Weathering N.S. rail

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to put a heavily rusted effect on the rails by using a metal echant like the type to etch Printed Circuit Boards? I don't have any echant and plan not to buy any for just the experiment, so if anyone can give any worthy input I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

Colin

PS: How about "Blacken-it" to be used before I paint it?

[der5997]

Colin: If you "Blacken it", why paint? (The answer to that may be to weather the ties and near track balast at the same time.)
I've got some ciruit board etchant I haven't unpacked from our move here 5 years ago. It will give me some thing to do, while we wait for hurricane Juan to hit, to find it and dip a rail or two to see what happens. Power outages may delay result reports, but here goes........

[der5997]

OK Colin, here's the result.
Test pieces Atlas N code 80 flextrack.
Etchant Ferric Chloride 45%

Test 1 track only
Test 2 track and copper wire in the etchant. (In case there is some chemical reaction that might give a colour change)

After 30 minutes immersion at room temperature the rail was etched to a dull grey, and visibly thinner.
There was no appreciable difference between test 1 and test 2.

After 60 minutes the rails looked the same from a weathering perspective, still that dull grey.
However, the web of the rail had thinned to the point where the rail was no longer held firmly to the ties.

Assessment: Etching would be a great way to remove the shine from NS track prior to painting, and give the track "tooth" for paint. Etching does not discolour the NS rail to give it a weathered look in the way "Blacken it" does.
Etching does remove material from the rail, and too much exposure will comprimise track performance.
No electrical tests were performed on the etched rail.

So ther you have it, and all before we loose power. Juan is closer, and the wind sure is picking up. We are right on the ocean,and are expecting a storm surge of 1.5 meters round about high tide. Tides are higher than usual due to t he new moon. Might have a different view from our house in the morning!

[wp8thsub]

I regularly use "Blacken-It" on nickel silver rail, it works great provided you clean the rail first with paint thinner or some other solvent to remove contaminants that can interfere with the chemical reaction.

"If you "Blacken it", why paint?"

Blackened rail isn't always the right color for the effect you want, but when the blackener etches the metal it helps paint adhere. Also, when you chip paint on a blackened rail no shiny metal shows up to ruin its appearance.