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walthers cleaning car

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  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: West Coast
  • 315 posts
walthers cleaning car
Posted by countershot on Monday, September 19, 2005 7:42 PM

How well does this work?
is it worth the money?

Ben
http://community.webshots.com/album/337011280mnJplY http://photobucket.com/albums/c126/sd40-2/
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Monday, September 19, 2005 8:13 PM
It doesn't work at all -- it scratches your rail and causes it to attract more dirt because the wiper on the bottom is a piece of stone.
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Ozark Mountains
  • 1,167 posts
Posted by dragenrider on Monday, September 19, 2005 10:24 PM
I have one and have been very disappointed. [tdn] It is too heavy to push or pull well and hangs up on everything. I've done better with a Masonite pad on the bottom of a box car. If you don't have the means to make your own, you can buy a kit from A-line.

The Cedar Branch & Western--The Hillbilly Line!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Christchurch New Zealand
  • 1,525 posts
Posted by NZRMac on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 3:20 AM
I'd have to agree mine dosen't do much. I think the CMX clean machine ( Tony's train ex I think ) would be better.

There's always ads in the MR for good cleaning cars.

Ken.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 4:38 AM
If you can spring for it and your layout size justifies the $99.00 cost, www.tonystrainexchange.com(click on
clean machine) is expensive, popular & effective. I think they offer a satisfaction guarantee policy.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by cmrproducts on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 4:49 AM
Save your money and use metal polish and then you don't have to clean your track at all!

Unless YOU like to clean your track!

I haven't cleaned my 2700 feet of track for over 2 years now and my sound engines don't miss a beat!

BOB H - Clarion, PA
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 10:17 AM
Has anyone ever tried putting metal polish on the masonite pad on their cleaning car?

Just a thought to automate the process of polishing their track?

Mark in Utah
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:01 AM
The more I think about this, the more I wonder if a good old chalk eraser impregnated with a couple of teaspons of MAAS or similar metal polish wouldn't work if dragged behind a loco. The way they are made, with the rows of felt-like material, they would tend to track well...I think.

Maybe I'll volunteer to tackle this one.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by cmrproducts on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:17 AM
You guys are still trying to find a reason to run your railroad, if you have to find a way to automate the process.

And using any train mounted unit will not clean the sidings and spur tracks effectively!

Remember you will only have to do the metal polish ONCE not over and over again!

I just wish I could convince everyone you don’t have to use the metal polish like you have had to use any other cleaner.

This process ENDS cleaning track PERIOD!

BOB H – Clarion, PA
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:39 AM
As an ex Centerline/Tony's clean machine I was converted over to MAAS thanks to
MR January 2003.
It's works three ways, Cleans, Polishes and Retards oxidation.
As Bob pointed out, yes there are other paste products that are effective.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Mile 7.5 Laggan Sub., Great White North
  • 4,201 posts
Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 12:45 PM
I have found nothing wrong with my cleaning cars. I have two, and although they are heavy, I usually put 1 or 2 too many locos on my trains anyways. Just make sure you put them near the front! Another thing you might want to do is replace the couplers with kadees and the wheels are better when metal, it'll decrease the drag.
I don't find the pad too hard, but I do clean it regularely.
I think it's worth the money, but so are the centerline cars.
trainboy

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: West Coast
  • 315 posts
Posted by countershot on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 9:41 PM
Thank you.

Ben
http://community.webshots.com/album/337011280mnJplY http://photobucket.com/albums/c126/sd40-2/

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