Cleaning used track?

[Anonymous]

I saw a recent post about what to use for gluing down ballast. What about a recommendation for cleaning ballast from old track? I picked up some turnouts on Ebay and they're in great condition, just need to clean out some old ballast from between the ties. Could I dunk them in something to dissolve the glue and not harm the rails? 

Thanks
Barry

New Orleans, LA  

[PA Belt]

paint thiner

[jeffrey-wimberly]

If the rails are nickel-silver, you can dunk them in water, just remove any electrics first. If they're steel, dunk them in alcohol. I'm asuming the fastening agent is white glue. If matte-medium was used, you've got a battle on your hands. Be careful about paint thinner. Some thinners attack plastic.

[cudaken]

 I just knocked out the ballast with a screw driver and hit the bottom with some 150 grit sand paper. DON'T USE LACQUER THINNER! It will make the ties soft if not melt them. Well the thinner I use for painting 1:1 cars will.

                 Cuda Ken

[MisterBeasley]

If the track is brass, it's a collector's item.  In our neighborhood, they collect on Wednesdays.  Put it out by the curb and they'll do you a big favor.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips, folks. 

>>If the track is brass, it's a collector's item...  good one.
Actually it's all NS so I'll give Jeffrey's plain water tip a try. Hey Jeffery, great to meet another LA modeler here. I'm in the burbs just outside New Orleans.

Barry

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Glad to meet you. I helped a lot of New Orleans evacuee's who were sent to Leesville's shelters after Katrina hit. I met a lot of good people from down your way.

[rluke]

I have used ScotchBrite with soap and water on old brass track. (30 to 40 year old stuff).   It seem to clean just about everything.   The rails look like new.

                                                         - cheapskate Rich

[Anonymous]

A little soap (detergent) in the water will make it work better/faster.  I alway just let it soak overnight.  Fred