Keep in mind the fiber insulators on the center rail. They can be affected by the vinegar-water solution. Use of wire brush is a bit harsh on the rail surface, since it leaves minute scratches which will hold dirt and reduce conductivity. Best to use a non-abrasive pad for that.
Give the track a vinegar soak. Let it dry thoroughly. Then go over it with industrial strength Scotch-Brite pads. Yes there is such a thing. Then follow that with cleaning of mineral spirits. Let that dry. Then follow with a razor thin coating of No Ox. Yes it's time-consuming but you'll never have to clean your track again.
Vinegar does a nice job of removing the rust, but what about the insulators? Does it affect the material? That’s my big concern, and why I still clean AF and Lionel/Marx track with fine sandpaper.
I have some track I need to clean so I'll try this. Thank you for the video, Allen!
Keep in mind the fiber insulators on the center rail. They can be affected by the vinegar-water solution.
Use of wire brush is a bit harsh on the rail surface, since it leaves minute scratches which will hold dirt and reduce conductivity. Best to use a non-abrasive pad for that.
Yeah it's a miracle fix if you ask me. I soak most of my nasty rebuild parts as well. Well the ones that won't get destroyed, motor parts ect.v
I have got two boxes of Lionel 3 rail tabular track and one box of marx o27 tabular track i bought at a yard sale a couple years ago
you have to rinse the track with baking soda dissolved in water or it will instantly rust again.
Give the track a vinegar soak. Let it dry thoroughly. Then go over it with industrial strength Scotch-Brite pads. Yes there is such a thing. Then follow that with cleaning of mineral spirits. Let that dry. Then follow with a razor thin coating of No Ox. Yes it's time-consuming but you'll never have to clean your track again.
Vinegar does a nice job of removing the rust, but what about the insulators? Does it affect the material? That’s my big concern, and why I still clean AF and Lionel/Marx track with fine sandpaper.
Will this clean up my rusty box of Super ‘O’?
I want to build a layout this winter. Finally got the room and boxes of track.
I see !
I bought a lot of rusty track and did the same. In these times, you have to save a buck somehow.
That's so cool. Works great doesn't it?
I threw some away and replaced them with new.
Much better
I did the same thing, the paper that grounds the track.We should talk about this sometime.
*Insulates. You don’t want it grounded.
What about the paper? Does the vinegar affect it as in destroying it? I have a lot of old track needs cleaning but don’t want to ruin it.
real track is rusty on at least three sides.
That's very true but it doesn't carry any electricity!