what do i do if there is battery acid and rust is on the track
Buy new track probably would be the only thing you could do.
since you mentioned rust, i am assuming you are using track with steel rails. if and when you replace it, buy track with nickle silver rails. it won't rust.
thanks but the only other place i can get track is on the internet and my family doesn't have a credit card
Some internet outlets will let you send a money order, One that does advertise is ZIGGYSMARTY. You could e-mail others that don' advertise and they may work with you. You may wait longer for your merchandise but it is an option.
where are you at? there should be a local hobby shop somewhere unless you are really out in the sticks.
shaving appliance-
You can either send a money order to online hobby stores or buy on ebay with a direct withdrawl from a bank account. Alternatively, most ebay sellers will permit you to pay by money order if you ask. But be sure to ask before you bid or win something.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on June 15, 2011, 08:26:17 PMAlternatively, most ebay sellers will permit you to pay by money order if you ask.
Actually in my extensive ebay experiences I have found it to be the exact opposite, that is 99% will not do anything other than PayPal, about 5 years ago money orders were usually accepted.
Dandelion and Achy,
You two are the good at MRRing but you two disagree more than my two teenage daughters.
Jerry-
Thanks for noticing and for giving me a chance to really have some fun at ACY's expense, but it just wouldn't be sporting to do so with such a pregnant opportunity. I would cheapen myself if I were to cash in on such an easy lead-in.
Truth be told, I have a lot of respect for most of what ACY says. He's obviously a skilled and experienced model rail. Sometimes I think he doesn't know what he doesn't know, however, and he ends up talking through his hat or elsewhere. But I suppose we're all guilty of that from time to time. I must reluctantly acknowledge that I do that on occasion myself, though no where near as frequently as does ACY. (Sorry, ACY. I couldn't let this golden opportunity pass without at least a little something.)
-- D
there is another option for those who don't have a credit card. wal mart sells reloadable visa cards for $3. everybody lives near a wal mart........
another option for finding used model rr track are flea markets. unfortunately most of what you find is brass or steel.
Quote from: ACY on June 15, 2011, 10:32:49 PM
Quote from: Doneldon on June 15, 2011, 08:26:17 PMAlternatively, most ebay sellers will permit you to pay by money order if you ask.
Actually in my extensive ebay experiences I have found it to be the exact opposite, that is 99% will not do anything other than PayPal, about 5 years ago money orders were usually accepted.
It's my understanding that a few years ago eBay changed its policy to more or less force sellers to accept PayPal and nothing else (though every once in a while I do run across a seller who says he won't accept PayPal or will accept other forms of payment).
Seems pretty rotten to me, since eBay owns PayPal. So I guess they get you--I mean a fee--for listing items, and then they charge you a fee for using PayPal to receive money--which they require you to do. >:(
OK, end of OT rant. ...
J bar J-
ebay's official policy is that all transactions should go through Paypal for everyone's safety. I think it's more about Paypal fees myself. ebay does allow sellers who can accept credit cards to do so but they clearly don't like the idea. I spend quite a bit of time on ebay and I've noticed a number of sellers who say to contact them about making payment another way. My guess is that violates ebay's rules but there are way too many postings for ebay to check. I've also had a number of people contact me about direct payment and I've not turned them down. But I don't solicit it. In the event that someone does pay me directly I always give them half of the Paypal fees I've saved. It's only fair.
Truth is, I think most people don't mind paying through Paypal. There is a degree of security with Paypal and it's not the buyers who are losing money to the fees (which seem to get higher every time I turn around). Also, Paypal allows buyers to pay right away with "guaranteed" funds so sellers are comfortable shipping immediately. That means the buyers see their merchandise much more quickly than if they send a check snail mail and then have to wait for the check to clear before the sellers ship. And you can't blame the sellers for wanting to know the check is good before they send out the goods.
-- D
Technically money orders are still allowed, but the seller cannot state that he accepts them or ask for a buyer to send one. But you are not covered under the buyer protection policy if you use anything other than paypal. It is against ebay policy for a seller to state he accepts any payment method other than paypal in his listing, unless he has a store, he can say he accepts credit cards.
Quote from: Doneldon on June 17, 2011, 01:09:31 AM
J bar J-
ebay's official policy is that all transactions should go through Paypal for everyone's safety. I think it's more about Paypal fees myself. ebay does allow sellers who can accept credit cards to do so but they clearly don't like the idea. I spend quite a bit of time on ebay and I've noticed a number of sellers who say to contact them about making payment another way. My guess is that violates ebay's rules but there are way too many postings for ebay to check. I've also had a number of people contact me about direct payment and I've not turned them down. But I don't solicit it. In the event that someone does pay me directly I always give them half of the Paypal fees I've saved. It's only fair.
Truth is, I think most people don't mind paying through Paypal. There is a degree of security with Paypal and it's not the buyers who are losing money to the fees (which seem to get higher every time I turn around). Also, Paypal allows buyers to pay right away with "guaranteed" funds so sellers are comfortable shipping immediately. That means the buyers see their merchandise much more quickly than if they send a check snail mail and then have to wait for the check to clear before the sellers ship. And you can't blame the sellers for wanting to know the check is good before they send out the goods.
-- D
I don't find anything here to disagree with. I agree with you, "hunnerd percent," that "it's more about PayPal fees." Sure, they don't like sellers to accept other credit cards because then eBay loses a PayPal transaction fee. I'm on eBay every day myself, as a potential buyer, because I collect "vintage" Mantua as well as keep on the lookout for trains I want to run. When I first began to buy on eBay, I
only bought from sellers who would accept a check. I didn't mind the wait for my purchase, I completely understood a seller wanting to be sure the check was good before shipping my item, and I was not about to let PayPal make any debits from my bank account--I still don't, matter of fact. Then I discovered that I could buy and have PayPal charge the purchase to a credit card, so that's what I did--I presume the seller still got his money right away, and I had the credit card company to back me up.
However, I may have missed some fine print somewhere, because eventually I got notices that I either had to begin letting PayPal debit my bank account, or else I had to take out PayPal's own credit card. Both options p****d me off, but I took the credit card as the lesser of two evils. I now use PayPal's credit card exclusively--though I have noticed that apparently, when I go to pay for a purchase, I could charge the payment to the credit card I had initially used. In fact, I just got a notice that I need to update the expiration date on that credit card.
I have never sold on eBay and have no plans to do so in the foreseeable future, but I feel for the "little guy" who doesn't sell a lot, because my understanding is that the little guys get screwed for fees coming and going--for listing their items and then for accepting PayPal, which they are are told they have to do. Of course eBay is free to set its policies however it sees fit, but I think that policy stinks--just as I think it stinks that (as I understand it) I was forced either to allow debits from my bank account or take out a credit card that I did not need and did not want in order to continue purchasing.
the question begs to be asked. what security or safety?
i've been burned by a seller paid through paypal, and was told by pp there was nothing they could do. haven't bought anything off ebay since.
Jeff-
You can "open a case" in customer support. I had to do that once (bought an item which was undeniably misrepresented and got only a rude reply from the seller) and ebay found in my favor, refunded all of my money, and told me I could keep the item. I didn't. But I felt that things were handled well.
-- D
been there done that. i filed a dispute for items not received. no luck with them. it's a shame. i guess like anything else, hype it enough it doesn't matter whether it's true or not people will believe it. their unwillingness to live up to the promise will cost them more in lost fees than the value of what i got ripped off for.
i am the bro of razorback and we have not only e-z track with battery acid on it but also some other track (e-z is grey roadbed) without roadbed that has rust on it and we do not live near a wall mart
is there any house-hold mcgeyver way we can do this
No the track is more or less ruined, there is not much you can do at this point. Just buy more track from a local hobby shop, ebay, an online dealer, a flea market, garage/yard sale, or a train show. If you are outside of North America (U.S. and Canada) it is a bit harder to come by, but a hobby shop would have some.
The grey roadbed E-Z Track should be recoverable unless it is really badly pitted.
First neutralize any acid still lurking in cracks and crevices by leaving the track overnight in a strong solution of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate.) A strong solution would be about a one pound box of baking soda in one gallon of cold water.
Next morning, wash the track under running cold water to remove the baking soda solution.
Clean the top of the rail heads and the inside edge of the rail heads using 320 grit wet and dry emery paper. Then polish these surfaces with 600 grit wet and dry emery paper. If you cannot get emery paper locally, use some Comet or Old Dutch cleanser powder on a wet sponge or rag.
Rinse the track under running water again to remove any stray emery.
Test the track. If you have problems with electricity not getting from one section to the next, remove the rail joiners and replace them with new ones.
You could also try this with the rusted track that has no base. No guarantees but if it works, it will save you a pocket full of money. I use a process similar to this to derust and recover old Lionel 3-rail track which is also tin plated steel track. An extremely thin coat of very light oil such as Bachmann's E-Z Lube Conductive Contact Lube http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1086 (http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=1086) will keep the rails from immediately rusting again. If that is not available, use sewing machine oil. If you have a neighbour who sews, he/she may be willing to give you a small square of cotton cloth with 10 or 12 drops of oil on it. Use the oily cloth to wipe the cleaned rail head.
Tip - save the used baking soda solution. It is great for cleaning the outsides of car batteries - just make sure you don't get it in your eyes.
I hope this is more use to you than a long discussion about eBay or being told to buy new track. I know it it were my track, I would be trying to refurbish what I had before I ran out and spent a lot of money replacing it.
Jim
Battery acid is usually made up mostly of Sulfuric Acid and contact with metals in the event of a spillage can lead to the liberation of hydrogen gas, which isn't good. The corrosive properties of sulfuric acid are accentuated by its highly exothermic reaction with water. I'm not sure what amount is on the track.
Quote from: ACY on June 18, 2011, 11:39:29 PM
Battery acid is usually made up mostly of Sulfuric Acid and contact with metals in the event of a spillage can lead to the liberation of hydrogen gas, which isn't good. The corrosive properties of sulfuric acid are accentuated by its highly exothermic reaction with water. I'm not sure what amount is on the track.
Correction - battery acid is made up mostly of water. It contains only about 33% sulphuric acid by weight and then only in a fully charged battery. As the battery discharges, the percentage of sulphuric acid decreases to near zero. Because pure sulphuric acid is almost twice the density of water, the volume percentages are considerably lower. We don't know the state of charge of the battery which supplied the battery acid, assuming it came from a battery, but we can safely say that the reactivity of the acid would be that of dilute acid, not concentrated. Therefore we can expect the zinc in the nickel silver to be vigorously attacked, the nickel to be barely attacked, even after the cathodic protection provided by the zinc runs out, and copper not attacked at all. With the steel track, the zinc coating will probably provide complete cathodic protection until the acid is exhausted but careful examination after cleaning will tell for sure. Any liberation of hydrogen bubbles from metallic corrosion will have already ceased. Any bubbles produced when immersing the track in the Sodium Bicarbonate solution will be harmless carbon dioxide. Needless to say the highly exothermic reaction of concentrated sulphuric acid with water will not happen with the dilute acid. If the water warms up at all, and it will if there is any lingering acid, it will not heat up much. I am hoping the fellows will let us know how they made out cleaning the track and whether or not it is usable after the cleaning process.
Jim
I was saying the type of acid that comprises it is sulfuric, but your percentages of acid to water appear to be inline with what I read online.
i live in Vernon,CO.it is a 19 person village on the eastern plains
Quote from: razorback on June 20, 2011, 03:41:40 PM
i live in Vernon,CO.it is a 19 person village on the eastern plains
Vernon has 29 people according to the 2010 census, but that is really small. Try going to Yuma, maybe they might have a place.
razor-
Yuma is too small for a hobby shop. I suggest going to Caboose Hobbies in Denver or Mizell Model Trains in Westminster. Both are well recognized in the hobby, especially Caboose. They are a giant and long lasting retailer.
-- D
Quote from: Doneldon on June 20, 2011, 11:03:41 PM
razor-
Yuma is too small for a hobby shop. I suggest going to Caboose Hobbies in Denver or Mizell Model Trains in Westminster. Both are well recognized in the hobby, especially Caboose. They are a giant and long lasting -- D
I was in Denver last month. Mizell's just had a great sale. Even without a sale, Caboose Hobbies and Mizell's are well worth the visit. And I do believe they both sell on line. I know Caboose Hobbies does because I look at their web site fairly often.
When I'm in Denver, my friends never have to ask me where I want to go: Caboose Hobbies, Mizell's, and Shepler's (Western wear). ;D