Polishing locomotive wheels with Maas.

[Anonymous]

Both Flitz & Maas were mentioned in the MR jan 03 article. Maas is a couple of bucks cheaper.
One can also use automotive polishing compound as a substitute.

[Anonymous]

I am familiar with Flitz, but Maas was new to me. Thanks for the introduction to Maas. I'll look for some to try, as my flitz is just about gone.
Jennifer

[Anonymous]

Howdy all. This is my first time on the forum. I use Flitz polish. I have done the polishing the loco wheels trick also. I do mine by hand, as when I am done. I check for the gauge of the wheels. Sort of like knocking out two birds with one stone.

Adios

[jwar]

The switcher had a problem of oxidation on its wheels. Probaly due to electrical contact with the track. This may be a thing to do on older pot metal pickup wheels.
Befor this engine had to be cleaned every eight hours of usage. I have ran this engine more and the wheels are still very shiney.

Also The FM radio has not had any static since I have done this. It sure cured my problem and as Locomotive 3 stated above there is no need of a expensive track car cleaner. For about $4.00 it is to me at least, the way to go.

Next time I will do this as Locomotive stated using the block, my finger is still sore LOL
Thake care and have a great day...John

[Anonymous]

Go to wal-mart and pick up a 2 oz tube for $3.50.
This product is used by Boeing& McDonnell Douglas and almost every branch of our military.

There's a procedure to follow.
Take a small piece/block of wood, similar to the size of a brite boy or the brite boy itself.
Cut up an old 100% cotton t-shirt, into six inch strips, two inches wide and wrape it around
the block.
Apply the MAAS on the narrow end of the block and drag across the rail head.
This way you do both rails at the same time and avoid getting it where you don't want it.

Let slightly dry and wipe off with an untreated t-shirt section.

This stuff put my $99.00 Tony Clean Machine out of a job.

N scalers may have a traction problem up a grade since their locos weigh no more than 5 oz.

Thank you Modelrailroader, Jan 2003

[TBat55]

Maas is a metal polish (I'm on my 2nd tube, works great). Besides cleaning it slows down oxidation. A small tube lasts a very long time; dab on/wipe off.

http://www.maasinc.com/products_metalpolish.html

Sku Item Qty Price Total
-------------- ------------------------------- --- ------- -------
91401 MAAS METAL POLISH 4 OZ 1 $12.95 $12.95
Shipping $2.95 Total $15.90

[Anonymous]

I missed something....What is Maas?

[jwar]

My train of though is "if Maas works great on NS track, why not poli***he wheels" on one of my engines.

After polishing NS track with Maas, buffing off the black steel wheels, getting rid of any type of black plastic wheels I still noticed a touch of static as my engine ran. What I mean by static is that I could still hear it in my FM sterio speakers.

I then looked at the freshley cleaned S1 swicher wheels. They were cleaned with alcholol , but the tread was a tad rough. I took some Maas and spread it on a piece of old bed sheet strips I use for cleaning wheels. Layed it over the track. Ran the engine over it and held it at 3/4 speed to poli***he wheels, not letting the motor get hot by applying too much pressure.

I was amazed at the black on the rag that came off the wheels. Then set it again on a clean strip and cleaned and sort of burnished them. The wheels now had a glass like smoothness. Thinking I may have lessened the pulling power I only did one truck. After it pulled the same amount of cars, polished the other truck wheels and no difference in pulling power as since it was new.

No static on the FM radio and I hope this works. this engine allways had dirty wheel problems, about four times as much as my other engines. Time will tell???.[{(-_-)}]..John