track cleaning

bkazmer

New Member
I want to use some old track i expanding my layout. What has worked for others in cleaning to ensure good electrical contact?
 
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Fred_M

While all those are fine, I have settled on a briteboy and elbow grease as the cheeapest and surest way to clean dirty track, and running your trains everyday to keep it clean. Gives you an excuse to run them everyday. :) FRED
 

shaygetz

Active Member
Welcome to the Gauge...on our club layout, if you look closely, you'd see---gasp---brass rails mixed in with the nickel-silver. As long as its kept clean and well soldered, you shouldn't have a problem.
 

bkazmer

New Member
Thanks! briteboy and wet/dry paper (I have that around for old car stuff) should handle the remedial work. Then on to the maintenance suggestions. And shaygetz, I'm also impure and have mixed brass and nickel. Oh dear. :)
 

Ray Marinaccio

Active Member
The HO layout I'm building now uses all recycled track. Besides cleaning the track check to be sure its not bent.
The used turnouts I used had electrical problems so I ground away the ties in spots to solder jumper wires to eliminate the dead spots and future continuity problems.
 
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Fred_M

I would avoid using sandpaprer as it leaves scratches to hold dirt. You want the rails slick and shiney as possible. If the brass is tarnished liquid brass cleaner on a rag works fantastic and will only brighten the tops of the rails if used correctly. FRED
 
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