Track Cleaning

[Anonymous]

What is the best thing to use to clean O27 Gauge track?


Aaron[B)]

[Anonymous]

What is the best thing to use to clean O27 Gauge track?


Aaron[B)]

[lionelsoni]

I like those fuzzy green scouring pads meant for dishwashing. I use one dry. You shouldn't use anything like steel wool because of the danger of getting it into the bearings, especially with magnetraction. I concentrate on cleaning the middle rail. The running rails don't need to be perfectly clean, since there are so many more points of contact through the wheels.

Bob Nelson

[lionelsoni]

I like those fuzzy green scouring pads meant for dishwashing. I use one dry. You shouldn't use anything like steel wool because of the danger of getting it into the bearings, especially with magnetraction. I concentrate on cleaning the middle rail. The running rails don't need to be perfectly clean, since there are so many more points of contact through the wheels.

Bob Nelson

[Algonquin]

Hi Aaron,

We should get many responses to this question. Just about everyone has there own method and chemical of choice. I have Lionel tubular track. I used to wipe it down with Lionel track cleaner on a soft rag every couple months. I also used denatured alcohol on a rag when I would run out of the Lionel Fluid.

A couple years ago I purchased a track cleaning car from Centerline Products. I use either the Lionel track cleaning fluid or denatured alcohol with it. If the track is heavily grimed then I will use Goo Gone to break down the grim and follow with the Lionel or alcohol.

Both methods are equally effective but the track cleaning car is a lot labor intensive.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Algonquin]

Hi Aaron,

We should get many responses to this question. Just about everyone has there own method and chemical of choice. I have Lionel tubular track. I used to wipe it down with Lionel track cleaner on a soft rag every couple months. I also used denatured alcohol on a rag when I would run out of the Lionel Fluid.

A couple years ago I purchased a track cleaning car from Centerline Products. I use either the Lionel track cleaning fluid or denatured alcohol with it. If the track is heavily grimed then I will use Goo Gone to break down the grim and follow with the Lionel or alcohol.

Both methods are equally effective but the track cleaning car is a lot labor intensive.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

Hi

I always use a silk like cloth with a tiny bit of rubbin alchol[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hi

I always use a silk like cloth with a tiny bit of rubbin alchol[:)]

[Anonymous]

I use briteboy on all track cleanup. Then I use a rag with rubbing alcohol to clean off the residue, then a dry clean rag for good mesure. Its never failed me yet!

[Anonymous]

I use briteboy on all track cleanup. Then I use a rag with rubbing alcohol to clean off the residue, then a dry clean rag for good mesure. Its never failed me yet!

[Anonymous]

goo be gone

[Anonymous]

goo be gone

[Anonymous]

When I was running a radio station in Richmond, Virginia my engineers used denatured alcohol to clean tape machine heads etc.... I took their advice and have used it with great success on my gargraves track and ross switches. One pass with a wetted down cloth and a second pass with a dry cloth really cleans it well. John

[Anonymous]

When I was running a radio station in Richmond, Virginia my engineers used denatured alcohol to clean tape machine heads etc.... I took their advice and have used it with great success on my gargraves track and ross switches. One pass with a wetted down cloth and a second pass with a dry cloth really cleans it well. John

[dsmith]

If you haven't tried them, MICROFIBER TOWELS are truly amazing!  Just rub the towel across the track and all the crud easily comes off.  It's nothing like a regular cloth material, you have to try it to believe it.  You don't need to apply liquids, just the cloth itself.  And the cloth also attracts all the other little pieces of stuff that have been accumulating between the rails.  Once the stuff is attracted to the towel it  just stays there like it's struck to the cloth.  The cloths can be washed in the washing machine and reused.  You should be able to find microfiber towels in with the cleaning supplies in most stores.  They aren't cheap but are worth it.  Here is a little blurb I got off the internet about the towels:  "Constructed from an ultra fine blend of 70% polyester and 30% polyamide, the fabric has thousands of tiny fibers and a special weave providing greater surface contact and super absorbency, minimizing if not eliminating the need for cleaning chemicals. This towel can absorb 7 times it's own weight in dust, dirt, grease, grime and liquids. You will truly be amazed at its cleaning abilities! The product is NOT pretreated with any chemicals. Machine wash and dry."

I have tried track cleaning cars, 3M scouring pads, rubbing alcohol, Goo Gone, and lighter fluid, but my absolute favorite is MICROFIBER TOWELS. 

[Anonymous]

were would one get a track cleaning car?

[dbaker48]

This thread seems to have an echo.

Zeke in the magazines CTT etc., there are a number of ads for track cleaning cars.  I too prefer the green stuff.  We used to call it Scotch Brite. 

This thread seems to have an echo.

Zeke in the magazines CTT etc., there are a number of ads for track cleaning cars.  I too prefer the green stuff.  We used to call it Scotch Brite.