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Track Cleaning? Nickel Silver Oxidation?
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<P>Hello, Canazar! I am Semafore, the originator of the 'gleam' process.</P> <P>I, too, had the never-ending experience of track-ickies. I, too, was always frustrated by erratically running trains. Seemed every week or so I was brite-boying the trackage for several hours, just to operate for 1 or 2 hours.Abrasive, liquid, polish never seemed to add much more run time, either.</P> <P> 30 years of these maladies I endured. Then, a few months ago, I was reconditioning a guitar's frets. I wanted to make them really smooth and slick so string-bending required less effort. I noticed a small pair of crome-plated scissors, used the finger holds as a burnisher, and was amazed at how the finish looked like a mirror! I also realized that the frets were made of the same nickel material as ...the rails!!</P> <P> So, then I tried this on a section of IMHO rail... [:O][:D]! Then I reasoned that the rail head was flat, but the wheels have a bevel. Thus, the wheel rides only on the inside edge of the rail. Furthermore, the black stuff is primarily carbon flux residue from the current-consuming locos, trying for rail contact through the oxidants, leaving this arcing by-product on the rails and wheels. A closer look revealed what a rough surface the rails really are.</P> <P> By using 400, then 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper pieces on a small wooden block, I contoured a more proto-typical shape on all the rail stock. Then I wiped off the grit residue, and vacuumed the fine debris. Finally, I used a 1/2-inch Stainless-Steel flat washer, I burnished the rails, following the contour, to a gleaming state, like a mirror. A final dry wiping, and I was done. This is done only once, so don't fear having to do this repeatedly.</P> <P> I did an N-scale layout ( November 2005), an HOn3 layout (feb 2006), and doing the mega HO layout, currently under construction, yet fully operating as we go. []sfrm.org[/] I do all trackage. It may time-consuming, but well worth the effort. It is done only once, the trains always run well, and maintained monthly with a quick dry wiping when neccesary. The trains run smoother and quieter,too.</P> <P> Result: positive contact between the rail and wheels is greatly improved. Burnishing seals pores and smoothens nicks and scratches, so no dirt can accumilate.</P> <P> All it cost was a little sandpaper, one washer, and some time. Now anyone who comes to operate their trains don,t even worry about dirty track problems. By the way, the last place the brite-boy was used was in the waste receptacle, back in November. Also, no track-cleaning cars are needed, either.</P> <P> You will want to be in the garage a lot more after this!</P>
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