How best to keep rails clean.

After a few years of being busy with other things I am finally getting back to my layout. As part of my Christmas list I had asked for a 'Bright Boy' to get the rails back into shape as that was always what my father reached for but I began to wonder if there was a better way to polish rails. I had read on another form the use of metal polish such as MAAS. Just wonder what everyone else does to keep rails in their best shape.

From my experience and what I have read from others... it's best not to use abrasives on Z-scale rail. A "Bright Boy" or similar type item can leave scratches in your rails... which only help to attract and keep dirty.

I use wood popsicle sticks (that are wide enough for Z-scale track) and alcohol or track cleaning fluid. I cut one end of the popsicle stick flat, add enough drops of fluid to make the wood wet... then, run it around the track with slight to moderate pressure. When the end of the stick becomes dirty... I cut the stick flat again.

This works for me on the Rokuhan track I am using.

What is your track cleaner of choice?

I learned from a group I was with to use Denatured Alcohol with a soft fine-weaved cloth - mine is from a good pair of sunglasses (it's protective bag). And using your finger to clean the rail, you can also feel where you have mis aligned track.
JamesTraction

Be careful using denatured alcohol. This is the same stuff that is in fingernail polish remover and some glues. It will actually melt resins and plastics and can damage to the shells on locomotives and possibly plastic roadbed over time. I recommend using only isopropyl rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth.

Rob

Rob,
while I agree with the effects of "alcohol", I have to point out that rubbing alcohol is just denatured alcohol with 10-25% water added. I've found that water content tends to make the rail oxidize faster. To me, the most important thing when using alcohol is to use as little as possible. If you can squeeze any alcohol out of your wipe, you're using too much.

I been using electronics grade wipes and swabs. They're basically lint-free, particle-free materials, dampened with a residue-free solvent, frequently denatured alcohol.

Of late, I've been using an Aztec track cleaning car. 2 or 3 passes over the track does a better job than my hand cleaning.

Mark

Ok, Rob, Mark, what do you think of 90% alcohol? Since it would have less water content, would it not stand to reason that there would likely be less chance of oxidation due to the lower H2O content?

I do like the idea of electronic grade wipes and swabs. Can those be found at stores that sell electronics or stereo equipment?

Loren,
I think the real issue may be the water. "Water" can have all sorts of minerals and other stuff. If it's diluted with distilled or deionized water, I'd use it.

I get my wipes at Fry's electronics. The nearest store to you is in Wilsonville off I-5.
Radio Shack used to carry them too, but I haven't looked there in a while.

Mark

Rob,
are you sure you're not thinking of acetone? Yes Isopropyl alcohol can be in fingernail removers, but acetone is the active ingredient [ref: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_polish#Nail_polish_remover] which will damage plastics.

I usually use a couple of drops of DA on the cloth, not wet enough to drip on the ties.
I also don't use rubbing alcohol since it's contains a fair amount of water so you might have to use more to get the same effect of cleaning.

But you have me curious, so I'm going to place some MT flex track ties in DA to see if it melts it. Ill report back what I find.
James

markm wrote: I been using electronics grade wipes and swabs. They're basically lint-free, particle-free materials, dampened with a residue-free solvent, frequently denatured alcohol.

Mark... Do you mind posting a photo of the package? I will try to find something similar during my next trip to Japan. I give up trying to find anything useful here in Sweden.

So a follow up question, how often do you find yourselves having to clean the rails?

Hommer,
Generally, I'll do a quick clean whenever I start operating. Then I'll clean any rough spots I notice when I run the first loco. I'll also do a through cleaning any time the track sits idle for a month. This may be too much, but I figure every piece of dust I take off the track is one less I'll have to clean out of the loco.

JA,
I'll be going to Fry's this week and I'll post more info.

Mark

Mark,

I've been to that particular Fry's in Wilsonville years ago. What a place!
If you can't find it there, it doesn't exist.

I'll also check our local Radio Shack, but in recent years Radio Shack has fallen down a bit I feel in their product availability.

Here's an example of what I use. I usually buy the single packaged denatured alcohol towelettes but this is about the best Fry's had.


I should think you could find these things anywhere in the world. They're used by electronics technicians everywhere to clean oils off of PC board connectors in computers, medical equipment and such. The key points are: lint-free, high alcohol content and diluted by de-ionized water.

Mark

Absolutely denatured alcohol. It is one of my favorite solvents! Since it dissolves acrylics, I use it for weathering on my brass models. I use Floquil oil paints on the brass. I then use artist acrylics thinned with denatured alcohol to do fine washed and blends. Nothing is better! Here is a photo showing some of my results:



But it is harsh stuff... to plastics.

Rob

I use the popsicle method for Z scale as well. Jim

I use for long track the Märklin Schienreinigungswagen or also I have good experiance with alcohol dipped fabric cotton pieces