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 Posted - October 05 2012 : 11:34:19 AM
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http://modelrailwaylayoutsplans.com/daves-wheel-cleaning-demo/#comment-8301.
looks easy enough to make
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Posted - October 05 2012 : 11:40:59 AM
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i thought about these,but 3 are needed for the average loco/tender length,and big boys need at least 4,thats around a £100 here,ken
here`s what i use
My method, place loco upside down in peco foam cradle, use PP9 battery across wheels to run motor
and lightly hold a brass type brush (mine is a suede shoe brush). Cleans all the heavy crap off and no chance of a flat spot, final polish using meths on cotton bud. Works for me!
Edited by - catfordken on October 05 2012 11:43:21 AM
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Posted - October 05 2012 : 11:06:05 PM
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| I hesitate to use any type of wire or metal brush on my loco's wheels. Especially the ones with brass wheels. I do not want to take the chance of scratching them and making them more likely to build up dirt in the future. I still use to old method of taking a bright boy and cleaning them by hand. At the same time I check that they are in gauge etc.
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Posted - October 05 2012 : 11:11:07 PM
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how about using a hard bristle toothbrush? 
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 12:48:07 AM
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You can get a few popsicle sticks, split them lengthwise, then use double stick tape to put thin pieces of 400, 600 or 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper on them. I buy this stuff at Walmart cheap and then clean the wheels of my repowering project locos. After that, i clean with 91% alcohol.
using the finer grits avoids scratches and flats, as the wheel rotates when powered.
Ron
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 03:02:19 AM
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Ron,
Sadly this is one time, I'll have to disagree with you! That method of cleaning, with even 1800 grit wet/dry sand paper will create "second scratches" and this will hold dirt like you would never believe! IT also will allow the wheels, (ANY and ALL of the cleaned that way) to spread it over your entire layout......
Brass wire wheels for a Dremel at the highest speed 30,000 RPM's is much better to do then to use sand paper. As you would want to prevent scratches from starting, and brass wire wheels do not scratch.... they polish! I also have used Q-Tips thats been dipped and NOT dripping of Acetone to rub the METAL driver treads......This REMOVES ALL dirt thats collected and added up to a thick crust over time. And unlike most solvents does not leave a residue on the driver tread of flanges! As it evaporates VERY quickly......
Only danger is to keep it off ANY and ALL plastic that surrounds the metal driver tread, as it will "eat" or attack it.
Another good material to use for cleaning drivers or powered wheels is a thin section of masonite, thats been sanded to remove the crust on the masonite board, this also will not scratch either......
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 06:38:23 AM
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One other aspect to my method, John- i gleamed the rails on my test track, to eliminate scratches p, so i figured that the polishing action of higher / finer grits would work in tandem with that to keep wheels clean.
Of course, chemical cleaning- especially if old stuff is being reworked and repowered, such as flea market locos, may have less physical impact on the wheels, but thst might cause the chemicals to migrate into the gearing, where plastic might be harmed.
At $38 a pop, if someone has a home build alternative to that Trix device, i am all for it!
Ron
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 10:42:43 AM
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quote:I hesitate to use any type of wire or metal brush on my loco's wheels. Especially the ones with brass wheels. I do not want to take the chance of scratching them and making them more likely to build up dirt in the future. I still use to old method of taking a bright boy and cleaning them by hand. At the same time I check that they are in gauge etc.
Originally posted by tkruger - October 05 2012 : 11:06:05 PM
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those are brass brushes on that cleaner. brass won't scratch
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 3:50:13 PM
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Amazon has this for $34.98 and another site, Hiawatha Hobbies is discounting it at $30.00.
Saw two videos in addition to the one posted here and it looks like a useful tool, but for a piece of plastic, wire brush material and contacts with the rails powered, that is a lot if money. The little red one you clip leads onto the tracks with that you get from Micro Mark, etc seems a lot cheaper fr the same result, although less "elegantly". Let's see, I get a brass wire brush, take a red and black wire pair of alligator clip leads, clip one of each to the bristles and the tracks, turn the power on and I should get the same effect, right?
Before I do that fool experiment, let me know if my thinking is "on track"!
Ron
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 7:26:02 PM
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| i'm thinking a brass brush on a Dremmel with wheels powered
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 8:25:02 PM
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Kadee makes the perfect item:
http://www.store.kadee.com/commerce.cgi?cart_id=1349569348.2796&product=HO-Scale_Tools&pid=236
$12.99.
Starting my Tyco and other favorites collection over again after 37 years.
My still in progress list of inventory and wantlist: tyconut.com
Edited by - Tyco Nut on October 06 2012 8:26:38 PM
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 10:14:39 PM
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I myself, use a brass wire wheel on a Dremel, and I have 3 or 4 of those brass brushes from Kadee, and use them on the needed basis at a show.... otherwise, I stick by a Dremel plugged into a sewing machine foot pedal and a brass wire wheels in the Dremel method and I have yet to scratch ANY drivers! I even hand clean rolling stock wheels this same way with my thumb used for pressure on the opposite wheels from which I'm cleaning......
I have yet to have/find a problem/issue with that method!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 06 2012 : 11:59:58 PM
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I stick by a Dremel plugged into a sewing machine foot pedal
Ta Da !!!!! my wife has a sewing machine she barely touches
My Dremmel has 3 speeds, What your saying i could make it variable speed
how do you plug a Dremmel into a foot pedal or will i have to attach a female plug
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Posted - October 07 2012 : 12:53:53 AM
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Fred,
Well, thats a whole can of worms opened on my part! LOL
Well, *long sigh* Go grab something to drink and some popcorn.....Nelson you keep from laughing at that comment!
Well the foot pedal depends.....As the sewing machine you have can have a few different types of plugs for it to plug into the sewing machine. You need the foot pedal that looks like a 3 prong plug that is just the same as a normal plug from say a light you plug into a wall outlet, BUT has one extra hole it for the prong.
You follow me?
IF your foot pedal doesn't have this, it won't work!
IF it does.....Plug the foot pedal into the wall outlet to "power" it....THEN see if your Dremel will plug into the sewing machine outlet, IF it has the slotted plug, with 3 slots.....ONE end slot of for a light, the center is a common, and the other end is for the variable speed control of the pedal.
Make sense?
NOW if your Dremel will not plug right into the slots, you MIGHT have to trim the LARGE prong on the plug of the Dremel to make it fit, it merely needs to have a slight angle to it to slip into the sewing machine outlet of the foot pedal.
Which I had to do, on ALL of mine to make them work.....
Now to figure out which is which on the sewing machine outlet, plug the Dremel into this plug, MAKE SURE your Dremel is on OFF, once its pluged in, power it up, if it comes on by the switch on the Dremel, its the WRONG part of the sewing machine outlet of the foot pedal....Be sure to turn the Dremel power switch to OFF again!
Move the Dremels power cord plug to the OTHER end of that sewing machine foot pedal plug, EITHER way, it will work and fit into this plug. Then switch the Dremels power back on, by the switch on the Dremel. IT WILL NOT RESPOND this time! To test it, push down on the pedal! IT should turn on.....
NOW to give a lesson, you have a 3 speed Dremel? On, Medium speed, and full speed? WEll on the first setting is "on" the second is the lowest setting for speed. Test it.......... turn the Dremels switch to the second setting Medium speed. PUSH down onto the sewing machine foot pedal, the Dremel SHOULD NOT exceed the RPM's to that setting..... THEN, turn the Dremels to its last and highest setting......PUSH on the foot pedal again, it will go ALL the way to the highest RPM's of that machine........30,000 RPM's!
NOW while your setting, you can control more precisely the RPM's you need for the job your trying to perform, WITHOUT using your hand to change the settings! Its ALL foot controlled!
Imagine this.....I have 10 Dremels in my shop, ALL but one are 5 setting/speeds! I can control the lowest speed to the point I can watch the chuck in mine, spin, without blur!
I have a Dremel "Advantage" with a flex shaft hanging from my shop ceiling, its got 2 speeds, on medium and high. Hanging on a chain that I can adjust the height if needed with a 40 inch flex shaft coupled to it at all times! This machine is a GREAT flex shaft machine as they used to make years ago....And no longer do!
KEEP me posted on your foot pedal. If it won't work, I may have one to spare (I keep collecting them!) And your more then welcome to it if needed!
As for your last message, what I'm saying is you can make that Dremel of yours 2 DIFFERENT VARIABLE SPEEDS!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
Edited by - EM-1 on October 07 2012 01:03:47 AM
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Posted - October 07 2012 : 4:24:14 PM
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thanks
will keep you posted on how successful i am in confiscating the foot pedal, that's the hard part the technical part sounds easy
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Posted - October 07 2012 : 4:35:29 PM
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Fred,
IF you have trouble PM me, and we can talk on it as its really simple to do and if your foot pedal won't work, let me know I may be able to help you out on that department too!
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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Posted - October 07 2012 : 4:36:10 PM
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Also, before I head out.......... forgot to mention..... Your welcome! 
~John
Many have tried to, and failed, ya just can't repair stupid...
Do NOT try to Idiot-Proof anything!!!! God, will simply create a better......IDIOT!
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