ink eraser for track cleaning

[h2w]

has anyone had any luck with using an ink eraser to clean track? i have been using a brite boy and its time for a new one the rr budget is tight so i need  if the ink eraser does a good job id rather buy one at walmart and use the savings for other needed items.
thanks
 mark

[johnh35]

An ink eraser will work good, but is somewhat abrasive. I would use alcohol to get the dirt and grime followed by the eraser only if needed. A good quality nickel-silver rail should only need the used of abrasives on an occasional basis (at least in my experience)

[kalbert]

I always thought a bright boy was just an ink eraser in a Walthers box? Maybe not?

[Burlington Bob]

You might try a simple pencil eraser on a section of track to see how that works, especially if you are concerned about the effects of abrasion.  I know that one will clean copper contacts very nicely.   Speaking of abrasion, have you looked at what is left behind after using a Briteboy?  I've used 220 grit sandpaper that was milder.

[sdodge]

I use a block of balsa wood for spot cleaning...soft. non-abrasive, does not "shed" and seems to pick up the gunk. Alcohol for a through cleaning.

[MVW]

I use a strip of cotton sock wrapped around a wood shim. Wet the business end with a bit of alcohol and run it across the track. Quick, easy, cheap ... and it really picks up the gunk. No need for a lot of elbow grease, just a moderate amount of pressure. A "not very abrasive" alternative.

I seem to be finding that it's more important to clean the wheels of my engines than the track. For that, I simply soak a small square of paper towel in alcohol and place it on the track. Set the engine with one set of wheels on the paper towel, hold the engine lightly in place and turn up the juice. About 10 seconds of spinning on the paper towel per truck does the trick.

Jim

[DKS]

I always thought a bright boy was just an ink eraser in a Walthers box? Maybe not?

IIRC, a Bright Boy is a.k.a. a "rust eraser," sold at most hardware stores. An ink eraser is similar in concept, except smaller and less abrasive, sold at office supply stores; sometimes you'll see ballpoint pens with tiny ones attached where pencil erasers would go.

[jagged ben]

You might try a simple pencil eraser on a section of track to see how that works, especially if you are concerned about the effects of abrasion.  I know that one will clean copper contacts very nicely.

I had the same thought recently.   Cleaned off some test track with a white Staedler eraser because I didn't have a bright boy handy.  Worked fine. 

[VonRyan]

An ink eraser works well to remove dirt, i haven't found it to be abrasive, but mine is old and was made in the good 'ol USofA.
A microfiber cloth like car enthusiasts use, wrapped around a wood wedge, and with the contact surface wet with %70 alcohol works BEST for all trackcleaning. The properties of the cloth combined with the alcohol seem to be a super-magnet for any and all dirt on your rails.

-Cody F.

[bill pearce]

A bright boy is harder than an ink eraser, not sure which is more abrasive, but an ink eraser crumples in bigger chunks so it makes a real get the vacuum kind of mess on your track. Tried once. Never again.

[Chris333]

I like using 800 or 1000 grit sand paper to clean bad track. After the bulk is clean I just rub the rail with a block of wood soaked in alcohol.