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 Posted - April 25 2018 : 10:54:40 AM
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Over the years, it appears that everyone has a particular method of cleaning track,
and these methods are tightly held.
Methods I have tried:
1. Rubbing alcohol. Pro: cheap. Con: effect lasts maybe half an hour, requires the
entire layout to be wiped down.
2. Brite Boy (eraser with fine grit). Pro: cheap. Con: one wonders if the grit lays down
micro grooves creating additional arcing and sparking. Effect does not last very long.
3. Wahl's Hair Clipper Oil: Pro's Cheap, effects last weeks to months, depending on
ambient dust or humidity. Lays down a micro film of protecting oil that interrupts
oxidization. Con: some people say that oil attracts dust, and that oil doesn't
conduct electricity. (That may be, but I haven't seen a decrease in performance).
It does cause a little slippage, particularly with locomotives of the 4-2-2 arrangement,
and the like ("bicycle type" locomotives).
4. Goo Gone. Pros: cheap. Cons: it doesn't work, requires a lot of rubbing, has an
acrid citrus odor, and appears to gum things up. Requires all track to be wiped
heavily.
5. Kadee wheel cleaner. Pro: strips the wheel tread down to a fine shine rapidly. Con:
micro grooves?
6. Track specific rail antioxidants, Rail Ox, etc: Pros: some people swear by it. I don't see
much long term effect. Cons: pricey. Requires wiping down the entire layout.
7. Automatic transmission fluid. I kid you not. Pros: cheap. This guy says it lasts up to
6 months and requires small applications in strategic spots. Cons: I've never tried it.
Heard on TFer swear buy it. There are two versions of AT Fluid that I know of- an "eco friendly"
version, that won't strip paint (I've used AT Fluid for stripping shells) and an older version
that strips paint and won't attack styrene. I am guessing this guy uses the old school
version. Anyone try this?
https://youtu.be/bmOPOcxXPjE
8. 3-1 Oil. An interesting video. Check it out:
https://youtu.be/6bmbFtEB5Tw
Edited by - Chops124 on April 25 2018 11:02:10 AM
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 3:45:49 PM
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I use the 90% rubbing alcohol for cleaning. A Bright Buy for the heavy spots. This is at the end off summer when I start to regularly run trains again.
I have attached dust monkeys to the bottom of one car on each train for regular running, that does 90% of the maintenance work during the non-summer months when the trains are run regularly.
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 6:33:59 PM
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I use the Walther's track cleaning car followed up by the Tyco track cleaning car filled with
Life Life track cleaning fluid. I run it once a week about 5 or 6 times around the layout. Works
great to keep the track clean. The first time around the loco seems to drag, but each
subsequent trip the loco picks up in performance.
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 8:47:57 PM
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I saw in MR that one guy melted down gold from his wife's grandmother's jewerly & put it on his tracks 
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 10:09:00 PM
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For track cleaning, I use Rubbing Alcohol (with Q-Tips) & Pink Pearl Erasers. In fact, check out my Spring/Summer 2018 HO-Scale model railroading article, which contains more info on how I use/preserve erasers as track cleaners: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19EajvBRyOeB-IGzyruQMBMdu-D1NmSUcXPZXBmkRnSs/edit?usp=sharing
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." - Matthew 5:16
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 10:26:13 PM
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Contact Cleaner Spray... Walthers track cleaning car... My track (nickle silver) had not been used for 30 years and a spray of contact cleaner and a track cleaning car got things running right away...HO Primer by Kalmbach with Linn Wescott even suggested it...
Mike
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Posted - April 25 2018 : 10:53:22 PM
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| These are great new ideas. I rather like the dust monkey, personally.
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Posted - April 26 2018 : 06:59:16 AM
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Getting someone else to clean it. But that never happens.
frank
toptrain
" It's a Heck of a Day " !!!
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