Glue on track

[santino]

Ok, I got some ballast down yesterday. Any tips on what to clean the residue off the tracks? Thanx

 

[cowboydfk]

I just go over the top of the rails with 400 grit.wait for someone else to post before you do this,I don't know if it's right or not.

 

[TMLW]

A bright boy always works!

 

[kenw]

bright boy +1

 

[hamltnblue]

Bright boy at first. After the track work is done then do the sand paper. 600 grit or finer is best. If you have time then gleam the track after the fine sanding.

 

[santino]

I was not sure about sandpaper, I didnt want to hurt the track.

 

[cowboydfk]

make sure it is fine grit,600 wet or dry.

 

[Selector]

Try a flat-tipped screwdriver, too. Sometimes a gentle nudge or two will pop glue off the rail tops. So, too, would be a sharp hobby blade or a carpet knife/box cutter.

Sandpaper would be my last step (not a last resort, a last step) after wetting the glue, depending on its type, and trying to scrape or wipe it up when it was softened.

I do use 600 grit to clean between the points rail blades' inner surfaces and the stock rail when turnouts become intermittent and engines begin to stall or hesitate. Sometimes I lift the black crud that accumulates near joints where there might be arcing/sparking, or it happens near the insulators at insulfrog frog rails.

-Crandell

 

[santino]

Thanx again for the ideas. The screwdriver is a new one for me. If I had a putty knife or paint scraper I could do both rail heads at once.