Track
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No-Ox is an corrosion prevention grease, used in industry for many purposes. You just spread a really thin layer on the top of your track for about 30 feet and let a locomotive spread the rest of it around for you. An eight ounce tube goes for $8 at http://www.sourcetelsupply.com/cata...d=131&osCsid=fe14a1efd3c97e6192cbf63e9d768ab6 and will last the rest of your life. YOu can sometimes find it at local electrical supply distributors as well. Radio Shack has a similar product that comes in a spray called DeoxIt that goes for $10 for two small cans. It works about as well but it won't last as long as No-Ox.
No-ox
I don't know if the NO-OX suggested is the same product I am familiar with but I spent twenty years maintaining telephone central office equipment including battery backup power supplies (with 800 amp/hour lead acid wet cells) and the NO-OX grease we used to protect battery terminals would collect all kinds of dust and crud and in time would often form a hard crudy layer that we would have to scrape off with a sharp blade. We cleaned this stuff off the terminals about ever six months but it did seem to inhibit corrosion from the acid fumes.
I don't know if the NO-OX suggested is the same product I am familiar with but I spent twenty years maintaining telephone central office equipment including battery backup power supplies (with 800 amp/hour lead acid wet cells) and the NO-OX grease we used to protect battery terminals would collect all kinds of dust and crud and in time would often form a hard crudy layer that we would have to scrape off with a sharp blade. We cleaned this stuff off the terminals about ever six months but it did seem to inhibit corrosion from the acid fumes.
Here is some more information on NO-OX:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=147011&postcount=1
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=147011&postcount=1
jeffrey-wimberly
Dr Frankendiesel
Here's something I've used. It works!
When it comes to having clean track that stays clean, you might want to try this. It was posted by one of the members of the Model Railroader forum. It worked for me. It's called 'GLEAM'.
QUOTE: (Originally posted by Semafore)
I'm talking GLEAM!: ULTRA_SHINY and Smooth rails can now be had with my 'WHAT box?" approach to this conductivity problem. An HO modeller since 1970, I know the problem WELL!
THIS IS A ONE-TIME PROCESS. DO ALL TRACK!!
1] On an appropiate-sized block, use 400 wet/dry paper to remove the extrusion milling left on the railheads. The block must span both rails.
2] Now use 600 or finer, repeat process.
3] Using an appropiate-sized STAINLESS-STEEL piece, apply moderate pressure and BURNISH the rails! The more you slide back and forth, the smoother and shinier the rails become! [ the GLEAM part ]. This is because you have removed the ridges, bumps, and pits. Burnishing helps seal pores with metal, eliminating traps for dirt and tarnish; almost like a MIRROR!
4] [For Bob H.] Use BLUE MAGIC or equivalent metal polish to deep-clean the remaining contaminates.
5] Last, buff the rails to your eye's content!
The shine is 5x more lusterous than just polish alone. The wax left behind is minimal, is not insulating, and virtually eliminates rail cleaning.
This is a process HOT OFF THE PRESSES! [Of my brain] I've only been at it 6 weeks with amazing results! {I just added the wax step today.} prior to that, though, the NS HO rails I'm guinea-pigging (300') sans wax STILL gleams today, with slight tarnishing, so I'm gonna wax 'em next!
I will also try some classic brass rail to see how that stands up.
AND REMEMBER; NO MORE ABRASIVES...EVER!!!!!!
Or you'll just ruin your mirror finish, and will have to gleam and wax AGAIN!
Dry-wipe with paper towel or cotton. You can always polish anytime; wipe away excess.
I've had DCC and DC locos/lash-ups creep at a scale 3-5MPH around the staging level loop 100' with NO STALL or FAULTER. gotta love it
When it comes to having clean track that stays clean, you might want to try this. It was posted by one of the members of the Model Railroader forum. It worked for me. It's called 'GLEAM'.
QUOTE: (Originally posted by Semafore)
I'm talking GLEAM!: ULTRA_SHINY and Smooth rails can now be had with my 'WHAT box?" approach to this conductivity problem. An HO modeller since 1970, I know the problem WELL!
THIS IS A ONE-TIME PROCESS. DO ALL TRACK!!
1] On an appropiate-sized block, use 400 wet/dry paper to remove the extrusion milling left on the railheads. The block must span both rails.
2] Now use 600 or finer, repeat process.
3] Using an appropiate-sized STAINLESS-STEEL piece, apply moderate pressure and BURNISH the rails! The more you slide back and forth, the smoother and shinier the rails become! [ the GLEAM part ]. This is because you have removed the ridges, bumps, and pits. Burnishing helps seal pores with metal, eliminating traps for dirt and tarnish; almost like a MIRROR!
4] [For Bob H.] Use BLUE MAGIC or equivalent metal polish to deep-clean the remaining contaminates.
5] Last, buff the rails to your eye's content!
The shine is 5x more lusterous than just polish alone. The wax left behind is minimal, is not insulating, and virtually eliminates rail cleaning.
This is a process HOT OFF THE PRESSES! [Of my brain] I've only been at it 6 weeks with amazing results! {I just added the wax step today.} prior to that, though, the NS HO rails I'm guinea-pigging (300') sans wax STILL gleams today, with slight tarnishing, so I'm gonna wax 'em next!
I will also try some classic brass rail to see how that stands up.
AND REMEMBER; NO MORE ABRASIVES...EVER!!!!!!
Or you'll just ruin your mirror finish, and will have to gleam and wax AGAIN!
Dry-wipe with paper towel or cotton. You can always polish anytime; wipe away excess.
I've had DCC and DC locos/lash-ups creep at a scale 3-5MPH around the staging level loop 100' with NO STALL or FAULTER. gotta love it
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