Alcohol and acetone are considered solvents in the world of chemistry. Windex contains a weak base, which if you don't remember is the opposite of an acid.
While both stong acids and bases can clean metal, they can also react with it. Does windex react with nickel silver track? Who knows? Maybe you can find someone who says it works or it doesn't on the Internet, but one persons' experience is hardly the final say.
I'll clean glass with windex and track with alcohol.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
For cleaning locomotive wheels, I use a foam rubber "repair cradle". I place the loco on it's back, and I apply power to it with a power pack. (All of my locos have decoders which will work with DCC or DC.) I then use a cotton swab dipped in isoproryl alcohol to clean the drivers as they are rotating.
I've always just used alcohol. Paper towels are ok but get beat up pretty quickly. Shop towels are a bit stronger, or even better are Handi-Wipes or a generic equivalent, which are much tougher than paper towels so they won't shred when wet with a spinning wheel running on them. Isopropyl has always done it for me, you cna clearly see the black streaks of grime it has loosened - keep shifting the towel to a clean area until you get no more gunk off.
If it's really bad you cna use stronger solvents - we clean the rails on the club layout with a CMX tank car filled with acetone, and have neve rmelted any of the plastic ties or anything. A wet towel with acetone will probably melt the track it's laid over, and you'd have to be careful about running the loco so fast it spits drops onto the paint, but using a q-tip would work - just don't dab at the paint or plastic parts of the loco. It has to be pretty bad to get to the point where isopropyl won't remove the crud - use 91%, not 70%.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I haved tryed winex, as said above it foams, messy, no real advanage alcohol is your best bet.
But,,if you waited too long, you might have to scrub with Qtip, tooth brush or even a blade
Windex seems a bit foamy. I'd just go with the alcohol to avoid any residue.
Remember to clean tender wheels if you're running a steamer. The extra pickup is worth it to avoid dead spots.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My dirt doesn't care if they're dcc with sound; so, I use the alcohol on the paper towel method. It's easier to hold the loco while the wheels are spinning and the dirt is removed in a few seconds.
Inspired by Addiction
See more on my YouTube Channel
Ok thank you!
I use the Woodland Scenics Tidy Track wheel cleaning system. Seems to do the trick.
Really any wheel cleaning technique will work. I have done the old alcohol on a paper towel trick as well.
Either option worked.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Whats the best way to clean the wheels on locos that are sound equipped?
Thank you
Mark