I made a video on painting flex track

[kasskaboose]

Nice and detailed work. 

[rrinker]

 I have no locos with traction tires, those are all old train set locos that live in boxes and don't run on the layout. Doubt I will ever put DCC in them. All the more modern models I actually run (that being a relative term, even a 30 year odl BB loco I have doesn't have traction tires) have no traction tires, even the steamers - they came with repalcement drivers with traction tires that can be swapped in but I've never needed them, they pull fine with the plain metal drivers. And rolling stock, if it comes with plastic wheels, those get swapped out before it ever turns a wheel. No plastic wheels allowed on my layout, and no palstic wheels allowed on the club layout, either.

                                       --Randy

 

[Tinplate Toddler]

SeeYou190

I almost never need to clean rails, Graffen is correct.

I agree, but only if your engines do not have rubber or plastic traction tires.

[rrinker]

 I always shortcutted it - just used a hardened piece of steel. No sanding step, and no metal polish. Also never had to clean my track, other than maybe to wipe up some dust if I hadn't run trains in a few weeks. No Bright Boy, no track cleaner car, no fluids or sprays, ever. But that was Atlas track.

                            --Randy

 

[Graffen]

Sure, the finer the grit, the better. My 2000 grit paper is rather worn, so it maybe compares to a 3000 grit by now... I noticed that the washer closes the small scratches very well. And the polishing really closes it up.

[SeeYou190]

Graffen

I use 600 grit first. When the ballast is laid and rails are weathered, then I use 2000 grit before rubbing the rail tops with a stainless washer and finally some flitz metal polish. I guarantee that the rails are then dirt resistant.

.

I use 4000 grit for my final sanding before gleaming.

.

I almost never need to clean rails, Graffen is correct.

.

.

-Kevin

.

[selector]

Thanks, Graffen. Very nice work, including the video itself. 

[Graffen]

I use 600 grit first. When the ballast is laid and rails are weathered, then I use 2000 grit before rubbing the rail tops with a stainless washer and finally some flitz metal polish.

I guarantee that the rails are then dirt resistant. 

Gleaming is really the way to go.

And, as I use three different types of tracks, it is really beneficial to even out the rail heads.

The worst original rail surface is the ME rails, they are very raw....

[Motley]

Great video appreciate the detailed info.

But I thought you were not supposed to use sandpaper on the rails?, thought that was bad for enabling dirt to stick.

[Graffen]