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 Posted - July 15 2017 : 8:21:29 PM
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Looking for suggestions on the best way to clean track. I am laying out the yard on mine and my friend's layout and was wondering what is the best way to clean track.I welcome all suggestions.
Yardmaster 54
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Posted - July 16 2017 : 6:27:48 PM
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I've cleaned track a number of ways, but what I've found helps a lot is if you occasionally use denatured alcohol. That'll remove anything old and gummy that helps dirty up the track too quickly.
A lot has been said about the Walther's Bright-Boy scratching up tracks, but LifeLike makes a softer version of the same thing (looks like an eraser) that polishes nicely but is less scratchy. You really only need this if the track is old and crusty or corroded. It scratches a little, but crusty old track is usually pitted and rough, anyway and you may actually be making it smoother and less prone to holding dirt. Some people will burnish the rail head with a washer afterwards to smooth out the scratches and polish the track smoother.
On the main line, I use a car with a Masonite pad under it to rub the rail tops and follow it with a car with a damp felt pad to pick up the loosened dust. In the yard, just wipe the rail heads with a rag that can either be dry or damp with alcohol. As I said earlier, alcohol should be used at least occasionally.
The jury's still out, in my mind, about coatings like automatic transmission oil, hair clipper oil, kerosene, etc. Hopefully, someone more experienced will weigh in.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - July 17 2017 : 11:29:53 PM
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It all depends what type of track your cleaning.
If it's routine cleaning on a layout then a cloth soaked with alcohol (I've always used methyl hydrate from the hardware store) is usually sufficient. If there's a lot of black grime on the rails then I'll start with a white block pencil eraser followed by the alcohol cloth.
If the track is badly corroded, tarnished, or rusted, some automotive (1000-2000) grit sandpaper will usually polish it up nicely...followed, of course, by the alcohol rag. Keep in mind this is for restoring junk box track, not routine track cleaning.
As for the oil coatings that shaggy mentioned... I've never actually tried it on train track. The few times I've cleaned my Tyco slotcar track my method has been to dampen a rag with WD40 and wipe the entire road surface. A second rag is then dampened with Windex and wiped along the entire road. It's always worked flawlessly for me, but unless your track has steel rails, I'm not sure what the benefit would be vs. just alcohol.
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Posted - July 22 2017 : 1:11:28 PM
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Thanks for the info Shag and Cheez. I appreciate your help.
Yardmaster 54
Edited by - yardmaster54 on July 22 2017 1:12:05 PM
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