QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole When I was in the Army many years ago, we used to shine our brass with a solvent-soaken cloth sold under the brand name of Blitz, but I can't find any of those being sold anywhere. Do they still make Blitz cloths, or has the EPA done away with them?
QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1 I guess I'm old fashion, but I still use rubbing alcohol and a large rubber eraser. Also steel wool once in a while if all else fails. So far I've always had good luck with it-but it is time consuming... trainluver1
QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1 I guess I'm old fashion, but I still use rubbing alcohol and a large rubber eraser. Also steel wool once in a while if all else fails. So far I've always had good luck with it-but it is time consuming... trainluver1 Ooh! I can't see the steel wool as being a good idea! The fuzz it leaves behind is metal, which can be picked up by the magnets in model engines. Not the greatest for motors and driveboxes! Bob Boudreau
QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole The only track cleaning car I have ever found that really does a good job is the CMX Clean Machine from Tony's Train Exchange. We use it on an HO scale club layout that has over 800 feet of main line trackage, and it does a very good job when filled with Lacquer Thinner. Over the years we have tried at least 10 different track cleaning cars, both liquid and dry, and none of them do as good a job as the CMX.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1 I guess I'm old fashion, but I still use rubbing alcohol and a large rubber eraser. Also steel wool once in a while if all else fails. So far I've always had good luck with it-but it is time consuming... trainluver1 Ooh! I can't see the steel wool as being a good idea! The fuzz it leaves behind is metal, which can be picked up by the magnets in model engines. Not the greatest for motors and driveboxes Bob Boudreau [:0]STEEL WOOL?[:0] Never use steel wool anywhere near your layout. When I first started my layout, I thought that I would out smart everyone and used a steel wool sanding pad. Fellows, I was picking tiny strands out of my motors for months. The motor magnets just loved to pick these critters up. This was after going over the track dozens of times with a large speaker magnet. I now use Tony's CMX cleaning car. About once a week, I will hook it up to a Geep and just let it do a track "inspection", going over the track several times and having the other trains routed around it. I normally fill it with 90% alcohol for routine maintenance, but on troublesome areas I will use laquer thinner and then follow up with alcohol. Of course, Bright Boy still has a use with cleaning turnout rails and other difficult spots. The size is the same as any tank car, but very heavy. REX [:)]
QUOTE: Originally posted by FundyNorthern QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1 I guess I'm old fashion, but I still use rubbing alcohol and a large rubber eraser. Also steel wool once in a while if all else fails. So far I've always had good luck with it-but it is time consuming... trainluver1 Ooh! I can't see the steel wool as being a good idea! The fuzz it leaves behind is metal, which can be picked up by the magnets in model engines. Not the greatest for motors and driveboxes Bob Boudreau
QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1 What is it exactly that builds up on tracks ?... Is it dust, oil, microscopic metal particals or what ?. trainluver1