Dust problem?

[RobertInOntario]

We've recently had some changes at our house which work out favourably for my layout space! :mrgreen: Previously, we rented our basement out during the week, so I could only use it for MRR on weekends.

Well, we're no longer renting out basement and now have full use of it. I can use the basement bedroom as a temporary train room :mrgreen: -- but it still needs to be available as a spare bedroom.

At any rate, I've had the layout set up now for a week or so and I'm just beginning to see dust accumulating, especially on the trains and rolling stock. Previously, this was not a problem at all since I had to put the railway away after each weekend -- the locos and rolling stock were wrapped in bubble-wrap and put into storage.

Does any one have any suggestions for minimizing the dust problem? It's tedious dusting each loco and piece of stock but that might be the best option!

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Russ Bellinis]

I think George Selios fixed the same problem with his Franklin and South Manchester by building a framework to support a plastic sheet and keep it off the layout. Between operating sessions, he keeps the layout covered to keep the dust off of everything. I also collect die cast cars, not looking for expensive ones or even rare, but just models of cars I like, but can't afford. I had a terrible dust problem until I got a Lawyer's book case ( a type of bookcase with drop down glass doors). As soon as I put the cars in a case with glass doors, the dust problem disappeared.

 

[Nomad]

I use a cheap "coffee can" dust filter in my train room. I get them real cheap at the thrift stores.
For filters I cut up a furnace filter.

Loren

 

[RobertInOntario]

I think George Selios fixed the same problem with his Franklin and South Manchester by building a framework to support a plastic sheet and keep it off the layout. Between operating sessions, he keeps the layout covered to keep the dust off of everything. I also collect die cast cars, not looking for expensive ones or even rare, but just models of cars I like, but can't afford. I had a terrible dust problem until I got a Lawyer's book case ( a type of bookcase with drop down glass doors). As soon as I put the cars in a case with glass doors, the dust problem disappeared.

Thanks, Russ. Both of these sound good. Maybe I could also get some of these lawyers' book cases and use them for storing my locos and coaches in? Cheers, Rob

 

[RobertInOntario]

I use a cheap "coffee can" dust filter in my train room. I get them real cheap at the thrift stores.
For filters I cut up a furnace filter.

Loren

Thanks, I'll look into this but I'm not familiar with coffee can dust filters -- I'll check some of our thrift stores. Rob

 

[Russ Bellinis]

Robert, do you have a valence around your layout with lighting behind it? If so and if the valence goes all the way to the ceiling, some drop down plastic curtains might work to keep the dust out between operating sessions.

 

[Mountain Man]

Depending on the size of your layout, might be worth investing in a room filtration unit?

What do the guys with gigantic layouts and the clubbers do about it?

I'm very curious because dust in quantities unbelievable to city slickers is a fact of life in my part of Colorado, plus I have some contributing pets.

 

[Nomad]

Rob, there called coffee can filters by some people. There about the size and shape of a coffee can, have a small fan inside, and a filter on the bottom. All they do is pull dust out of the air. Nothing fancy.

Loren

 

[Mountain Man]

So if you took a big box fan like WalMart sells every summer, and hung a filter frame in front of the outflow...

 

[60103]

My solution...

After you get the dust in the pattern you like, spray the model with dullcoat to fix it in position -- instant weathering. :thumb:

 

[RobertInOntario]

Rob, there called coffee can filters by some people. There about the size and shape of a coffee can, have a small fan inside, and a filter on the bottom. All they do is pull dust out of the air. Nothing fancy.
Loren

Thanks, Loren. These sound good so I'll look into getting some.

Dust is an ongoing problem in general. In the past, dust in the house (i.e. on bookcases, cabinets, tables, etc.) hasn't bothered me but it really frustrates my wife. Now that I see it getting onto my trains and my layout, I'm getting annoyed!

Rob