DIY: De-Dusting Your Own Road

[titelines]

I looked into getting our privately maintained road de-dusted, but it's far too expensive for our Association's budget. So, I started looking into doing it myself.

Has anyone ever done this as a DIY project? I'm thinking of getting a 55 gallon drum for a calcium-chloride/water mix, adding a spout and a length of pipe with holes drilled into it. I could put this on the back of the ATV or truck and do a section at a time.

Does this sound feasible? Would it be easier to just get an ATV sprayer and use that?

Where would a guy look to acquire calcium-chloride for this? It could be in the cities or in the Duluth area.

Thanks for any advice/insight.

[CAMAN]

Do a search for a product called Dowflake Xtra, it can applied with a broadcast spreader.

Some tips is to spread a heavier than recommended layer the first time, then reapplying at the recommended rate and interval depending on traffic. You should spread it either before a rainfall, or wet it down after application.

[Steve Foss]

Not to be a stick in the mud, but you might also require some sort of permit to apply whichever chemical you choose. May be worth checking.

I like the Dowflake Xtra option. That sounds really good. If you opt for the calcium chloride solution so you don't have to time application based on rain, I think the ATV sprayer would give you a more certain and even application, since it's under pressure. I'd worry the pipe/holes wouldn't cover the surface well.

Auto chain stores sell calcium chloride crystals. They're used to soak oil up off concrete floors. I don't have any idea how strongly you'd want to mix it. Or a phone call to the county garage could put you on the right track. Those are the folks who apply the stuff to roads on a regular basis.

[Jim Almquist]

I know that in Carlton county they sub-contract out the spraying of the roads. Last time I paid to have it done it was around $110.00 for a 1000 feet. Another place you can check to see if they have it in bulk is a concrete mixing plant. It is used to help concrete setup faster.

[Jim Almquist]

Looking around I see that Home Depot has Morton Safe-T-Power calcium chloride pellets in 50 pound bags for $17.95.

[Tom7227]

Mixing it and trying to spray sounds like a headache. The stuff grabs moisture so why not put it down with a ag type spreader and let nature take it's course.

[titelines]

Thanks everyone. I remember seeing the DowFlake product in my research. It does sound like a very good option. Then the only thing I'd need is a broadcast spreader. Doing a search, there isn't anyone I can find in MN that sells the stuff. My fear is that the shipping will be as much (if not more) than the product itself.

Are the calcium crystals and/or the Morton calcium product essentially the same thing as the DowFlake..something that could simply be spread without mixing with water etc.? Can those products be mixed with rock salt for winter melt?

[Jim Almquist]

When I did my search I found out that Dow no longer owns that division. The product is still made and sold to 15 different company's that buy in bulk and bag up into smaller bags for retail. It sounded like most of the calcium chloride is made Oxy chemicals.

When I did it with crystals in front of our house I just used my fertilizer spreader. The one thing I did not do but should have was to water it down to get it soaked in place. My plan is to buy it in bulk this winter when it is on sale and apply next spring.

[Tom7227]

Maybe a farmer in your area has one and would put it down for you. If you don't have a large area to cover you probably could get by with the type homeowners use to spread fertilizer in the yard. Be sure to carefully wash whatever equipment you use because I would bet the stuff is very corrosive.

[fishinchicks]

From eHow:

Quote:

Salts

Calcium chloride and lignin sulfonate, two salts, when mixed with water in about a 35 percent solution and sprayed over gravel roads, have been found to be very effective at keeping dust down.

These salts attract water from the air, keeping the roadway slightly moist at all times, and thereby capturing dust in the process. You may want to call up your local farm and implement store to find out about cost and availability.

Soybean Oil Soapstock

Commercial soapstock spraying

A byproduct of soybean oil called called soybean oil soapstock, which is a common base oil for natural soaps, can be used in its liquid state and sprayed onto roads as a very environmentally friendly way to prevent dust. Coverage is about 1/4 of a gallon per square yard of roadway and has been proven at this rate of application to last all summer.

It does not pollute waterways during runoff and is considered non-toxic for plants and animals. It should be sprayed onto roadways as is, and it is never to be mixed in a water solution. Ideally, the ambient air temperature should be at least 75 degrees. Faster and better penetration into the gravel will occur with higher temperatures.

We have neighbors that have contracted to have the soapstock sprayed. It kept dust down for a long time. Good alternative if you live in an area with a lot of runoff heading directly into a water body.