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How to Gleam new unused track

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  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, December 20, 2020 11:50 AM

BigDaddy
I would not gleam before I installed the track.

I also do not gleam before I install the track. Gleaming should be done after all the messy scenery is done and wiring all works.

BigDaddy
Ultrafine sandpaper can be found at Autozone, or whatever car parts store is local for you.

Yes, and you want the finest you can find.

I have always used 4,000 grit, but I think I will look for an even finer paper for the last sanding step my final layout.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, December 20, 2020 11:43 AM

Not everyone uses the sanding step and some that do, do not use the ultrafine 1000 grit and higher paper.  I would go with sanding if it were mine, but I would not gleam before I installed the track.

Why?..... well when you install feeders you might get a little solder on top of the rail, you might have a little burr when you trim the flex track, you are going to weather the track, apply ballast and glue all of which gets stuff on the rail.

Ultrafine sandpaper can be found at Autozone, or whatever car parts store is local for you.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • 20 posts
How to Gleam new unused track
Posted by kevinihrke on Sunday, December 20, 2020 11:28 AM

I have 2 boxes of brand new never opened Peco track. I want to gleam this track before I lay it on my layout. I've read about gleaming track and it talks about sanding the track first and then using something like a stainless steel washer to burnish the top of the track. I would think with brand new track you would skip the sanding step in this gleaming process and proceed right to the burnishing step and then follow all of the subsequent steps, is that accurate? Thanks

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