Piko smoke fluid to clean track

[JJ33]

I was told today that I should use Piko smoke fluid to clean my track instead of the green scoring pads I'm using know. I have not yet used my smoke stacks on my engines yet, so don't have the fluid.

Has anyone used this? How does it work? Better than the green pads?

Thanks,

 

JJ

 

[cacole]

Any brand of smoke fluid can be used to clean track, as well as rubbing alcohol, lacquer thinner, and many other products.

From what was posted on these forums a few years ago, most smoke fluid is some form of mineral oil.  It seems to me that if you leave too much on the track, your engines will begin slipping.

[ttrigg]

Not trying to start any argument here, but, "better" is in the eye of the beholder.

There are a great many liquid products that will quickly clean our rails. They do it rather quickly with little effort (positive point there). However, the ones containing oils will stay behind and allow wheel slippage on our engines (negative point here) and can build up on the wheels of engines and cars allowing them to collect dust and other debris, requiring cleaning of ALL the wheels run on the line (multiple negative points here). Other liquids are hazardous to our plants (negative point here) or pets (i.e. my Koi pond). Some contain MEK (a type of solvent) which over time will damage our plastic ties (negative point there). Positive control of liquid cleansers require hands and knees operation, could be rather time consuming to make sure no contamination is done.

Myself, I prefer to run one of my battery powered prime movers dragging a track scrubbing car armed with a green scotch brite pad. I used to do all my track cleaning with a sheet rock sander on a long pole. About 5 minutes of effort for about 700 ft of rails. While the battery powered unit (normally a 'Silver Goose') is dragging the scrubber car I am busy assembling the train in the yard that will be in operation for that day. The scrubber car is put away and fun is had by all. I have 4 battery powered small units and a dozen track powered DC units.

A friend (in another scale) will spend hours cleaning his rail monthly, but that is part of what he likes. 

Like I said at the beginning, 'better is in the eye of the beholder'. You weight the pluses and the minuses add in your likes and dislikes and then you have what is 'best for you'.