I had a Bissell robot vacuum I was using to clean the areas under the layout until it lost it's mind and stopped working. While it struggled with bigger construction messes it was okay for the smaller dust and dirt under the layout. My biggest complaints were it would lose track of where it was and almost never found the charging station when it was low on power and it would run random patterns which may or may not get the areas clean I wanted. I know the newer models are better at mapping out the house, but does anyone have any experience and recommendations on one for a layout? My basement is 28' x 50' with a LOT of benchwork.
Good Luck, Morpar
My layout is nowhere near that size, but there's no need to vacuum under the layout, as I used 8" high Masonite as skirting from the floor to the lower level of shelving under the layout, then added either sliding door panels or lift-off panels to hide the stuff that's stored on the under-layout shelves.
Here's a sketch of my oddly-shaped layout...
...and a few views of the layout room, showing some of the under-layout shelving that's behind either the sliding door panels or the lift-off panels...
I didn't bother with sliding doors or lift-off panels here, as this is where most of the rolling stock is kept if not on the layout...
If I'm doing messy work, such as adding ground cover or ballasting track that's near the edge of the layout, or building another desk for my youngest daughter, I use my el-cheapo shop vac to do the clean-up work, but there's no need to vacuum under the layout.
There are several plug-in receptacles mounted on the layout's fascia, so I don't even need to bother with extension cords, and the shop vac doesn't need to be emptied every time it's used, as it can easily handle a lot of debris.
These are the lift-off panels...
...and the sliding ones...
...here's a view of when I was adding the partial upper level of the layout...
Wayne
My long-term plans are to enclose the bottom of the layout while still allowing access for the storage totes we have. Short term I am still working on construction and wiring in general so I don't want to have more things in the way while working. I figure when I'm "done" the robot can keep the floor clean too.
I never let the Roomba into the train room. I did not want it eating anything valuable.
We were always satisfied with the Roomba, but my house is very small, and it just seemed silly after a while. I have not unpacked it yet from the remodel. We can vacuum the whole house with a traditional vacuum in about 10 minutes.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Morpar I had a Bissell robot vacuum I was using to clean the areas under the layout until it lost it's mind and stopped working. While it struggled with bigger construction messes it was okay for the smaller dust and dirt under the layout. My biggest complaints were it would lose track of where it was and almost never found the charging station when it was low on power and it would run random patterns which may or may not get the areas clean I wanted. I know the newer models are better at mapping out the house, but does anyone have any experience and recommendations on one for a layout? My basement is 28' x 50' with a LOT of benchwork.
My trainroom not only gets vacuumed on a regular basis but the carpet gets shampooed as well. She is beautiful and talented, I am glad I married her.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN My trainroom not only gets vacuumed on a regular basis but the carpet gets shampooed as well. She is beautiful and talented, I am glad I married her.
DO NOT read this response while drinking anything. Too funny. You can read this comment in multiple ways.
Nevin WilsonI use a robot vacuum made by Eufy. Bought it at Walmart and didn't pay much for it. it keeps the dust down in the railroad room. Very happy with it.
Is this used only in your train room, or throughout your entire house?
I want nothing to do with a robot vacuum. With all the recent talk about artificial intelligence I’d be afraid it might decide to smother me in my sleep.
My daughter had a robot vacuum. Someone left the slider door open one day and it took off. Off the deck and landed upsidedown in the back yard. They're not too smart. I would have guessed the door threshold would have stopped it but didn't. It would get jammed up on shoe laces and dog toys all the time. It finally lost it's life when it got jammed under the recliner and uncle didn't know and crushed it.
Pete.
maxmanIt might decide to smother me in my sleep.
I have heard this concern has been overblown. Most studies have shown only SkyNet brand robot vacuums manufactured by Cyberdine Systems LLC have the programming to kill their owners.