Toy train operating and collecting

raymans wrote:

Bob I did that but after flushing with the DC I could not get the AC electrons to go back in, seems as soon as they are out in the air they expand and I haven't found a way to reduce there size. So here I am with empty wires. Also The DC electrons wouldn't even work because they must have figured they could go both ways.

DON'T LET THE SMOKE OUT!!!!! There ain't no electrons n such!!  If'n you let the SMOKE out, den nuttin works no more!

Shop Vac has a very small attachment to suck up excess dust I bought this works great it is sold at Wal Mart.  I think for about $10.  It is made for key boards and smaller applications.  I use this on the roofs of buildings and in hard to get places.

laz57

Ogaugeoverlord wrote:

I've used one of those very small computer keyboard vacs whenever I've been motivated to do some spot cleanup (usually after a mouse has gotten in the basement and left its calling card along the right-of-way).

Bob, that reminds me of some true humor.  Mom is 91 and lives out in the country by herself.  Went Christmas and there were "signs" of a mouse.  "Mom, you have a mouse in the house."  "Yes, and he runs in the den, runs around and then runs back out."  "He doesn't bother anyone and he is company."    Eldery people?  Traps were set.

raymans wrote:

I did that but after flushing with the DC I could not get the AC electrons to go back in, seems as soon as they are out in the air they expand and I haven't found a way to reduce there size. So here I am with empty wires.

Here's how I add new electrons to my wiring to replace the stale electrons that I've discarded. Walk across your living room carpet while dragging your feet, and then touch your layout wiring. Just be very careful not to touch any metal door knobs first.

Ogaugeoverlord wrote:

I've used one of those very small computer keyboard vacs whenever I've been motivated to do some spot cleanup (usually after a mouse has gotten in the basement and left its calling card along the right-of-way).

We had a mouse visit the layout sometime last fall. He urinated right in the middle of main street! I planted some rat poison in structures and hidden in bushes. We found him a week later, feet up. I left the poison hidden on the layout in case any of his friends show up. The kids can't reach any of the areas where the poison is.

I use a vacuum and a women's makeup brush to clean and dust the layout. 

Jim 

Jumijo wrote:

Ogaugeoverlord wrote: I've used one of those very small computer keyboard vacs whenever I've been motivated to do some spot cleanup (usually after a mouse has gotten in the basement and left its calling card along the right-of-way). We had a mouse visit the layout sometime last fall. He urinated right in the middle of main street! I planted some rat poison in structures and hidden in bushes. We found him a week later, feet up. I left the poison hidden on the layout in case any of his friends show up. The kids can't reach any of the areas where the poison is. I use a vacuum and a women's makeup brush to clean and dust the layout.  Jim

That's a layout theme I hadn't heard of before.......Jurassic Park meets the Jumijo Railroad.

Jack

Jumijo wrote:

I left the poison hidden on the layout in case any of his friends show up.

Jim, don't you think modeling a toxic waste dump might be carrying realism a tad too far?

We've had a field mice problem on and off over the years.  With dogs, cats, kids, now a grandchild, and with a wife who can't kill a spider, we use the Have-A-Heart fulcrum traps and dry dog food and peanut butter.  Yes, the cats have not been the great mice hunters they are purported to be.

Works every time, and rather quickly.  No rotting corpses.  No gory blood and guts splatters.  No poisons.  No trying to remember where and when I set my devious devices to eradicate the little suckers.  

We got the dry dog food idea when we found the little demons stockpiling significant quantities of their dog food stash right under the sofa!  They seem to love the stuff more than cheese or peanut butter.

Jack   

RockIsland52 wrote:

We've had a field mice problem on and off over the years.  With dogs, cats, kids, now a grandchild, and with a wife who can't kill a spider, we use the Have-A-Heart fulcrum traps and dry dog food and peanut butter.  Yes, the cats have not been the great mice hunters they are purported to be. Works every time, and rather quickly.  No rotting corpses.  No gory blood and guts splatters.  No poisons.  No trying to remember where and when I set my devious devices to eradicate the little suckers.   We got the dry dog food idea we found the little demons stockpiling significant quantities of their dog food stash right under the sofa!  They seem to love the stuff more than cheese or peanut butter. Jack

I'm going to buy a few of those, Jack. Sure beats having poison around the house. I cleaned up all the little green pellets off of the layout last night after reading your post. Thanks for the tip!

Jim 

Well I must say this has been a very informative post, not only have I learned many ways to clean a layout, but I've also learned how to get the AC out of the wires, and them pesky little critters off the layout, hmmm very good boys.

Paul