All: I am cleaning a 3469 Operating Coal dump car. I used Evaporust on the handrails to remove the rust. I am wondering if the handrails were originally painted or if Lionel used a blackening agent to cover them. If they were originally painted what would be your recommendation as to a paint source and to the proper way to "bake" the paint. Thanks for your input.
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Just took a look at mine and its hard to tell but based on the degree of shine on it it seems to match the paint on the sides rather than the chassis which I believe is blackened as it is flatter. Finish is not very glossy.
Since Evaporust doesn't materially affect paint, I'm going to guess that the rails were chemically blackened. I recommend trying gun bluing, available at most sporting goods stores.
Mitch
Mitch,
Thanks for reminding me, I used it on some uncoupling tracks and it took off the black. Redid with gun bluing.
Just a note here, blueing is similar to rust the way it affects metal. Most rust removers will also remove blueing. If the railing is not stainless then gun blue should work. Many modern trains have stainless railings. Gun blue doesn’t work very well if at all on stainless but there are chemicals that will work. Caswell plating has some specifically for stainless.
Pete
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