Darrell & All, Well, I did finish up the wheel cleaning (well almost) for this year. I don't have any plastic wheels on the layout so the issue of static or any other plastic issues don't apply. I rarely have 'visiting cars' so thats not an issue either.
The procedure I use is to use Aero Lub's track cleaner with two Centerline track cleaning cars about twice a year. Between those times I will use a boxcar with a masonite rubbing pad. In additional to that I use some 'polishing blocks' in the area of construction or complicated trackwork areas. I also use an area air cleaner near my workbench that hopefully picks up much of the fine dust from filing and grinding. Obviously the dirt comes from some place so it must be delt with. The obvious gap in the track cleaning/dirt problem is that I have a ceiling fan that sending the cooling air and dust around all over. Second, track cleaning cars really don't venture into or do a good job on those dead end sidings. Over the weekend, I came across a couple of passenger cars with Ace steel wheels and some cars with NWSL blackened brass wheels. This is a dedicated train so all cars run together most of the time. The conclusion was that the steel wheels were nearly dirt free but the brass ones from NWSL needed to have the crude carved off the thread! Well to continue with 'getting ready' I painted and weathered two false front buildings, put numerous signs on other buildings, glued down some of the areas less stable people, weathered a RR Milwaukee caboose and will now deal with a USRA Mike that has a slipping insides! The fun never ends! Bob Werre BobWphoto.com Darrell Smith wrote: > Bob, > > Before my S scale experience, I was involved with an HO club. One of > our "rules" which developed early was that all equipment on the layout > had to have metal wheels. We found that plastic wheels were the > biggest culprit in dirtying the track. This continued to be a problem > even with a mix of metal and plastic wheels. Using all metal wheels > on all equipment practically eliminated dirt build-up on wheels and track. > > > --- In [email protected] <mailto:S-Scale%40yahoogroups.com>, Bob > Werre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > My layout, will be on tour on the evening of Dec 5th and the > afternoon of the 6th. > > To that end, last night after the pumpkin pie, I started my annual > wheel > > cleaning ceremony. > > I've come to the conclusion that the wheels that seem > > to stay the cleanest are the silver plated wheels, followed by certain > > recent SHS wheel sets > > > > Although I'm no expert, I would assume the plating or glossy surface is > > the help here. > > --why is the dirt on > > wheels black? > > put your minds to this one! > > > > Bob Werre > > BobWphoto.com > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
