Ok I smoke cigars and my wife smokes cigarettes in the same area that my layout is in. I've been a model railroader for years but this is something that I'm struggling with. I use naphtha to clean my track and lord it seems to only barely work but with weekly cleaning I manage to keep trains moving, for the most part. Anyone have a suggestion for cleaning that works better. Besides of course quiting which is being discussed.
Go to the search box in the upper right corner of this page and type in " GLEAM". I did this 4-5 years ago and swear by it.
Hope that helps!
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
Upper right hand corner of where??
You mentioned trouble cleaning track. But it's worse than that.
Back in the olden days, I smoked cigs. And I found that if I smoked near models and/or the layout, dust stuck on everything. After quitting, I found the dust would just "dust" off. It was pretty obvious that the cig smoke was putting gooey gunk all over. And dust was sticking to it.
My suggestion is that if you are going to smoke, don't do it near models or the layout. Smoke elsewhere.
Of course, that ain't much fun. I KNOW about smoking. Done it.
So the next suggestion is to arrange for the resulting smoke to be vented out DOWNSTREAM of your models and layout. My ultimate layout (I still smoke a cigar from time to time) would have a viewing area where smoking was allowed. And that area would be where the air intake for the conditioning system would be. And there'd be filtration. Or perhaps it would just be dumped outside. The smoke would never get near the layout, even if I was puffin' away. And my buddies too.
I've also got a couple of Honeywell HEPA room air filters. They work. If you're using one (or more), it would be ideal if the smoke went directly into the intake. That is asking a lot--the ones I've seen aren't really designed to allow that. But still, the filter will help a lot. I first ran into these when I was working in a very dusty environment--sneezing, eyes watering, arrrghh. Got a filter, put it on high speed. Shazaam.
The ideal would be to get the smoke out of the room. Second is the room air filter.
Oh yeah. One other idea. If you have a spray booth that vents outside (as it should), smoke next to it.
Xylene, if you can find it, will likely clean the rails. But it will tend to be unpleasant. Minimally.
Ed
Some links to Gleaming....
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/103273.aspx?PageIndex=1
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/139318.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/212742.aspx
and some previous discussions on other methods.....
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/204916.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/229515/2563685.aspx
...and I won't comment on the smoking, cepting it was over seven years ago since I last had one, one of the hardest things I've ever done, and well worth it.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Taylor I am a smoker. What I do is run a Trainline cleaning car in one train on each main line. Seems to do the job well. I have 4 of them and swear by them! When I run a spur I seldom use, I use 1 or 2 of them in front of the engine.
I seldom clean engine wheels, maybe every 10 hours of run time.
Only thing I don't like about the Trainline cleaning cars is they roofs are very low compaired to my other freight cars.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
I have Gleaming the Rails by JEFFREY.
Send me your 'E' address and I'll forward it to you.
Flip
Taylor it is on its way.
One hint for when using a track cleaning car, push it to get the dust before it gets on thye locos wheels.
Taylor 67,
You have been given some suggested threads, but the best place for any forum search is in the right hand column "Search the Community." Type the subject you are searching for there and you should get a number (sometimes too many) responses. The search option at the end of the black line above, doesn't seem to satisfy many folks.
Good luck,
Richard
Taylor, I have a 5x9 layout (limited amount of track) and used the GLEAM method noted above. It takes a bit of time but not extraordinary. The burnishing step (I used a SS washer) just takes time to do. And the last step should be a polish.
I also put metal wheelsets on the rolling stock. Many think this helps but some debate that.
Some report nearly flawless performance with that approach, virtually never cleaning. My experience is less than perfect, as eventually my DCC loco sounds will hiccup in a few spots. To maximize my performance, I run a masonite pad equipped car in a freight train that is always on the layout. The pad is cleaned with sandpaper occasionally (when I remember). Then, about every 90 days I also run a CMX car with denatured alcohol (I believe the preferred is lacquer thinner but may not matter) around everything to get back to "best" cleanliness. At that time I usually also clean the loco wheels by spinning them over an alcohol wet piece of paper towel (tender wheels and axle wipers are occasionally hand cleaned also).
I suspect my performance might have been better if I had done the GLEAM burnishing step more perfectly, but don't want to re-do it.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Gosh? You should both quit smoking. I smoked for 30 years, gave it up 7 years ago. Gives me $150.00 more $$$ a month to buy train stuff!
I read here I think that transmission fluid works great for cleaning track?
Happy New year :D
Thanks everyone for all the info. I love the support and brotherhood this hobby enjoys. Been doing it for nearly 40 years in sone form or fashion and always amazed at how much we watch out for eachother. Flip, special thanks to you man for the email, most helpful and will begin the process tomorrow. Thanks all
Taylor67,
I smoke also and don't have any problem's with dirty track caused by it. Gleam if You want.....or pick up one of these...a CMX track cleaning car and use Lacquer thinner in it. I have a large double track main line layout and use two of them. Once every four months, sometimes longer.
Take Care!
Frank
Deleted:
Double Post
Both Walthers and Model Power sell Track Cleaner. Both are non-toxic and odor free. A member of my family is highly allergic to chemicals so one of these would be ideal for me ....if they work.
Has anyone had any experience with either?
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
I clean my track by hand, with Goo-Gone on a rag. I only do it once or twice a year, and things work well for me. Only takes an hour or so to do the entire layout. I still have a lot of plastic wheels in my fleet.
I smoked two packs a day for twenty years. Finally gave it up, (small brag here) which was VERY hard. It was years before the last cravings went away. But I do feel better, more wind, less nasty taste in the mouth in the mornings. I wish you well should you attempt to quit.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
LION has not cleaned his tracks in YEARS. Him can scrape crut off of them whith his claw. Him does not do this because him does not want the crud on the nice claw of him. (You gotta catch your supper with those claws, you know)
LION uses 48 wheel power pick-up. It just works.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS