What do you use to clean SS track? I have a swiffer for the low level and a drywall sander for the higher track. Both have 100% reyon pad's attached. I plan on using denatured alcohol as the cleaning solution. OPION'S, COMENT'S.
Today is the big day, First FULL TRAIN's HOPEFULLY A Vidio
Dave
The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.
I just use an Aristo track cleaning car. I clean the pad off with a few drops of CRC 2-26. That's enough to put a light layer on the track.
-Brian
altterrain I just use an Aristo track cleaning car. I clean the pad off with a few drops of CRC 2-26. That's enough to put a light layer on the track. -Brian
Brian, Thanks but I'm trying to CLEAN the track's, unless is CRC 2-26 a contac cleaner? This is the FIRST time I'm cleaning my track, 50% of it has been in Storage since new 3-4 year's and what was out was only 2 year's with little use, mostly ulta-fine sand and some oil from lub'ed wheel's.
You're trying to wash off dirt to make it clean and purty? I think a lot of guys use Simple Green or similar products.
CRC 2-26 is an electric contact cleaner
I like the idea of the CRC 2-26. I'll have to try it when i do my spring reballasting and cleanup. Mr. Polk said that the most important thing about cleaning SS track was not to abrade it as that attracts more dirt and arcing. The idea being to more polish it than grind it.
I once used some kind of electronic contact cleaner on something and it did a wonderful job; cleaned the contacts beautifully, but ate the plastic housing to crumbs.
I simply wipe the rails down with a pole sander. I use a piece of demin on which I put some alcohol. I do this to wipe off the real dirt that acculates outdoors as I pefer not to bet this dirt into the drive trains of my locomotives. This is all the maintenance I have done in years of operation outdoors.
Stan Ames
www.tttrains.com/largescale
Dave,
When it comes to stainless steel track you really Don't/Shouldn't have to clean it......That said.....The only reason I do run a Aristo track cleaning caboose in front of my trains, when first start-up of a session,
is because the squirrels like to get up on top and eat their snacks and all, they leave sand on the rail heads all the time, other than that I just use a blower to blow any leaves and junk that may have gotten on thetrack.
Byron C.
It might require a little more elbow grease initially, but I would use a mag wheel cleaner or similar metal polish. Something I would definitely avoid is sandpaper or other gritty cleaning pad because this can scratch the rail and cause it to attract even more dirt.
The ultimate solution is battery power and no voltage at all on the track. The only cleaning I ever have to do is removing large items that could cause a derailment.
I cleaned my track with a pad dampened with alcohol. did a good job. I was getting ready to change out my coupler's and found the the wheel set's were clean. The car has been run on both brass and SS. I have had to clean the wheels before ( Brass ) But not since I've been running on SS.
A LOT OF ONE LESS THINGS TO CLEAN
Use a "WHITE" Scotch-bright pad dry.
Run it around several time to get rid of any bird and other droppings.
Any liquid will redistribute a film of dirt.
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