Track Cleaning info and product
     
Bach-Hobby Lube  
   
Track -Tools  
   
     

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A Line Product Track Cleaning Pad Kit  AL-10003 Price: $4.25
Easily converts most 40' box cars into track cleaning cars. Soft-abrasive pad wipes away built-up grime without scratching rail.

WOODLAND HOBBY & HOUSE HOLD LUBES
 HL650
7-Pak Workbench Assortment
Precision lubricants for craftsmen! This super-saver value (a 28% discount) includes all seven lubricants plus complete instructions that spell out precise applications and the exact lubricant to use. Be prepared. Know where and when to use which lube: nonconductive, no staining, penetrating,
Price: $24.98  Ours $18.50
 
 
 

Life-Like Products
Track Brite Cleaner

 Order-item. 433-1416 A scale $4.99
For Model railroaders and Slot car tracks
       

Life-Like ALL PURPOSE MAINTENANCE KIT, LIST PRICE $19.98 #433-1418

  
       

Life-Like TRACK CLEANER W/SAFETY CAP (8 OZ), LIST PRICE $9.98 #433-1415

Perfect for Cleaning Train & Slot Car Track on any Layout Improve electrical contact on train and road race track with this safe track cleaner. Life-Like liquid Track Cleaner is perfect for removing accumulated oxidation, dirt, rust and grime from the railhead or contact strips. It's easy to use; simply apply a small amount to a soft cloth and wipe across metal surface. Wipe off loosened residue with a clean cloth.
       

Rail Weathering Solution
 3 Ounces bottle

Weathering Solution
Item. # MEE-49103
$8.50  3oz
 Need a Larger bottle

Solution for weathering nickel silver or brass rail. Same solution used to weathered Flex-Trak and Rail.
       

Bright Boy Abrasive
 Track Cleaner

Bright Boy Abrasive
Track Cleaner
Oder-Item # 949-521
 $5.98  $4.60

 Keep Trains Running Reliably with Bright Boy
Improve the conductivity of your tracks by keeping them clean with easy-to-use Bright Boy. Great for taking grime off metal loco, freight or passenger car wheels too.
     

Roco Modellspielwaren GmbH Cleaner

Rubber Track Cleaner Block
Order # 625-10002
 $9.99 NOT in-stock e-mail

For cleaning and removing dirt and oil deposits from your tracks.

     
     

Perfect for Cleaning Train & Slot Car Track on any Layout

Improve electrical contact on train and road race track with this safe track cleaner. Life-Like liquid Track Cleaner is perfect for removing accumulated oxidation, dirt, rust and grime from the railhead or contact strips. It's easy to use; simply apply a small amount to a soft cloth and wipe across metal surface. Wipe off loosened residue with a clean cloth.
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
 

 

Cleaning model railroad track
Whether you have a large model railroad or a small model train set, a clean track and wheel contact is a necessity.
Questions Just E-Mail us and we will do our best to help. Thanks
When it comes to nuisances that interfere with running trains, dirty track is probably the number one offender. Running trains is the goal - not nudging stalled engines. By cleaning track and wheel contacts regularly, you can keep your trains running smoothly.

Dirty track and wheel contacts is caused by a combination of dirt and dust that accumulates on railheads. In addition, an oxide forms on both brass and nickel-silver rail and wheels over time. The oxide on brass rail inhibits electrical contact, but the oxide on nickel-silver rail is conductive. For this reason we recommend using nickel-silver rail.

An important factor in keeping track clean is eliminating sources of dust and dirt. Among the best ways to do this is to put your layout in a finished room. If you have a layout in a basement or attic, install a ceiling (solid or suspended) in the entire room or just over the layout to try and minimize the amount of dust and dirt that gets on the rails and scenery.

You'll also want to isolate the layout from sources of dust, such as workshops. Keeping windows closed also helps, as open windows let in a great deal of dust. Smoking also results in grime on the track, so if you must smoke, do it away from your layout. Fig. 1 TRACK CLEANING TOOLS. Many products are made for cleaning track, including (clockwise from lower right) the Roco no. 10002 or aline AL-10003 cleaning block, Walthers Bright Boy (# 949-521), as showing above Centerline track cleaning car, Life-Like no. 1415 track cleaning fluid, and Aztec track cleaning car's WE HAVE THEM IN-STOCK E-Mail . Methods of cleaning track Cleaners fall into two broad categories: track cleaning cars, which are designed to do the work for you; and products that require you to do the cleaning work.

In general, I've found that when starting with extremely dirty track - such as newly laid or painted track, or a layout that hasn't been run in several months - the only way to get track truly clean is with elbow grease and an abrasive cleaning block such as the 10002 or aline AL-10003 or A-Line or Roco cleaning block seen above
Abrasive cleaners, such as the items pictured above, are effective for extremely dirty track. Rub the block along the rails, being careful not to bump into nearby details. Also use care around turnouts and other complex track areas, but make sure the points, frog, and other rails in these areas are thoroughly clean.

Follow this with a cloth, wiping the rails to remove any residue left behind from the cleaning block. Going over the track with a vacuum to suck up stray dust, dirt, and ballast is also helpful.

Don't use sandpaper or emery paper to clean track. The abrasives in these are harsher and leave small grooves in the railheads, which accumulate dirt, dust, and oxidation. The net result is impaired electrical contact.

Liquid track cleaners are another option. With these, you brush the cleaner on, then wipe the rails with a cloth. Some products are made specifically for cleaning track, such as the Life-Like track cleaner in fig. 1. Other fluids that work well are Goo Gone and TV tuner cleaner.
Keeping it clean Once you have the track clean, the best way to keep it clean is to run trains frequently. Although I have no scientific proof, I've found - and I've talked to other modelers who agree - that metal wheel sets and track tend to polish each other, much in the way that well-used wheels and rail stay shiny in real life.

Track cleaning cars also keep track clean. There are two main types: those that use a wet pad and those that use a dry abrasive wheel (some use both).

The cleaning cars us a abrasive pad to clear grime off the tracks.
 Cleaning cars can be made by gluing a pad of Masonite hardboard to a couple of nails. Drill holes in the floor of the car to clear the nails. The pads can be sanded clean when they become dirty. You can make your own inexpensive track cleaning car using a small piece of A pair of galvanized roofing nails glued with epoxy to the Masonite fit through holes drilled in the floor of a boxcar. The weight of the pad is enough to hold it to the rails, so it polishes the rails as the car moves along.

Because the pads aren't permanently attached to the car, you can remove them at any time. These pads won't clean the track if it's especially dirty, but they help maintain track already cleaned. The pads have to be sanded clean before each cleaning (or operating) session, otherwise they end up just spreading dirt.

Model railroading is the most fun when you don't have to worry about operational problems, and keeping your track clean will make that possible. And at www.pawstrains.com we have all the items you need to get the job done. Questions Just E-Mail us and we will do our best to help. Thanks