Hi. I am wondering if I could use lysol disinfecting wipes as a track cleaner for the Bachmann e-z track system. However, would it have a chemical reaction and possibly wreck the tracks?
Try an eraser, or a dry cloth. I also think that you should either buy a track cleaner if your going to be doing it a lot. Or buy a track cleaning car. I'm not sure if it's okay to use lysol.
I personally use a 3" belt sander, but I replace a lot of track! :o
Try denatured or rubbing alchohol - 90% if you can find it.
Gene
Which type of EZ track do you have? My old standby for brass or nickel silver rail was to use an ink eraser (gray kind; not the bubble gum pink kind.) These are available at Staples.
As for the steel track (black roadbed), I have never dealt with it so I leave that to others but I'm sure you could clean it with very, very fine sand paper.
I don't think Lysol should be used on either kind.
And to second what has already been posted, a little 90% rubbing alcohol on a Q tip should also do a good job.
Quote from: SteamGene on July 12, 2008, 08:37:49 PM
Try denatured or rubbing alchohol - 90% if you can find it.
Gene
Most regular rubbing alcohol you find at stores is 90%, but do check, some areas, it isn't as easy as other locations.
In eastern Virginia, 90% is hard to find. Well, the denatured variety. Plenty of places still to find the 90% undenatured variety. :D
Gene
I don't know why you could'nt use it if that's what you want to use.
Being that bleach is still it's main ingrediant, I would worry more about discoloring the plastic base, more than pitting the track. But it is used to clean phones.
That said, I would still go with the others on using an eraser and alcohol.
Bruce
Quote from: Woody Elmore on July 12, 2008, 09:14:12 PM
Which type of EZ track do you have? My old standby for brass or nickel silver rail was to use an ink eraser (gray kind; not the bubble gum pink kind.) These are available at Staples.
As for the steel track (black roadbed), I have never dealt with it so I leave that to others but I'm sure you could clean it with very, very fine sand paper.
I don't think Lysol should be used on either kind.
And to second what has already been posted, a little 90% rubbing alcohol on a Q tip should also do a good job.
Adding to that, the gray kind or preferred kind is called an art eraser, you should be able to find it at any local craft store or even hobby store. Art and model trains go hand in hand, just like any modeling.
I think that the Lysol would only be useful in Z scale, where bacteria on the track might be a problem 8^) but the others are right--there might be unwanted chemical reactions--gj
What?? No one using the 3" belt sander method? It works great and is very quick
There is a product that machinists and some electrical repair shops use , called crocus cloth.It is available at auto parts supply shops. It is great for polishing brass track. Another excellent item is contact cleaner or brake cleaner. I don, know if it is available in your areas but my favourite is methanol usually available at paint stores.
Don :)
Try using iso-prophyl alchohol it comes in 70% & also 91% . It is readily available in drugstores. Crocus cloth is extremely fine graded abrasive cloth normally used for polishing metal . The dust should be vaccuumed up to remove it from the area as it is abrasive.
I don't like the smell of iso-prophyl alcohol it reminds me of doctors offices and it doesn't make me feel any better.
Don :D
Try putting a few slivers of charred hickory and two drops of vanilla extract into the bottle, cap it, and let it sit for three weeks before using it. Then it might remind you of Clancey's Bar instead. ;D
Gene
Sand blasting! now thats the trick!
I certainly hope that "sand blasting " is a facietious answer . Strangely enough I do have sand blasting equipment in the shop in two different sizes, but I seriously doubt that in would be worth the mess that would result. Finding an oppropriately sized media would be a chore, not to men-
tion the the environmental hazard of airborne dust. The only safe method would be to do the job in a booth , which would entail disassemblly of tracks.
Even worse I don't think anyone actually manufactures equipment small enough to do the job, nor are most people actually skilled enough to do the work properly without magnification and micro manipulaters. I did some peach pit blasting on molded plastic contact insulations when I worked at Pyle National to remove flash before inspecting & measuring Parts and its loud & messy.
Actually Badger makes a airbrush sized sandblaster. Micro-Mark sells the kit p/n# 60287
I stand corrected. I found the equipment in the Micro-Mark Catalog : Fall 2007 this morning when looking for something else . They even have media for use in the device and it functions off canned air cylinders or air compressors able to generate 30psi . I still think it would not be the optimum method for track cleaning.
Quote from: pdlethbridge on July 15, 2008, 04:39:35 PM
Sand blasting! now that's the trick!
Not for me, mine's indoors upstairs!
When your done, get out the old trusty gas powered leave blower to get rid of all the excess sand.
Use the other end with end with the vacuum but first fasten the track down with lag bolts so that it doesn't get sucked into the blower and wreck the blades.
Don
lag bolts URRR, URRR