I have Marx/Lionel/K-Line 0-27 tubular track which is corroded/rusted. I am told it has/had a nickel-silver coating. As it is it is probably unusable; therefore, I aggressively cleaned to shiny metal some of the rails with a wire wheel on my lathe or with a ScotchBrite pad, then wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. Have I ruined the track? What, if any, wipe on solution/solvent will keep the track electrically clean.?
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Everybody has their favorite solution to cut grease on track. I just consulted a vintage Marx instruction folder. It advises wiping with alcohol or just a clean cloth.
I have Marx/Lionel/K-Line 0-27 tubular track which is corroded/rusted. I am told it has/had a nickel-silver coating. As it is it is probably unusable; therefore, I aggressively cleaned to shiny metal some of the rails with a wire wheel on my lathe or with a ScotchBrite pad, then wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. Have I ruined the track? What, if any, wipe on solution/solvent will keep the track electrically clean.?
Not sure that you have ruined the track, maybe cut down on some magnetic property if using post war Magna-traction(wheels on engine or alxe have a magnet in them) engines by Lionel. Try the track and see if works correctly with a Magna-traction engine, if it does then don't worry about it.
If the track has severe rust on both sides, top and bottom I usually throw it out as it is not worth saving.
Lee Fritz
Has any one tried dipping rusted track in metal rescue its biodegradable rust remover.
Syd,
Long ago we use to set up our 027 track and switches for the Christmas layout.
Some of the track was in bad shape, the boys were pretty rough on it as kids learning to build layouts, we simply cleaned the track up and used it.
Seldome if ever did we actually need to discard the Lionel track, it seemed to work
as long as you had good pins in it and removed the rust. I still have the 027 track even today.
PCRR/Dave
Thanks Dave, and to all who replied.
Syd
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