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Need To Clean My Rails Again

2830 Views 38 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  stoner
Soon after I got back into slots again I read a suggestion that wiping plastic track with a cloth moistened with WD40 was/is a good way of removing accumulated dust. So I tried it a few times but gave it up because I thought it was the WD40 that had caused the rails to become sticky over time.

Then I read that cheap baby wipes are a good idea, so I dismantled the track, wiped each piece, cleaned the rails with a rubber and blew the debris off with airbrush propellent. At this point, all my cars got new braids before going back on the track. I only wiped the track infrequently, but after only about 4 months the rails are dirty/sticky again and I'm looking at having to go through the cleaning process again on 100+ pieces of track.


I suppose that I could get some of this wonderful Inox stuff I've read about to wipe on the rails to keep them cleaner longer (once I've cleaned them yet again), but I'd have to get it shipped from Australia which is hassle, not to mention potentially expensive. I'll have to replace the braids on 40-odd cars again as well.

What methods do others use for removing dust from plastic track? Is it the stuff I've been using that's causing the sticky rails, or am I missing something else? When it first happened, I thought it could be thrown-off toothpaste I'd used to mesh gears, but I stopped doing that before I last cleaned the track.

Any advice/thoughts gratefully read.

TIA
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1 - 8 of 39 Posts
Quite a few ways to clean your rails Stu, as long as you keep off abrasives then you`ll be okay.
If you use WD40 then you must go over the track several times with a clean cloth.
Those new microfibre cloths are excellent for lifting muck out of the plastic.

My Scaley track has been down for 26 years now. I clean the rails after every use (always best to do this) & hoover the whole layout every couple of weeks. I`ve always cleaned the rails the old fashioned way. Wipe with an oily rag, then wipe over with a clean dry cloth- I`ve never had a problem. There`s no power taps whatsoever on my layout. Lay it right , keep it clean & it won`t let you down.

I use the same method on my Jouef layout.

Cheers,
Kev.

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1963 Scaley service sheet.
Cheers
Kev

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What`s there to improve on? Both my tracks work perfect without the use of Inox, power taps, soldering of joints or copper taping. I have no power loss anywhere. So I`ll continue doing what I`m doing to care for my layouts.
I may use an old method of track maintenance, but it`s one that`s never let me down over the years.

Cheers
Kev.
Nah , olive oil Bigbird! Seriously , I`ve got an old rag slightly moistened with 3 in 1. I wipe the rails then wipe over with a clean cloth.
When the main track goes into winter hibernation I spray it with WD40 for added protection. Works well, but come Spring you`re on a while getting it all off.
I`m sure Inox works, send me a bottle FOC & I`ll review it...

Cheers,
Kev

PS. You`re always welcome down ours Stu.
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Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Then I`d have to go out & start getting things like one of those mobile phone jobbies.......leave me alone in the 19th Century!!!!

Cheers
Kev.
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Sussed....
I`ve just been on the Jouef track upstairs, cleaned it, then sat for 20 minutes admiring the job as the evening Sun shone on it...magnificent sadness or what?
Cheers
Kev

& of course with old Jouef track you have the added bonus of polishing up the metal track clips-heaven!

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Thanks MrF.
It`s a nice hobby because there`s so many different aspects to it.
& before you ask, Jouef track clips clean up beautifully with lighter fluid!
Cheers
Kev
Errrrr....make that every day MrF...

Cheers
Kev.

PS Good point re digital Sealevel. Mine are both analogue & I`ve never used digital before.
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