Comments on: What’s The Best Method For Cleaning Track?

By: Morgan Bilbo

Morgan Bilbo — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 15:44:14 +0000

To be honest, Frank. I had only heard about it. Tried it. And it seems to improve conductivity. The only place I know of that it might be a problem is on grades. I have no grades. And I operate only short trains. So, you might test it on a grade and see if it makes any difference. I just know that I had the graphite handy and tried it. I like it. I don’t have to clean track anywhere near as often as I did before using graphite. Maybe after a month or so, if I think my wheels are getting a bit darker, I will re-clean with acetone and reapply graphite. But that’s only if I think I need it. Bottom line is that it’s relatively cheap, easily obtained/I’ve heard Michaels has a graphite pencil that is ideal. And I will add as I stated above. Use it sparingly. You are not trying to stop corrosion. And used sparingly, I don’t see how it could affect traction in a large way.

By: Frank B

Frank B — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 02:12:45 +0000

In reply to Morgan Bilbo. Hi Morgan, what is your purpose in using graphite ? It will not stop corrosion, and it will reduce traction. Graphite's only use is as a lubricant where oil is not suitable.

By: Morgan Bilbo

Morgan Bilbo — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:26:25 +0000

My take on this is: I’m cheap. I like simplicity – K.I.S.S. So, Wipe rail tops with acetone. I had used alcohol, but it wasn’t cleaning enough. The acetone cleans a little better. It may damage plastic, so I use a micro brush and carefully wipe the rails, getting the inside edges as best I can. Then, try to run trains/cars/etc as often as you can. Then, you need do the wipe only occasionally. After wiping, I then use another micro brush and spread a bit of graphite every here and there. You don’t need to spread graphite all along, just every foot or so, a inch of graphite. Use your cars to spread the graphite along. Now – you should be all set. If I see a need, I spread a bit more graphite once a week or so. All this helps me keep from “wiping” too often. I never use abrasive. A rubber eraser may be used – extremely rare. If there’s some kind of gunk. But if you operate fairly often, gunk don’t get a chance.
When I first built the layout, I had put the track spread on newspaper and sprayed brown. Immediately wiping the rails before it dried. And as I laid the track, using caulk, and after it had pretty much cured so the track wouldn’t move. I wiped with alcohol. That was initially.
Yes, ATF and mineral spirits all work. But are they readily available? Acetone is nail polish remover and no, I don’t use chemically pure acetone. That’s a bit too strong. And alcohol that is used was the cheapest 70% I could buy. Graphite I had was from pencils. Back when drafting, I had pencils that you sharpened but were not wood, so the graphite I use is just what came off the lead. Also, I did use a magnet to be sure it’s not magnetic in any way. And some say you can get graphite from a crafts store. There. I’ve said my peace! Or is it piece?

By: Joe deBy

Joe deBy — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:12:38 +0000

Many many years ago I was steered onto using Wahl oil. It’s a conducting oil used on hair clippers and I find a drop or two on locomotive drive wheels not only makes them run better it leaves a fine film on track. I’ve been around so long most of my track is brass rail spiked onto Atlas fibre tie-strip. Most turnouts are Atlas brass live-frog. Makes wiring so much easier.

By: mike

mike — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 13:58:43 +0000

I have used alcohol, ATF fluid (which ends up gumming the loco gears), also some special cleaner sold just for track cleaning purposes, a couple brands. I use a CMX car (at great expense) and it works ok, hard to get set up. I like using hand methods best, i bolted a pink school house eraser on to a paint stir stick and cut a strip of old t shirt and just spray a little cleaner on the tip and run in back and forth over a short section of track, painful and time consuming, but it beats messing with all the other stuff.

By: George lewis

George lewis — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:48:35 +0000

ATF or WD 40 are excellent cleaners Synthetic ATF is better but not a prerequisite. Too much will attract dust Try a little…you can always add more.

By: Bill Morrison

Bill Morrison — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 12:00:43 +0000

In reply to Garth. I have also found ATF works well in not only cleaning the track, but the locomotive wheels and pickups as well. At first, I used a bit too much, soaking my track cleaning car, then changed to just dabbing a bit on a 1" portion of the track with a Q-tip. Application: 1" every 5' or so, then run an old loco around the track 5+ laps and done.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 11:13:47 +0000

In reply to David Stokes. Needless to say I wasn't paying attention in class that day 60 ? some years ago . I nust of been thinking about playing with trains did I get the question mark right ?

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 09:18:52 +0000

I use a block of mdf wood cut to fit under a wagon. Stick two that washers minus the washer to the off. Drill two holes through floor and position between trucks. The weight of the washers is enough to keep pressure of the track. Just run with other wagons. Use alcohol 90% for stubborn marks. Don’t clean track physically just let wagon do the job. Best part is its cheap and replaceable.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:22:28 +0000

In reply to Steven.

,” I was told coffee filters are better then cloth” Steven, I know that this is not a Grammar Lesson, but you really meant to say , “I was told coffee filters are better THAN cloth”,didn’t you?

So many English speakers, from the USA, Australia and even England get this wrong.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 08:18:14 +0000

I find old singlets (vests, undershirts) of cotton, dampened with alcohol (methylated spirits or iso propylene) good for a general clean, wrapped over the index finger and dragged along the rails works well.

By: Garth

Garth — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 07:00:16 +0000

No one will believe this but ATF (automatic transmission fluid) is the answer. A drop on each track about 2m apart is all that is required. Too much will result in wheel slipping but thsi will go away as the trains spread the ATF around the track. I was very sceptical but tried it and I have now not cleaned my track for 6 months.