corrosion resistance

[tangerine-jack]

I just thought you all might want to know what I use for corrosion resistance and conductivity on my RR. I was asked this in an off-forum question and thought it good to share. I have used a couple of products that have worked well for me for both enhancing conductivity of electrical connection and general longevity of metal-to-metal connections. I live in a salty sea air environment, so I can attest to the quality of the following products. Some are not always available retail, but I have included the companies’ address so you can contact them directly for a retailer in your area.

The first is called Stabilant 22E. It is a conductive grease that I got through the military, Here is the stock # and company web site, you may be able to order direct. NSCM/Cage Code - NATO Supply Code 38948, NATO Part # 5999-21-900-6937 http://www.stabilant.com/bccomp.htm

The next product I have used, and widely available, is Honda Marine corrosion inhibitor 08732-0009. This is an aerosol that you can get at any boat store. Probably the best way to go as it is not hard to find and is the easiest to apply; spray and you’re done. Non-conductive, but super protection for existing connections. Hey, Honda makes it so you know it will last forever!

The third product I have used is NO-OX-ID "A-Special" electrical grease. Also a conductive type of lubricant grease, it’s available from SANCHEM INC. 1600 S. Canal St., Chicago IL 60616 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]. I’ve no idea where mine came from, it was given to me years ago and I used the last of it this summer.

These products are, of course, designed to exclude the salt and moisture from the connector or rail joint, and a choice of which treatment to use will be based on the location of the connectors, the ease of application of the treatment, and the life the materials used. Finaly let’s not forget the elixir of life, WD-40! Say no more…………………[oX)]

[bman36]

Hey t-j,
Thanks for all the info. I think the Honda product will be the easiest to find here. The only "salt" we have issue with here is the tons they dump on our streets in the winter...yyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuck! Can you say pretty white snow turned sloppy mess??? Come spring we have half rotted bus shacks at the bus stops from all the spray. We live on a bus route and that's why my RR is in the back yard! Along with protection of course. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

I also live in a salty environment as i am only 1500 metres from the Coral Sea. I do not have any conductivity problems nor do i have any corrosion problems as I solder all my joints.

You have touched on a subject that I have had a lot of experience with in my past pasttime and that is Electrolysis. This occurs when you pass and electric current through dissimilar metals. DC is much worse tyhan AC and moisture is a real enemy. But salty water will just be death defiying as far as Electrolysis is concerned.


Regards

Ian

[tangerine-jack]

First question, again, what is snow?

Anyway, iandor, your absolutely correct about electrolysis. I did not want to get too technical about the micronic switching action of the compounds used for corrosion resistance, nor the rates conductivity of the patina of oxidized metals, aluminum of course being superior in that the oxidation is not only conductive when subjected to electrical amperage of about .003mv or greater, but that the oxidation itself creates a O2 exclusive environment thereby preventing further oxidation of the substrate metal. I also did not want to bring up that the aplication of the conductive types of lubricants does not in themselves make continuity, by fills the microscopic voids in the applied metals to enable continuity to occur, thereby "swithching" current on and off as required. Nor was any mention to be made that the difficulty in real world aplication is to find a compound that acts at the molecular level to initiate the electrical switching action by enableing free electrons in the outer atomic shell, while at the same time have durability against water and ultraviolet radiation. Luckily salt, such as found on the roads in Canada, or near the oceans in a air suspension, is itself a good conductor so the compounds can therby be formulated to catalyst with the salt and self stabilize in a marine environment. But since you brought it up..............................[oX)]

[Curmudgeon]

Why?
I live in an environmet with some salt, some snow, real bad volcanic acididty in the soil (and maybe more to come), and I just use slip-joiners.
Of course I am all self-contained, with zero track power outdoors.

On Weasel-Juice (WD-40), that stuff is nasty. It can create more corrosion than you had before you used it, depending on environment.

TOC

[Anonymous]

Would dieelectric grease be good to use on rail joints? Got a big tube from an automotive mechanic I know.

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Would dieelectric grease be good to use on rail joints? Got a big tube from an automotive mechanic I know.

Hey Matt,
This stuff is used to keep moisture from affecting electrical contact on automotive parts such as distributor caps, plug wires, etc. How it would last in the elements is a good question. How about a test? [:D] Enquiring minds would like to know! Later eh...Brian.

[tangerine-jack]

Hmm, looks like I opened a can of worms. I apologize if anybody took offence to my suggestions; I was simply trying to share what products and techniques work for me. I don’t run trains very often as I am away from home often and for extended periods. It is a known fact that the more you run trains, the fewer problems you will have. Because of my infrequent operation, I have to take measures to preserve the metal components against the elements so when I do run trains I can do so without spending hundreds of hours cleaning and repairing. Obviously if you are having no problems then whatever you are doing is working for you and you should continue to do as you have been.

Dielectric grease is specifically designed to be non conductive, it’s used on spark plug wire boots to prevent them from sticking to the spark plug ceramic. I believe using it on a rail joiner will not be of any benefit. But, experimentation has proven the most bizzare things!
[oX)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Curmudgeon


On Weasel-Juice (WD-40), that stuff is nasty. It can create more corrosion than you had before you used it, depending on environment.

TOC

ROFLMAO I have hurd [:D] it all now just the thought "Weasel-Juice"! [:D][:P][C):-)]

You crack me up TOC!

[vsmith]

LGB conductive grease is all I've used, works like a charm. Of course I'm indoors in a nice sheltered structure so I guess my vote doenst count...[:D]

[Anonymous]

Jack , i loved your use of the word "patina" its one of my favourites too.

Can you include the word "maniscus" in your writings I love that one too, How about this for being unreal.

"I was looking at the maniscus in my glass of beer and i was so interested in its shape and what caused it, that i didn't drink any nmore beer for ten minutes.

Regards Ian

Jack what is your latitude I am on 25 Deg South and about 152 deg east ie we are 10 hours ahead of universal time or GMT.

[tangerine-jack]

Hey iandor! Funny you should mention that, I never understood calculus until I had a professor at VCU who was from Scotland. He had a way of relating hyperbolic and parabolic curves to beer drinking. Most of our work involved finding the volume of beer mugs and kegs. That I understood. Glad to know all that money I spent on an instituition of higher learning payed off in a moment of amusement for somebody half way across the world. I also learned a few other valuable things- 1. never go to a university that doesn't have a football team 2. nobody wants to be institutionalized 3. the real money in this world is made by running a university book store.

I'll have to get back to you on my latitude/ longitude, I am on the road right now and don't have my local area Atlas. I am in Clarke 1866 18S spheriod if that helps. I am on the east coast of the US, about in the middle, -5 hours GMT. [oX)]

[Anonymous]

Jack mate


I can tell I think by your pirate insignia tha you are from Florida, when I was there I thought what an odd mob, being proud of being descended from pirates but then I thought well we are proud to be descended from convicts. I n fact young girls that seem to interested in geneology (or words to that effect) seem to go out of their way to find a convict in their family tree.



By the way you may think that University bookshops are money factories but try diesel mechanics, especially if own a yacht or cruiser on a place in Sydney called Pittwater.

I knew a bloke who sent his bills out so late he couldn't remember what he had done so he started at $1,400.


Regrds


Ian

[tangerine-jack]

Iandor, I found an old hurricane tracking chart, near as I can tell I am at 37' north, 77' west. The map may not be accurate, but it's reasonably close.

I do in fact take my online name from "Calico-Jack" a not so great pirate of the 17th century known not so much for his piratical activities, but for the fact that he had the only two known female pirates on his crew, Anne Bonnie and Marie Reed. I live in Virginia beach, and our only famous pirate was Blackbeard, and he was not so great a pirate either, but died a really cool pirate death. We can however claim the one and only true documented case of buried treasure on one of the estuaries of the James river. Sadly, I have no confirmed pirates in my geneology, but rumor has it that LaPierre is in the family tree. I always said that if I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I would move to Florida, steal a boat and be a pirate until the Navy or Coast Guard sank me. It would be fun for a little while to fly the Jolly Roger again and in any case it beats fading away on some sick bed, What any of this has to do with the meniscus on the patina of my mug I have no idea...........[oX)]

[Anonymous]

T[oX)]J, Thanks for the laugh! You could board cruise ships and relieve the passengers of their booty!

[tangerine-jack]

Thanks Matt! I have visions (or fantasies) of storming across the deck of Cruise Disney and relieving the stupid mouse of some of his loot. I mean honestly, I spent a week in Disney World last year and they can stand to spread a little of that wealth around. I would carry an orange Roger with a white hour glass device to signify time is running out, put on an eye-patch and even buy a parrot. Ha! what a shock that would be! Imagine that report on CNN.[oX)]