Cleaning track with alcohol

[Mike C]

 What kind of alcohol ?  70% ,99% , Lifelike stuff ?  Or 100 proof ...    Doesn't some alcohol have other things in it , like rubbing alcohol ?

[mplsjct]

I run a track cleaner train, similar to what was mentioned earlier, consists of one Aztec dry abrasive roller boxcar, one centerline car with a roller wrapped with a dry cloth (once in a while I'll soak the cloth with alcohol) and one car that has a piece of upside down Masonite that drags along the rails. For sidings, I manually use a bright boy, my layout is a one person, manageable size.

All things considered, I have found frequent running of the trains is the best defense against dirty track.

[sp org div]

As the OP, I already have track cleaning trains, but too cumbersome at times considering doesnt do it all. Thats why I was interested in alcohol aplication by "other than track cleaning cars".

I use 70% instead of 90 in fear of being paint stripper.
Send any 100% to me for oficial testing, as I have special procedure for analysis.

Jeff
See "track cleaning train" for more on that adventure.
http://espeeoregondivision.blogspot.com/?m=0

[drgw0579]

Balsa wood block.  Soak it with Alcohol clean the track well.  Then treat the track with LPS1.  The LPS1 isn't oily and "resists oil, dust, and dirt build-up".

Bill Kepner

[peteski]

I have a question for all the folks who use track cleaning cars, or whole strings of cleaning cars in a "cleaning train."

Sidings?   Do you painstakingly push the cleaner in and out of every siding, say, in a yard?  I don't really see any other way to do it.  And of course, yards are usually loaded with strings of cars that all have to be ferried out by hand before you can clean.  Is there some better technique I'm missing?

I asked because he usually does this before operating sessions (so, before I arrive there).  You not going to like it, but he usually uses a Brite Boy!  He does sometimes pus the wet car through the sidings but not very often.

His layout participates in several train ops events (where the big boys play with trains) and they often comment on how well the layout runs. They say it is better than most H0 layouts they operate.  That says something. 

I think part of the reason is that his trackwork is impeccable (and pretty much all Peco track).

Jeff,  he uses 100% Denatured Alcohol - we can send a sample your way, but I would not recommend using your testing process on it.    No problems with it removing paint, except for the time when he unintentionally spilled some on a custom painted locomotive. It turned the Dullcote layer white.   But he was able to spray another layer of Dullcote to make the problem area almost invisible.  But in normal cleaning cycle the alcohol is not causing any paint issues.

[Ron McF]

I use a small block of wood (approx 1"x1"x2") with a piece of old sheet (about palm-size) wrapped around it, with a squirt of lighter fluid on it.


Full details are here:
http://gulflines.blogspot.com.au/p/track-and-wheel-cleaning.html

The toothbrush is for 'scrubbing' between point and stock rails.

You have to be a little careful when wiping over point blades as the cloth can snag, and in worst cases, rip out the point rail.

Regards,
Ron

[peteski]

I use a small block of wood (approx 1"x1"x2") with a piece of old sheet (about palm-size) wrapped around it, with a squirt of lighter fluid on it.

Full details are here:
http://gulflines.blogspot.com.au/p/track-and-wheel-cleaning.html

The toothbrush is for 'scrubbing' between point and stock rails.

You have to be a little careful when wiping over point blades as the cloth can snag, and in worst cases, rip out the point rail.

Regards,
Ron

Yes, Naphtha is also a good degreaser (grease is the sticky ingredient in the wheel gunk).  I use it to clean entire loco mechanisms.  It can also be had much cheaper in a hardware store as VN&P Naphtha (type of a thinner).