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I hate dust

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Colorado Springs
  • 728 posts
I hate dust
Posted by FThunder11 on Friday, June 11, 2004 2:40 PM
Whats a good way to keep dust off of my locos and rolling stock, when im not using them?
Kevin Farlow Colorado Springs
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 2004 2:57 PM
The only way is to either cover the layout if it's small enough, or put them in boxes. The best way is to keep your area clean and dust your room reguarly.
Andrew Miller
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 11, 2004 3:31 PM
Storing the models under cover is probably the best way to do this. I keep a soft-bristled brush handy to dust models - make sure you get a real bristle brush rather than synthetic, as synthetic bristles tend to create static electricity which attracts dust and can damage electronics.
  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 90 posts
Posted by newhavenguy on Friday, June 11, 2004 4:15 PM
Is this for models on display in your living room or in a layout room? Is your layout ceiling covered (finished) or is it open rafters? This is where 90% of your dust comes from in a layout room. Other spots are bad window seals and hidden openings in the wall where drafts let in the dust too. Other than that , dust is a fact of life unless you have a "clean room" like at NASA or IBM or somewhere.[;)]
Bill **Go New Haven**
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, June 12, 2004 3:54 PM
me too!!!

I'd recommend on doing your best to reproduce a clean-room environment. Newhavenguy made some excellent points. Also, an unfinished concrete floor is both a dust generator and dust magnet. When you finally get your layout room as "clean" as you can, air filtration is also good. A built-in properly designed one is best, but I've been pretty happy running an Enviracare portable air cleaner. Mine does something like 300 cubic feet per minute on high, good for starting out a room. Once it's kind of cleaned up, a lower and quieter speed is adequate.

Also, I've learned over the years that it's best to NEVER smoke near your layout or models. In the bad old days I smoked; dust that got on models sort of "stuck" to them and wasn't amenable to being brushed off. When I stopped, the dust stopped sticking to the models and could be removed with a brush.

Ed
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,633 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Sunday, June 13, 2004 7:14 AM
Dust is quite annoying. Good suggestion above about the "real bristle" brush. One thing that I do when my cars and locos are too dusty, I remove the bodies and with a very soft toothbrush, I wa***hem with a gentle soap with running warm water, then let them air dry.

In future, I'll be installing a plexiglass door on the shelf where I keep my locos and cars. Should cut down on the dust considerably. I'll add the weatherstripping around the door. This is quite cheap as these materials are available at most hardware stores and home improvement stores.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 13, 2004 1:11 PM
What about compressed air?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, June 13, 2004 6:13 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by schmo6

What about compressed air?

Good for moving dust from one place to another.

Wayne
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 90 posts
Posted by ErnieC on Sunday, June 13, 2004 6:37 PM
Use compressed air in a can (sold for dusting electronics), spray with the can in one hand and a vacuum hose in the other. The vacuum sucks up the dust before it can land on something else. To decrease amount of dust seal the windows, the floor and ceiling. Use an air cleaner which runs when you're in the room. Do not use curtains under the layout as they attract cat hair, etc. Good luck!

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