Anyone have any suggestions? California has not only banned Mineral Spirits, but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
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Tequila.
How about brake parts cleaner or carburetor cleaner? You should be able to find liquid, as opposed to aerosol.
I have used Ronsonol lighter fluid with good success.
Lionel recommends a citrus based cleaner such as that found in Goo Gone.
Don(Cerritos) posted:Anyone have any suggestions? California has not only banned Mineral Spirits, but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
Ethanol - Everclear grain alcohol (190 proof) from the liquor store. Was my secret for cleaning tape heads in the mag tape era.
I'll control myself and not make any political remarks about your "banned substance" list though. 
I swear by CRC Contact Cleaner.
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Don(Cerritos) posted:Anyone have any suggestions? California has not only banned Mineral Spirits, but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
But now you can buy pot!
I bet you can still buy lacquer thinner.
I wonder if vodka would clean track?
I use Acetone and it works great for my track and use in a well ventilated area.I also live in Ca and Nevada is only 90 minutes from my house so I can load up there.
Mikey
Don(Cerritos) posted:Anyone have any suggestions? California has not only banned Mineral Spirits, but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
There is a statement there I cannot disagree with.
There is a statement there I won't comment on directly.
Whal hair clipper oil and followed with a dry absorbent rag?
WD 40?
It might be easier if you tell us what your legal solvent options are.
It seems likely to be a much shorter list than our guessing.
How can they ban rubbing alchohol? Do you need a perscription now?
After reading the above suggestions, will we be calling you...
De-Gunk Runner Don soon? 🤣
As Wild Mary said, CRC Contact Electrical Cleaner. Been using it for over 30 years.
Go “GOO GONE “ once you go , you’ll never go back!
it smells good and not flammable!
Fredstrains
When did this happened? We just bought a 5 gallon bucket for our Club.
+1 on those above that have mentioned CRC Cleaner. It's all I use.
You can get denatured and/or isopropyl alcohol from on-line sellers (amazon, e-bay, etc.).
Will they ship to California ?
I read an H.O. club used transmission fluid with great success.
overlandflyer posted:Don(Cerritos) posted:..., but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
i agree, your statement is crazy... could you please clarify what you are talking about?
Overlandflyer, I didn't mean to be ambiguous, the topic of the thread "Any alternative for Denatured Alcohol? (Track Cleaning)" I thought was adequate. But to clarify, I have been using Denatured Alcohol for track cleaning, I ran out. So I went to the store to purchase some, and couldn't find it. I was informed the it (denatured alcohol) has been banned for sale in California. I do have some "Mineral Spirits", and went on line to find out if it was an acceptable substitute, (Mineral Spirits). But it really isn't. Also found out that Mineral Spirits, Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned in California.
Therefore, thought I would ask on this forum, what others are using. I hope this clarifies what I was "talking about".
I really appreciate all the responses, my wife suggested "Goof-Off", its not as offensive as Goof-Gone, so will try that as we have a large quantity of it. I ALSO enjoyed the humor some have provided.
Thanks to all!
Single Malt Scotch has always been handy.
oh, sorry,,,,sorry,,,,, someone said alcohol...
Don(Cerritos) posted:overlandflyer posted:Don(Cerritos) posted:..., but NOW have added Denatured Alcohol to that list!! Appears Isopropyl Alcohol is also banned.
This is crazy !!!
i agree, your statement is crazy... could you please clarify what you are talking about?
.... I was informed the it (denatured alcohol) has been banned for sale in California. ...
i just had them check... the local h/w store has this on the shelf today... $19.99/gal.
you got some bad information.
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Sooooo, I peeled this onion back one more layer. I contacted the manufacturer you suggested above, and according to them it IS banned in So. California. (Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties). So you maybe correct in other areas. I guess I will need to coordinate with you to get any. Thanks
OK guys...keep the political comment off of this thread. I had to edit out some of the posts because just by their nature encouraged further political posts. Use common sense as far as whatever you use to clean track. I have been using the CRC product for many years. The advantage to using it is you really don't have to wipe the track. I spray an couple foot long area directly on the track about every 20 feet or so and then let a single locomotive run over the rails. Not only does the locomotive spread the CRC evenly on the track after a few passes, it improves conductivity. I have not cleaned nor wiped down wheel sets for many years and both look like they are regularly cleaned. Yeah...I know it sounds too good to be true but it really does work!
Should you not wish to use any liquids on your track to clean, how about a track cleaning block or a large eraser to clean it. I have also used 91% Isopropyl alcohol with great results.
I use and recommend Naphtha.
Larry
Don (Cerritos) commented in his post...I ALSO enjoyed the humor some have provided.
Alan Arnold commented in his reply...I had to edit out some of the post because just by their nature encouraged further political post.
So humor equates to political..... I guess it really does
It's your ball Alan
Good Day Jackiejr
Goof Off?.
Not on plastics without tests for sure.
I kept Goof Off in locked cabinets at work and if I spotted someone with it, I'd grap it and lock it up too. Many thousands in damage done before I began my crusade. It didn't make me any friends doing it; unless they bothered to stop at my office for a demonstration.
It is basically xylene if I recall right, but the freindly packaging vs a chemical can, leads to all types of irresponsible uses.
Most paint removers destroy anything in their paths not metal or glass.
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Well so much for the Goof Off product! Thanks Adriatic! Wont even do that, really appreciate your comment.
Goo-gone, orange, citrus based, plastic bottle is the "safe" (on most) cleaner.
I'd try to get folks to recall which is which by "keep Goof Off, off things".
But even Goo Gone can destroy some finishes. Citrus based products are actually quiet potent. I treat each new one without expectations of it being as similarly safe than others before it.
It (goo gone) does on occasion creep and lift paint at edges too. I think the oils don't attack it much, just creep under, spreading out far too well along imperfections in the metal surface.
On all metal track your fine. I'm concerned with the roadbed track folks ruining their goods by proceeding without testing (leave tests overnight too, at least)
You are using it to clean TRACK, keep it there! Why are you worried about a “FINISH” !!
Don(Cerritos) posted:Sooooo, I peeled this onion back one more layer. I contacted the manufacturer you suggested above, and according to them it IS banned in So. California. (Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties). So you maybe correct in other areas. I guess I will need to coordinate with you to get any. Thanks
i live in San Diego County. i called up a few places today and nobody here knows anything about a ban. i drive up to Riverside once in a while... i'll have to ask. the LALS Gauge #1 guys must do something to get it... i'll have to ask.
What do you use to clean the excess flux off the track where feeders ate soldered on if alcohol is banned?
As a result of contacting "Kleen-Strip", and they informed me that the ban was in LA, Orange, & Riverside counties at this time. I have a trip planned next week to San Marcos, (San Diego county), so should be able to resolve the issue and stock up on the denatured alcohol.
I apologize for wasting everyones time on this thread, if I only would have contacted Kleen-Strip sooner. BTW their number is 800.398.3892 (IMO it would be much easier to call the manufacturer to confirm the information I indicated, rather than the cost of gas at $4+/gal.) Finally, I don't believe I am crazy, or a liar, as one person inferred.
If you are hesitant to use fluids, I would suggest Scotchbrite pads as a "dry" alternative for track.
Poppyl
Fredstrains posted:You are using it to clean TRACK, keep it there! Why are you worried about a “FINISH” !!
A finish is important to some folks. Plastic, a little shiny here, now dull there, paint on ties shining/dull/missing, or a drip on an old litho, etc.. Some folk work much more tidy than others etc.
"To teach well, a teacher should assume the students ignorance" I think it was Plato. (very loosely paraphased)
"Be careful" isn't as impactful as why.
"But TRACK ('s metal); keep it there" isn't awful advice and I couldn't agree more with that part of the statement.
Dennis Rempel posted:What do you use to clean the excess flux off the track where feeders ate soldered on if alcohol is banned?
This brought out something something I had forgotten. I always cleaned my flux, but a former boss once said it was a waste of time and a good rosin flux didn't really need to be cleaned. I did it anyhow.
While seaching for good alternatives to cleaning flux, I saw a statement that when pursured eventually landed me on German Wikipedia... I know, not infallible, but not corrected in years so holds a bit more credence.
Anyhow it states that rosin flux will actually protect joints from oxidation.
The first site the person had decades old boards and the repairs with rosin left behind were great, while others on the boards were intact but pitted and dull.
You'll need a browser to translate unless you read German.
"This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm."
Wow! good thing I don't live in California. They have to do something about that border!
I use this for cleaning track and to remove flux after soldering. Basically it's super concentrated goo gone. Wear gloves as it will dry out your skin big time and keep away from most plastics.
OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:OK guys...keep the political comment off of this thread. I had to edit out some of the posts because just by their nature encouraged further political posts. Use common sense as far as whatever you use to clean track. I have been using the CRC product for many years. The advantage to using it is you really don't have to wipe the track. I spray an couple foot long area directly on the track about every 20 feet or so and then let a single locomotive run over the rails. Not only does the locomotive spread the CRC evenly on the track after a few passes, it improves conductivity. I have not cleaned nor wiped down wheel sets for many years and both look like they are regularly cleaned. Yeah...I know it sounds too good to be true but it really does work!
Alan,
So no harm to your traction tires? Are you using the exact CRC product pictured above? CRC makes a chlorinated version too.
