Cleaning Track

[envfocus]

I was just given over 70 pieces of Lionel O gauge 3-rail tubular track (black ties).  All of them are pretty rusty.  I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to best clean all these pieces.  Thanks!

[Brutus]

I think somebody suggested using Coke?  Was it Chuck (Blueberry Hill)?

[Blueberryhill RR]

I was just given over 70 pieces of Lionel O gauge 3-rail tubular track (black ties).  All of them are pretty rusty.  I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to best clean all these pieces.  Thanks!

Hi,  I have tried coke on chrome bumpers, and it worked. I have never used it on track. I have about 60 pieces of Lionel 0 guage that is from a flood. I am cleaning it slowly with a wire wheel and Dremel tool. Good Luck.

Chuck

[cnw1995]

try fine sandpaper or the Dremel tool with the wire wheel Chuck suggests.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I've cleaned a lot of track with a 6" fine brass wire wheel on a 1/4 hp motor I've bolted to a board that I clamp into a vice.  It does a great job fairly quickly cleaning crud and rust from the rails by running the rail inline with the brush.  Configure the motor / wheel so the working side rotates down.  This way if the wheel grabs the track out of your hands it will throw it down not into your face.  Wear eye protection!  After cleaning I polish with wheel polish.  This will clean up the ties and protect your now shiney rails.  All my track is used two rail AF and this works real good for me.
Jim

[laz 57]

Did anyone ever try and sand blast track?  Just wondering, I have a sandblaster here at school and was wondering if it would do a good job?

laz57

[ben10ben]

I make my own super-sized sanding disks for my dremel by sticking a piece of square sandpaper on it and then cutting it down with an X-acto knife.

I then use this to sand the tops of the rails.

If the insides are rusty, you can use a drill bit slightly smaller than the rail diameter to ream out the end and make sure you get good contact between the rail and the pin.

[weldman87]

I was told to put mine in the dish washer, or let it soak in dish water, and use a scotch bright pad. I dont think my wife would let me put my track in her dish washer.

[mitchelr]

Did anyone ever try and sand blast track?  Just wondering, I have a sandblaster here at school and was wondering if it would do a good job?

laz57

LAZ

My brother tried a bead blaster on some od track for me and it turned out OK.

Mitch

[Train Memories]

I don't mean to sound silly but,... Have you ever tried using good old fashion emery cloth? The top will be clean (actually shiny) and the sides will remained rusty,  but isn't that what you want??

                                                                   Reuben

[daan]

I was told to put mine in the dish washer, or let it soak in dish water, and use a scotch bright pad. I dont think my wife would let me put my track in her dish washer.

 

I once had a motor from a motorbike in the dishwasher to clean. The misses was not happy, but I cleaned the dishwasher afterwards

If using the small brass wire brush in a dremel, be shure to use eye protection, since the wires tends to loosen up. Since Murphy's Law is always a big deal in our hobby, loose wire's from the brush always end up in your eyes..

[lionelsoni]

The track is tin-plated steel.  Any cleaning that removes tin along with dirt and rust will make things worse in the long run.  As Reuben points out, leaving all but the railheads alone may give a more realistic result.  I wouldn't use anything more abrasive than Scotch Brite for the railheads however.

[envfocus]

The point regarding the tin plating is something I did not realize.  Doing a little more research, it does seem that physical methods, like wire brushing and sandpaper, may well remove or harm the tin plating.  A friend told me about a cleanser called "Bar Keepers Friend".  If used with a scotch brite pad, he felt it would clean the track without hurting the tin plating.  Anybody have experience using this stuff or other cleaner that would not harm the tin plating?