Dust control with chips?

[avorancher]

Has anyone used woodchips to control dust on dirt roads?

I threw some chips down to help get traction on a steep hill and noticed that after running over them for a while, they seem to compact down and create a decent surface.

I won't get rain until next November or so, and the dust is getting really bad after doing some trenching in the roads.

I have plenty of chips and resources to make more, but I don't want to create a mess for myself later when they start to decompose or get wet.

Other low-cost ideas appreciated.

 

[DiskDoctr]

From working with sawmills, I remember they get slippery when wet and stay soft if too deep. Chips are better than sawdust. Watch for sharp "tire killers" though.

They also smell some when wet, so next to house is less desirable.

If you're not on a hill where you need maximum traction and don't pile them too deep, maybe you're on to something. Readily available to you, so price is right /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Just be careful if you get a lot of mud when you do get rain. This stuff will hold the moisture and make some muck. If you have basically solid ground, probably okay.

-JC

 

[zuiko]

You can mix up some Calcuim Chloride with water and spray it. It does a very good job of dust control and lasts through many rains. It is also very cheap. It will kill any plants you spray it on.

 

[jimgerken]

Calcium Chloride: This must be what the township uses on our gravel road. They charge us for it, $70 for 300 feet. I was wondering what it actually cost as a raw material. Water is cheap, and setting up a sprayer with coarse nozzles or even simpler, would be easy. So I am wondering what is the Chloride stuff they use, where does a guy buy it cheap, what do I ask for? Anybody know abou this stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[zuiko]

All I know is it is very cheap. I'm not sure where to get it in bulk. It's the same stuff they used to load tractor tires with. You could also spread it on the ground and then spray it with water which would be even easier.