What's the best...

The best method is...

I've been using rubbing alcohol on a rag. Seems to work well as the rag is black when I'm done and the rails are shiny.

I use a rag with denatured alcohol.

Clean rag, track cleaning fluid, elbow grease.

I like this one.Track cleaner
I use it with Goo Gone, a non-rubber tire engine and a home-made roller car to dry the track. Have it in O and Standard Gauge and both work great.

I use the trackman 2000 it works really well.
Before I run it around the layout I soak the pad with
denatured alcohol and the track comes out
clean. I've been using it for three years
now.

THANKS ALEX

quote:

Originally posted by Bob:
The best method is...

+1

I use my home made track cleaning cars. Cheap and easy to make. I can send you photos and plans if you like.
.....
Dennis

I like the scrub pad stuffed under a heavy gondola we saw here several months ago!

A Scotch-brite pad.

My experience is that the aforementioned rag and alcohol method cleans track the best, but one the several track cleaning cars I have makes the job the most fun. As long as you use some reasonable method, I wouldn’t sweat it, considering how many don’t clean their track at all.

quote:

I use the trackman 2000 it works really well.
Before I run it around the layout I soak the pad with
denatured alcohol and the track comes out
clean.

Alex: I too have the Trackman 2000. I must say that I'm not happy with mine at all. I don't soak my pad though so maybe that's why - but it's made to run dry. I spoke with Henry a few times about it with no good suggestions coming forth other than to use it.

Yes, my pad shows the 3 black streaks but if I wipe my finger on the track my finger will still come up with black on it.

The reason that I don't soak the pad is that it SEEMS that all that it would do is loosen/spread the grease around. I was thinking that something needed to come after it to wipe away the loosened grease from the rail. I guess I have nothing to lose by trying what you do.

One thing that I did learn about this car, and told Henry about, was that I needed to put a piece of rolling stock behind the car when dragging it around. Without the car behind it the pad wouldn't re-center itself coming out of curve. With a car it does.

- walt

Hi Walt yes your right I forgot to mention too
everyone, after I run it with the soaked pad
I cut a heavy paper towel to the exact size
of the pad and attach it the same way as the pad.
I run it around each loop and then change the
paper towel again and run it around one more time.
The paper towel has a lot of dirt and grime on it.
Try that. Walt don't make the paper towel hang over
the rails too much it will catch on something just
make it the same size.

THANKS ALEX

I've had very good success with Centerline track cleaning car. I tried a postwar Marx with static cleaning pads, and a modern Lionel with fluid tank and rotating pads. Neither was very good. I like using a rag and cleaning fluid, as several have suggested. But since I've got a large mountain/tunnel (with 3 thru-tracks), that won't work. The Centerline car does a very good job.

quote:

Originally posted by John Meixel:
I use a rag with denatured alcohol.

I run a magnet around the track just in case a little metal found it's way there.
Then I use the 3 best things to clean track.
A rag
denatured alcohol
And your Elbow

David

quote:

Clean rag, track cleaning fluid, elbow grease.

I have been to every Home Depot, Lowes, and local hardware store an no one stocks elbow grease.

Best way to clean track is replace after every third use!

Gunny

I use a product called magic eraser. You can buy it at just about anywhere grocery store etc. Works awesome no elbow grease just wipes clean works great Im not whats in it but I have never had a product work so well.

quote:

I like the scrub pad stuffed under a heavy gondola we saw here several months ago!

I'm with you. I put the pad under an 027 observation car instead of a gondola, but it works great. The pad has to be cut to fit, but once there, it requires no screws or glue to stay in place. My track cleaning chores have been cut by orders of magnitude since I went this route.

But on those now-rare occasions when I do have to do any manual cleaning, it's just paper towels and rubbing alcohol.

You might get more responses if you finish your sentence in the subject line. I use



Goo-gone

I took my craftsman sander and went over the tracks with 320 grit paper, then used track cleaner with a clean rag. (mth realtrax)

Windex works great, rubbing alcohol works well too. Neither effects traction tires, if you have them. Should have these at home anyway, so your out of pocket expense should be zip.

No need to go abrasive, unless you are trying to get rid of the black anodized coating on the top of the center rail (when new).

BBBob

Thank Dennis for this one. It works great and leaves shinny rails.

I have found a product by Cunningham track and wheel cleaner. Go to magnificenttrains or fiferhobby.com

Try Cunningham track and whell cleaner found at magnificenttrains or fiferhobby.com