Track cleaning device while standing up?

[Star Trek]

1) Does anybody know the name of the track cleaning device that you can use while standing up? I saw a picture of it in a magazine and it depicted a long pole with a cleaning cloth pad at the end.

2) Where can I find one?

3) What are your opinions and reviews about this track cleaning device?

[ghelman]

I do remember seeing somewhere that a drywall tool was beiing used. It is a pole with a swivel pad on the end. Here in the States you could try Lowes or Home Depot. I haven't tried it but it sounds promising. Good Luck. 

[whiterab]

As George said, probably a dry pole sander.  Got mine at Lowe's a couple of years ago and it beats everything else hands down - or in this case hands up. The one I use is for sanding dry wall and has a plastic pad.  I'm still using the original pad.

[Greg Elmassian]

1. A pole sander with either drywall "mesh type" sandpaper or scotchbrite.

2. An LGB track cleaning loco can not only be used standing up, but sitting down and drinking a beer.

Regards, Greg

[ghelman]

Curiosity got the best of me. While it rained all day (finally) yesterday. I made a trip to Lowes. For about $12.00 US I got the pole, the swivel sanding pad and some drywall sanding paper. Just tried it out and one walk around did a great job. For the beer drinkers you can do this with one hand leaving the other for guess what?

[Star Trek]

^Wouldn't the sandpaper scratch the rails?

[ghelman]

It is the mesh type that Greg mentioned.

[BudSteinhoff]

I been using a Trackman 2000 for several years, pushed by a SD45.

Sit down and watch it clean tracks, takes 10 minutes for 1000 ft of brass track. 

Bud

[dwbeckett]

I used my wife's swiffer with drywall mesh and two heavy duty rubber bands worked fine. BTY I don't clean track as much anymore since I went 100% SS. 

[Greg Elmassian]

I do not recommend the square mesh, black, silicon carbide for cleaning track. Yes, it cleans really quick. It scratches the rail. In my opinion, the scratches enhance the rails getting oxidized. I think it is overkill. I used scotchbrite (deep maroon color) on the pole and got good results, and little if any extra effort.

I was just letting the discussion go, but do not want to go down in print as recommending that sandpaper.

I use SS now, so no cleaning of oxidized rail.

Regards, Greg

[CandCRR]

After reading about the possibility of rail scratches it got me thinking of alternative to a sanding or scotchbrite pad. At work to clean the floors they use those machines with what looks like a round 15 or 20 inch scotchbrite or sometimes felt pad spinning (sort of like a floor sander) but between times for spot cleaning they walk around and use a tennis ball on the end of a broom handle. They just rub it back and forth a couple times on dirty areas. So I was thinking if the ball cleans what the floor cleaner pad does maybe it would do the same for the track with out any damage. Or maybe use it between major cleanings... What do you think? Has anyone tried using a tennis ball for light duty track cleaning? If it does not rain again this weekend I will borrow one of the dog’s tennis balls and give it a try.

[Anonymous]

The drywall sanding pole does not use sandpaper, it uses a nylon fine mesh screen......I use it before every run, works great.

 

dan

[Greg Elmassian]

The mesh is silicon carbide, very hard material... they typically call it sandpaper, but yes, neither sand nor paper. Of course Captain Kangeroo was neither a captain nor a kangeroo!

The tennis ball would be hard to keep centered on a rail, and you would need 2 passes, one for each rail. Get the drywall sander and some deep maroon scotchbrite (green in a pinch) and you will be very happy, fast and easy.

Regards, Greg

[MTCarpenter]

Greg-(or anyone that knows)

Do you get those scotchbrite pads in the grocery store or is that a Home Depot type of thing? 

[Karl Reichenbach]

Home Depot or any building supply.  It is made to fit the drywall sanding pole.

Karl

[GearDrivenSteam]

What sort of abrasive are those of you using that use the drywall poles? I would think that it would be very easy to put too much force on the track with such leverage.

[ghelman]

I just got one the other day and used the mesh. It is abrasive, but, the only force I used was the weight of the swiwel pad itself. I am not scrubbing to a shiny rail. I use the pole and pad to knock off the major debri and then run my little critter with the Aristo cleaner car to do the rest. I used to do this with a stick and some sort of cleaner pad attached. The pole and swivel pad is much better and the price is right. I will change to the scotch bright pad, but not sure that you could do that much damage with the mesh.  

[Anonymous]

I bought a floor wax applicator..it has a rectangular wood block with a wool pad head &  6' pole handle.  I took off the wool head and the block has slots.  I cut a piece of Scotch Brite pad to the same size as the wool pad and slipped it in the slots. Works great.

[Greg Elmassian]

Also found scotchbrite in the deep maroon color at the local auto parts store, where they have the bondo for body repairs... Pep Boys...

Regards, Greg

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Yes Greg E.  I agree stainless is the way to go, My LGB track cleaning engine is almost a yard relic now, I mainly just push an Aristo track car around a couple of times and thats just because the Squirrels like to get up and sit on the layout to eat accorns. I guess they feel safer up in the air a bit, my line is raised from 12, to a high point of 30 inches.  Byron  

[Anonymous]

Go to Lowes or Home Depot and get yourself a drywall sanding pole and some FINE mesh screen for it.....I've been using mine for two seasons now with the same USED nylon mesh screen...Just a few back and forth passes and move on to the next section......works great...

 

dan