dust, dusT, duST, dUST, DUST

[traindaddy1]

Hello, it's me again! While dust, to some, is an enhancement to the 'natural beauty' of a scenic layout and rolling stock, the "boss" is anti-dust.

We came up with a solution that cuts down on some of it. When not in use, we have covered the layout with a very thin clear painters plastic sheet. The sheet is suspended about half a foot above the highest part of the layout thus not touching anything on the layout. It is supported by a removable light weight grid-like aluminum frame. (Sort of like a tent over the layout which is @ 8' x 8'...I KNOW, small by your standards!!!)

Just wondering. Do you have dust? If so, what do you do about it and how often do you do it?

Thanks for reading and your input.

[Dr. John]

Yes, I have dust - and I have humidity too! For that reason I have avoided plastic sheeting and use cotton sheets which breathe but still keep the dust down. I washed them every so often with some bleach to avoid any chances of mildew. The plastic should work great with lower humidity or in an air conditioned train room.

I like your idea of a framework. I just clamped some pieces of woods to the side of the benchwork and draped the sheets over the layout. My old layout was 6x9, also on the small side. It was in an outdoor building, so dust, bugs, etc, were an ongoing problem.

[overall]

I have a dehumidifier that runs 24/7 in my layout room to keep the humidity down. I have thought about getting an Ion-breeze air cleaner but don't know how well this would work.

George

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I have an additional filter over the supply air duct, sweep and mop the hardwood floor regularly, and keep the door closed most of the time.
Jim

[dougdagrump]

We use a couple of Ionic-Breeze units in our house. They seem to do a pretty good job but they won't catch all of it. They also work best if the room is kept closed ALL of the time.

[jefelectric]

Dust is always a problem with trains. Prior to this year I always covered the layout from about now to september. This year I plan to leave it uncovered as I find it is nice to be able to retreat to the basement when the extreme heat and humidity hit in July & August. Now I will be able to run trains and work on the layout. Bought a 3M air freestanding air filter, the jury is still out as I just started it up on Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Here in Arizona where I live, dust is a big problem. I have learned to live with it on most of my layout, but not on my rivers and lakes. I have to clean them about once every week or so, or right before visitors come over.

[cmrj]

Model railroader had an article several year's ago, useing an old furnace blower in a plywood cabinet with filter's on each side. The idea was to pressurize the room with clean air . We use the same idea for clean room's and office's connected to large factories in the HVAC the industry. Mike

[FJ and G]

Indoor toy train layouts are tops for detailing and most everyhing else. However, dust is the bane of indoor running, unless you work at the NIH sterile unit for bird flu[[D]

I run my toy trains outdoors now, which has its unique sets of problems, dust not being one of them. However, when I ran indoors, I built up the scenery robustly enough to be confident to use a spray bottle of water to create showers to make the dust actually flow off the scenery and flow downstream, atop my epoxy rivers, where I could wipe it offf; no foolin![:D]

[overall]

I use a can of compressed air, the kind used to clean computer keyboards with, to blow dust off my trains and structures. You can get it at office supply stores like office depot.

George

[traindaddy1]

Thanks to all for your input and ideas. (Got to admit.....Never thought about a filter/machine set-up.....Glad I asked.)

[BillP1]

When I've let things go to long, I'll take the easily removable pieces out to the garage and blow them off with shop air.

Any suggestions as to good products to use for light dusting would be appreciated.

---------------- Bill

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Swiffers. Work great. Especially the one with the extension handle.
Jim

[ChiefEagles]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougdagrump

We use a couple of Ionic-Breeze units in our house. They seem to do a pretty good job but they won't catch all of it. They also work best if the room is kept closed ALL of the time.

We just got one downstairs and it seems to help. Now to get one for the trainroom.