Ballasting and painting track

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The final step before applying any wetting agent or glue is that I lightly, (I mean, LIGHTLY!) tap the top of the rail heads with a rubber mallat. Sort of like a controlled bounce. The vibration helps shake any loose ballast off the tops of the ties and helps it settle.

There are battery powered handheld devices that do an awesome job on vibrating ballast off the ties. You can get one for cheap at your local sexshop. No joke.