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RAILS: TO GLEAM, OR NOT TO GLEAM?
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by claycts</i> <br /><br />My $.02 is that Friction is where we get traction from. A flawless piece of metal that is slick can cause the loss of friction. The theroy is sound about the rails not taking dirt but if you make it to perfect you may lose the friction required for traction. <br />Where did you get the Stainless? 304L SS (low carbon content) and 316L (purer with a low carbon content ) would be the source of choice. <br />YOu could get the same results using a quarter since the nickel silver content will also work. <br />There is a finner grade on sandpaper 2000 grit that will do all of the above as far as the polish. Wax of choice IMHO would be Flitz. <br />Thank you for the brain teaser that is what makes this forum fun. <br />Take Care <br />George P. <br />[/quote] <br />George, <br />\I wasn't concerned about the carbon content, because I didn't even Consider that!..... <br />I just reasoned that it was a much harder material than the rail stock. <br />In fact, if you just let a SS washer slide lightly on the rails, you can HEAR the difference between Burnished and Non-Burnished surfaces. I figured the wheel's contact area on the railhead is 1/87 of a full-scale's 'dime-sized' contact. If there are imperfections, than the contact area is evenFurther reduced, forcing the electric current to ARC to the wheels and back, thus creating the 'black stuff' by way of the arcing's carbonized flux residue! Turn " nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn "to "_______________________________" <br />by sanding therails with 400 wet/dry, then 600 w/d, then BURNISH with WAsher, then Blue Magic the rails to remove all contaminates.[8D][8D][8D][8D][8D] <br />It won't give a TRUE mirror finish; there is a litte roughness. But the GAP between rail maintenance w i l l S t r e t c h . . . . .to MONTHS!Trains can CREEP , DC OR DCC!!! <br />Gotta go do another waybill.................
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