NVSRR Would a chrome based polish work then?
Would a chrome based polish work then?
I am curious. Could you cite an example of chrome based polish?
Ed
patric
chromium plated has a bcc (body-centered-cubic) crystal structure and it is very shiny hard and brittle. the source of chromium must be compatible with the track. Nicker-Copper has a fcc (face-centered-cubic) structure and thus it is ductile and malleable. Natural iron is fcc but if you stabilize the austenitic phase, you can make it fcc and you can also dissolve chromium and retain the fcc organization. Then you have a supply of fcc-chromium which is compatible with the fcc track and would stick on it upon burnishing...these are my 2 cents... well washers.Stefano C
no, you need metallic chromium compatible with the metal of the track.
paul,
in the initial rubbing you are smearing the scratches & pores of both the rail and the washer. The vodoo magic is the use of a material with: fcc chrome inside, ductility similar to the rail... a bit of luck helped.
the thickness of the chromium is not that important. As long as the pores are full and you have enough surface chromium to passivate the surface with a few layers of oxide you are set. However, i would avoid damaging it with scratches. Some wear is normal (wheels rolling, electric arching), and to reduce it, a very thin coat of lubricant seems right to me, especially because the lubricant would increase the wheel-rail interface and thus reduce the density of current. It seems no-ox suffices.. Well, these are my guesses based on reading + knowlede and intuition.let`s hope we got it right.Stefano C
Perhaps Stefano means Simichrome. EDIT It's an old tube looked at by old eyes, It really says Ammonium My tube lists chromium as a content. I thought chromium was a hazard, but maybe that is another form of chromium.
The ammonium, white spirit and kerosene are consided the hazard. Use gloves
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
BigDaddy Perhaps Stefano means Simichrome. My tube lists chromium as a content. I thought chromium was a hazard, but maybe that is another form of chromium. The ammonium, white spirit and kerosene are consided the hazard. Use gloves
Perhaps Stefano means Simichrome. My tube lists chromium as a content. I thought chromium was a hazard, but maybe that is another form of chromium.
I wonder at the context in which chromium is listed.
I've got a tube of Simichrome, and it doesn't mention chromium as an ingredient. Nor does the MSD:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/MSDS/MSDS00025/36962975-20071213.PDF
which does mention iron oxide.
I've used the stuff for over 50 years, and it is a superb polish. For "light" work, I don't see the need for gloves. But I have used the stuff, at times, for fairly large tasks; and it will do nasty things to your fingers if you overdo it.
I intend to continue to use it.
well, looks like the only chrome in Simichrome is in the name of the product. Like silver in nickel-silver. Simichrome is a polish and as such it removes the top layer of oxide. The only left over inhorganic compound seems-iron oxide: i.e. rust ! if the particles of iron oxides are very small, they will be transparent. Like zinc-oxide (yellow) and titanium-oxide (white) particles in sunscreen (transparent).
Stefano (US based, but currently living in Germany for work).
Revised my post above, no chromium.
auro Simichrome is a polish and as such it removes the top layer of oxide. The only left over inhorganic compound seems-iron oxide: i.e. rust ! if the particles of iron oxides are very small, they will be transparent. Like zinc-oxide (yellow) and titanium-oxide (white) particles in sunscreen (transparent).
Simichrome is a polish and as such it removes the top layer of oxide. The only left over inhorganic compound seems-iron oxide: i.e. rust ! if the particles of iron oxides are very small, they will be transparent. Like zinc-oxide (yellow) and titanium-oxide (white) particles in sunscreen (transparent).