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Tubular Track
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Thanks for the view T.
First one looks like new.
You should add for the new guy's that while your cleaning is the time to give the track a good inspection.
TRACK 101;
First look at each tube of rail to make sure that's none is bent. Matter of fact look the entire length sometimes you find a bent one that the only way to fix is to loosen up the tabs on the tie and remove the rail and put another in it's place.
Then look at the center rail to make sure that the paper is still under it at each tie.
If you can wiggle any rail on the ties take a punch and gently tap the tabs on the ties that hold the rail to secure it.
Then look at the ends where the pins go in and make sure the pins are snug in the rail.
You can buy special pliers made to shape the rail around the pins to snug them up.
If you do this before you install each rail you will save a headache later on trying to figure out why your train is not running right.
Some will clean the track like T-Man does then weather the sides of the rail to make it look like real rusted rail.
Some do the same but paint the center rail black.
I remember a friend years ago actually left his track outside to be rusted outside in the rain. He greased the tops of the rail to protect them from rusting and after the sides rusted he cleaned up the tops and installed them.
It didn't look bad either!
First one looks like new.
You should add for the new guy's that while your cleaning is the time to give the track a good inspection.
TRACK 101;
First look at each tube of rail to make sure that's none is bent. Matter of fact look the entire length sometimes you find a bent one that the only way to fix is to loosen up the tabs on the tie and remove the rail and put another in it's place.
Then look at the center rail to make sure that the paper is still under it at each tie.
If you can wiggle any rail on the ties take a punch and gently tap the tabs on the ties that hold the rail to secure it.
Then look at the ends where the pins go in and make sure the pins are snug in the rail.
You can buy special pliers made to shape the rail around the pins to snug them up.
If you do this before you install each rail you will save a headache later on trying to figure out why your train is not running right.
Some will clean the track like T-Man does then weather the sides of the rail to make it look like real rusted rail.
Some do the same but paint the center rail black.
I remember a friend years ago actually left his track outside to be rusted outside in the rain. He greased the tops of the rail to protect them from rusting and after the sides rusted he cleaned up the tops and installed them.
It didn't look bad either!
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possible, just as with anything else metal.
but between the time to complete and contraption to hold plausible ammount of rails submerged and connected, somehow i don't see this very attractive.
ah, good point, i guess if you were to wire more then one piece of track at a time then it could prove to be more time efficient, if not doing 1 track at a time with electrolysis could always be the lazy man's way out
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proper electrolysis takes hours. one piece at a time, for say 6 hours (probably more) to complete is quite some time. and then you will need lots of pieces for your track. so i only see this feasible in larger batches but then the more metal you put, the longer it takes.
i can see a bucket load sitting there for easily 24 or more hours. which i guess doable but then i don't see why really bother unless the track is badly eaten by rust. but then again why not just use better track...
not to bring you down, feel free to give it a try, its certainly fun (i built up a "layer " of nickel coating for a rusty motorcycle fuel tank this way. took over 4 days and several nickel plated bolts)
but i don't see why really.
i can see a bucket load sitting there for easily 24 or more hours. which i guess doable but then i don't see why really bother unless the track is badly eaten by rust. but then again why not just use better track...
not to bring you down, feel free to give it a try, its certainly fun (i built up a "layer " of nickel coating for a rusty motorcycle fuel tank this way. took over 4 days and several nickel plated bolts)
but i don't see why really.
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Electrolysis is expensive, track is dirt cheep. Interesting if you want a new finish. The O track was in good shape to start. Thelight was just at the right angle to show the difference. The 027 was average rust in my collection.
Gee glad you could visit us in O gage land
Gee glad you could visit us in O gage land
i wouldnt say electrolysis is expensive all you really need is:
(1) A plastic container
(2) Arm and Hammer washing soda
(3) A battery charger
(4) a waste electrode, such as scrap iron plate.
that's it. but tankist does serve a good point, it would take hours, im use to doing bigger stuff related to my tractors (plows, axle housings ect.) although I think i may still have to try it, a nickle plated track would look cool for display purposes.
im glad i could visit you here in o gauge land too T-man!:thumbsup:
(1) A plastic container
(2) Arm and Hammer washing soda
(3) A battery charger
(4) a waste electrode, such as scrap iron plate.
that's it. but tankist does serve a good point, it would take hours, im use to doing bigger stuff related to my tractors (plows, axle housings ect.) although I think i may still have to try it, a nickle plated track would look cool for display purposes.
im glad i could visit you here in o gauge land too T-man!:thumbsup:
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i heard that mineral spirtits was a good track cleaner just wondering if this was true
great video by the way helps a lot
the day after i saw this video i went up to ace and bought some scotch brite here i was thinking itd be an expensive product and it turned out being cheap and workks just as good as your video shows, but the guy that directed me to it also had a good idea about using it for grassy areas. may have to try that too
great video by the way helps a lot
the day after i saw this video i went up to ace and bought some scotch brite here i was thinking itd be an expensive product and it turned out being cheap and workks just as good as your video shows, but the guy that directed me to it also had a good idea about using it for grassy areas. may have to try that too
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I use an all around paint thinner as a general cleaning solvent. Mineral spirirts I save for staining. It would work with track that gets dirty with use. It would remove a gray oily residue. It depends if the track is rusty or has buildup. Go with what works the best. Brown scotch brite is good stuff.
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16,705 Posts
T-Man ... awesome!
1. I recently cleaned some old track and had to bend the hollow-tube ends back into shape. At first, I tried just a needle nose pliers, but I had trouble keeping the tube part (where a mating pin would fit) round. Then, it hit me ... insert an extra pin into each tube FIRST, then bend / straighten as needed with needle nose.
2. However, I REALLY like your custom-ground pliers ... that end-shape looks PERFECT for grabbing/squeezing the "flat" parts that stick down below each tube. How about you make a few hundred of these things and hand them out to presents to all of us loyal MTF tinkerers?!?
3. I (naively) found out about the middle-rail insulation paper the hard way. Had a track section where it had slipped out. Now, I grab the multimeter and touch the contacts to outside / middle rails, first, to make sure that there's no electrical short.
Great video!!! (And what sort of mood music do you prefer?!?)
TJ
1. I recently cleaned some old track and had to bend the hollow-tube ends back into shape. At first, I tried just a needle nose pliers, but I had trouble keeping the tube part (where a mating pin would fit) round. Then, it hit me ... insert an extra pin into each tube FIRST, then bend / straighten as needed with needle nose.
2. However, I REALLY like your custom-ground pliers ... that end-shape looks PERFECT for grabbing/squeezing the "flat" parts that stick down below each tube. How about you make a few hundred of these things and hand them out to presents to all of us loyal MTF tinkerers?!?
3. I (naively) found out about the middle-rail insulation paper the hard way. Had a track section where it had slipped out. Now, I grab the multimeter and touch the contacts to outside / middle rails, first, to make sure that there's no electrical short.
Great video!!! (And what sort of mood music do you prefer?!?)
TJ
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I think the T man would prefer the Mighty Mouse theme song.
Here I am to save the dayyyyy, Might T is on the wayyyyy
:thumbsup: 
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Two years back, my baby brought me home a dirt-encrusted 1929 Victrola from her family's attic---they didn't want it. It plays the old 78 rpm records. I took it apart and cleaned it up, found some needles for it and now have about 50 or so records for it. It's the perfect background for working on 1950's trains! Jimmie Rogers' Blue Yodel!
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Jimmy Rogers' Blue Yodel?
That sounds like a "I would get a headache song.":laugh:
I'm a good old Rock and Roll guy.
Though I seem to like the old Polka songs since my mom used to place them on the Accordion, "spelled wrong? (squeeze box?)
When I was a kid we all used to dance like nuts to them at family gatherings.:appl:
But give me good old Rock and Roll any day.
(and of course I like the corny truck driver songs too.
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