WAY too much nap... you're gonna get cleaning fluid all over your painted ties and ballast. The idea of the handi-wipe roller is to confine the fluid to the tops of the rails. I'd bet it doesn't roll well, either, (too light) and weighting it will just exacerbate the "too deep nap" issue.
Not to mention making it very difficult to roll.
Brian: I admit that I don't have nor need a track cleaning car. But I do know logic and use my smarts as best I can. It would seem to me that a "secondary car" may only need an absorbent cloth. No abrasive. I don't see the need for a foam nor any plastic.
The cloth I use with my fingers now - is nothing more than an old tee shirt. That's what I use 1. to clean rails with mineral spirits and 2. if necessary to wipe after. But to be honest, I don't usually bother. I just rub the rails with ms til they shine and then dab the graphite. I've never noticed any residue. But then, I'm rubbing vigorously and that probably don't leave any ms on the rails.
In your case, when using a car that spreads ms over the rails, you are not rubbing, so a second car to wipe up is apparently what you are trying to do. And that's where I suggest a cloth. Something absorbent, but definitely not abrasive. And I don't see where foam can do it better than a cloth. Any old cotton should be sufficient. And I'm thinking that a cloth would not only pick up the residue, but do a slight polish as it slides.
How about the old box car with Masonite? Or a cloth over the Masonite? I'm not being snarky? but it looks to me like you are over thinking this "secondary car". I'm not sure it has to be heavy, just enough to keep the cloth rubbing along the rail.
Another thing. That graphite should last for 6 months or so. So if you find you have to clean like this very often, then I doubt you'll get a lot of "goop on the cloth". Re-applying ms more often means there's something else wrong. Realize this is all MHO, using what little brain I have! LOL
Apart from "very carefully"HELP,
I want to cut a rectangular hole in the bottom of this hopper, while keeping relatively nice smooth walls. Any suggestions appreciated on how to do it?
View attachment 150987
View attachment 150988
I don't think I have wire saw.
Its been suggested that I just rough cut a small hole, then file the edges down
I had to get my chop saw out again today (for another project), so I figured I would go ahead and cut myself a couple more rollers that could be cover in any number of the materials being suggested. It basically a much bigger diameter roller than the small Centerline one.
Cut from PVC tube,..I cut a couple for the coal hopper car, and a couple for the smaller width Baby Ruth car,..to run some experiments.
The coal hopper one is almost 1.25" wide, while the other one is about 1" wide. That wider width assures both rails are covered even on tight curves. Cheap enough as well.
And these would require much less number of layers of cover cloth, perhaps only one,..much greater coverage area compared to that relatively small Centerline car roller.