowth leaf litter, but I don't use used ones I just arf-inch a few new ones out of swmbo's jar. Not had any problems with mould, but then they are stuck down and sealed from the air by dilute pva. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted February 14, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 14, 2013 We (that is myself and my wife) collected a quantity of used tea leaves and then dried them out in the Aga for a couple of days. When cool they were stored in air tight jars. Some time later I mixed them with my favourite adhesive - wall paper paste and used them as a scenic material - a bit like a brown 'paper mache'. They dried with some small shrinkage cracks. However two years on in a dry and partially heated environment there has been no mould, no deterioration and the whole area is as solid as the week it was first laid. I don't think that it much looks like ballast! http://flic.kr/p/a9NMry Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRealistic Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 (edited) The most recent (best?) use I saw of tea bag contents is here... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/57151-bc-blues-baseboards-and-base-scenics/page-13 (Scroll to post 320 etc) Edited February 14, 2013 by BRealistic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Thannks again all Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted February 15, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 15, 2013 I've only just come across this thread. I've no experience of using tea leaves as ballast but I recently came across some trees made by Dad in the late 1950s using tea leaves to represent both foliage and ivy covering a dead tree. When I removed them from the box in my loft a few months ago (and binned them as useless compared to modern models) they showed no sign of mould. I'm not sure what he treated them with to preserve them - probably glue size in those days. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted December 8, 2019 Share Posted December 8, 2019 On 12/02/2013 at 14:02, Andrew P said: Hi all, I am currently drying out the contents of some used Tea Bags and they dry a wonderful brown colour, BUT my Question is this, Would they rot, go mouldy, or anything else NASTY over a period of time. I had intended to use this as ballast on my new Scottish N Gauge project Glenfinick but I need some answers first please. Andy Hi Andy This is going back six years so if you did use dry teabag tea, you should know by now Any thoughts? I'm not looking at it as ballast but as soil for my latest French H0m effort for which the colour looks very suitable 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted December 8, 2019 Author Share Posted December 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, Pacific231G said: Hi Andy This is going back six years so if you did use dry teabag tea, you should know by now Any thoughts? I'm not looking at it as ballast but as soil for my latest French H0m effort for which the colour looks very suitable Cor blimey, I've been asleep since then, haha I think from memory I used a fine Woodlands Scenics for the Ballast in the end, but I sold the Layout at the first Show, and it's now in the hands of a member of The Gresley Club and will be shown next weekend at their Open Weekend. Here's some pics of it finished. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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