Opinions on track cleaning cars?

[KRM]

I am considering getting a track-cleaning car and would like to hear your thoughts on these. Do they work? Are they worth the money? What are the options? What ones work the best?

 I have seen the CTT thread from 2007 but would like to know if there are new options out there now.

Thanks in advance for you replies.

 

 

[ChiefEagles]

I've purchased about all of them on the market.  Nothing beats a good non-linty rag and denatured alcohol.

[TRAINCAT]

I use the rag and alcohol and maybe a "bright boy" pad. If you can reach your entire layout you don't need a cleaning car.

Roger

[phillyreading]

Track cleaning cars are very pricey! Most now sell for around $100.00, as others, like Chief, have said, a nice lint-free cloth and some cleaning alcohol works the best. Unless it is an area that you just can not reach that well, don't get a track cleaning car, it is a big expense that may just sit around after a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Kev,

           Just save the money and clean the track by hand.  Most, if not all, cleaning cars just make a bigger mess.  I use 99% isopropyl alcohol on a rag for routine cleaning and a green scotchbrite pad for heavier grime.

[KRM]

Well it seems most of you think track cleaning cars are not worth it and I tend to agree but, I have two long stretches along the back walls that are hard to reach so that is why I was considering one. What  I use is electrical contact cleaner on a rag and it works well. I may just make some kind of wipe on a stick to reach those places better.

Thanks All.

[fifedog]

Kev, for those out of reach places (and I have T-rex arms), I use a 4 ft piece of 1X4, and an old tube sock turned inside out on one end.

  Or better yet, you could design a new track cleaning car, we could market it under Kev-dog, and make meeeelyinz.

[dougdagrump]

I have one that one of our club members designed and built some years back. It works good with the exception being on smaller radius curves. If I were to make any changes to the design I would make the cleaning block a little bit wider.

For cleaning we use the cleaning cloth formerly known as "Sham-Wow" cut into the appropriate length & width, clip'em on the block , dip in denatured alcohol run them around the track. Flip them over and run 'em around again. 

Edit: For safety when using denatured alcohol have a good fire extinguisher handy, we have had a couple of fires on the club layout when someone makes a mistake or does not pay attention. We have four of the Halon extinguishers, no longer on the market thanks to the EPA, which when used don't make an absolute mess of everything.