What are the suggestions for this persistent problem?

I use a foam (sponge) sanding bl;ock if I'm having trouble on a section it works extremely well for cleaning the rails as it forms around the side and cleans both the top and side surfaces. Micro Mark maintains that a drop or two of conductive oil will help conductivity and keep the rails clean. They sell Wahl Clipper Oil for this. I have it but I haven't used it yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Tully:
What are the suggestions for this persistent problem?

I use two of these http://www.centerline-products.com/Catalog/60055.html.

One wet with Goo Gone and a dry one following.

quote:

Originally posted by railroad-guy:

I use two of these http://www.centerline-products.com/Catalog/60055.html.

One wet with Goo Gone and a dry one following.

The Centerline car works very well. I wrap the roller with a strip of paper towel. When the paper becomes dirty, I replace it with a fresh piece. However, since I have applied a few drops of the Wahl Clipper Oil to a spot on the rails, I rarely need to run the track cleaning car. Note: use a very tiny bit of the oil and let a train spread it around the layout.

Charlie M

Thanks for the advice.

Is just a couple of drops of Wahls sufficient? No slippery rails?

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Tully:
Thanks for the advice.

Is just a couple of drops of Wahls sufficient? No slippery rails?

Very little is needed. Too much and you have wheel slip. I use a Q-tip to apply a couple drops to a foot or two of both rails somewhere and then run trains over the spot. One application seems to last for several months unless I'm gone and not operating for a month or two.

Charlie M

I'm a great fan of Wahl Clipper Oil.

http://wahl.factoryoutletstore...ils/0-2221/3320.html

I put a couple of drops on a clean cloth and slide it along the tracks for about ten feet, both rails. It's amazing stuff. As for slipping, I've never had a problem even with relatively sharp grades.

I know it seems counter-intuitive to put oil on railroad tracks, but this is model railroading and believe me, it works!

Paul

For $80 an ounce, it better be amazing. Wonder how Amy would feel if she knew I spent more per once on oil then her perfume

quote:

Originally posted by railroad-guy:
For $80 an ounce, it better be amazing. Wonder how Amy would feel if she knew I spent more per once on oil then her perfume

Not quite. 4 oz bottle for $4.95 will probably last me a life-time.

Charlie M

Wahls is great for electrical contact. I did encounter some slipping, though. As was said earlier, one must be judicious when using it.

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie Morrill:
Not quite. 4 oz bottle for $4.95 will probably last me a life-time.
Charlie M

Sorry, the link that Paul pointed to was for a 1/4 oz tube at $19.95. I thought that was kind of high. I see Amazon has the 4oz bottle for only $2.93!

Simply wipe the rails with a dry, clean rag and then use a #2 carpenter's pencil on easy to reach sections of rail. The wheels will spread it around and it doesn't scar the rails or cost a week's pay either! Works great.

Tom

I've found this approach to be successful on my railroad (NS rail, DCC, 2% grades, steel wheelsets).

Micromark sells a 240 grit sanding block called a Bright Bar (#80437). Half of one drops in the well of a Centerline car nicely. I screwed an old flywheel to the top of the block to give it a little heft.

Wahl oil combines with some sort of mysterious black dust so as to make equally mysterious black gummy grunge. It took me a while to discover the black dust is magnetic, so next in line is a second Centerline car with a Kadee magnet glued to the bottom of a "T" shaped block of wood. Drops right in and holds the magnet just off the rail. The amount of black powdery stuff stuck to the magnet will impress you.

Replace the magnet with a Centerline roller soaked in alcohol (the kind with no water content) and run it again.

I haven't needed my Wahl since, and have only needed to clean by hand once a year using this method. No grunge, either.

quote:

Originally posted by railroad-guy:

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie Morrill:
Not quite. 4 oz bottle for $4.95 will probably last me a life-time.
Charlie M

Sorry, the link that Paul pointed to was for a 1/4 oz tube at $19.95. I thought that was kind of high. I see Amazon has the 4oz bottle for only $2.93!

You aren't kidding, that's expensive. I've had a can of the stuff for 15 years and it was a heck of a lot cheaper then. But it also goes to show you that it last a loooooooooooong time.

Paul

I think there is a consensus that Wahls is great. The application, however, is not so simple.