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Offline Makistrain  
#1 Posted : 21 January 2014 23:13:12(UTC)
Makistrain

United States   
Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Connecticut
This may sound pretty nutty, but
has anybody taken their M track components (not turnouts or sections with moving parts)
and run them through the dishwasher to clean off years and years of dust and grime?
If dried thoroughly, I am not sure how this would be harmful.
Any experience out there?
If nobody has experience I will give it a shot and report!
Thanks!
Makis
Offline Yumgui  
#2 Posted : 21 January 2014 23:31:08(UTC)
Yumgui

United States   
Joined: 20/03/2011(UTC)
Views messages in topic : 1,660
Location: Paris, France
Hi,

Have a look here before your ruin your M-track, or your dishwasher ... :

https://www.marklin-user...d-metods.aspx#post407491

https://www.marklin-user...s&t=15855#post237340

https://www.marklin-user...s&t=22902#post344086

https://www.marklin-user...r--PuKos.aspx#post407698

https://www.marklin-user...ning-Car.aspx#post313672

https://www.marklin-user...d-Wheels.aspx#post395382

... amongst other posts ^^.

y ThumpUp

PS: Sticky possible somewhere on this recurring track cleaning topic, Gen MRR, My Layout ... ?

Edited by user 28 February 2015 21:13:50(UTC)  | Reason: Links updated

If your M track is rusted ... DON'T throw it out !
Working on: https://studiogang.com/projects/all
My heavy train station renovation: https://youtu.be/QQlyNiq416A
Inspired by: http://www.nakedmarklin.com/... Am not alone in this universe, phew.
Offline Makistrain  
#3 Posted : 22 January 2014 00:18:30(UTC)
Makistrain

United States   
Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Connecticut
Yumgui:
Thanks for the links. I honestly searched the topic but didn't get any of the links you provided.
One of the posts talks about washing the track with soap and water,
which is pretty much what I think the dishwasher does. So
I'm going to give it a shot. Plan to run them through without adding the detergent.
Between the heat of the water, steam etc. and water sloshing around,
I think they should come out pretty well.
Will report, and thanks for your very thorough and I fear somewhat labor intensive response.
Cheers,
Makis
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by Makistrain
Offline BrandonVA  
#4 Posted : 22 January 2014 14:31:43(UTC)
BrandonVA

United States   
Joined: 09/12/2011(UTC)
Posts: 2,533
Location: VA
Makis,

Maybe try a couple of test pieces before committing all the way. It's not really applicable to M-track due to the rolled rail/tin-plate construction, but I know many people put LGB track in the dishwasher (solid brass rail and plastic ties).

-Brandon
Offline NZMarklinist  
#5 Posted : 22 January 2014 14:42:23(UTC)
NZMarklinist

New Zealand   
Joined: 15/03/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,757
Location: Auckland NZ
A friend of mine here in Auckland recently replaced his large M Track layout with C Track. However he sold the old tracks very well and he has also been commissioned to sell M track for others.

So given a bunch of dirty old Mrtack, a srcub with hot spoapy water, left to dry in the sun, then or maybe, Kerosine is the way to go, it has great chemical cleaning properties, use a soft tooth brush or what ever small brush as well, but never sandpaper, files or such hard abrasives. If it is really dirty and rusty a lot of elbow work will be required.
WD40 works well if not so dirty as well. The track should be removed from a layout for WD40 or kero cleaning ! a wipe occasionally with a WD40 moistened cloth woulds be great for M track rails too.
Personally as a youth I used vaselene petroleum jelly on my sliders to reduce wear, only the slightest amount applied sparingly with a finger and then lightly wiped off with a cloth, I believe helped keep my center studs rust free as well !!

Fore C & K track methylated spirits or Isoprople alcohol is the way top go for rails, I soak the pads of my Marklin track cleaning car in meths Wink Sanding is used by some for the center contacts but after that, they will always get a film of rust corrosion again. I will probably use very light applications of vaselene on my sliders again when I get my K & C Track layout operational Wink

Edited by user 27 January 2014 06:51:51(UTC)  | Reason: typo's

Glen
Auckland NZ

" Every Marklin layout needs a V200, a Railbus and a Banana car", not to mention a few Black and red Steamers, oh and the odd Elok !

CS1 Reloaded, Touch Cab, C Track Modules, K track layout all under construction. Currently Insider
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by NZMarklinist
Offline Makistrain  
#6 Posted : 22 January 2014 23:57:26(UTC)
Makistrain

United States   
Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC)
Posts: 22
Location: Connecticut
Thanks All...
Well, no harm done. Did straights and curves in the dishwasher... no soap, but the full cycle including dry. I then wiped them all off, and made sure they were dry by leaving them by the stove for awhile. I think it would have been just as good to wash them with soap and water in the sink and then wipe them. The only dishwasher advantage was the heat it generated. Anyway, for surface dust and grime, dishwasher worked well with no sign of damage.
Anyway, thanks much for the other ideas... which will help me keep the tracks clean on an ongoing basis.
Cheers,
Makis
thanks 3 users liked this useful post by Makistrain
Offline NZMarklinist  
#7 Posted : 27 January 2014 06:49:07(UTC)
NZMarklinist

New Zealand   
Joined: 15/03/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,757
Location: Auckland NZ
Originally Posted by: NZMarklinist Go to Quoted Post
A friend of mine here in Auckland recently replaced his large M Track layout with C Track. However he sold the old tracks very well and he has also been commissioned to sell M track for others.


edit;

I was with the said person yesterday as we drove out to an MRR exhibition put on by the GVR in Waiuku 62km South West of Auckland where our module group had a layout and we were to run a few trains, so I asked Warwick again about what he does to clean his old M Track and in fact the correct or latest answer is;

" Soak them with WD 40 for 4 or 5 days then clean them with White Spirits using a soft brass brush ! Then dry in the sun !"
Note "soft brass brush", apparently hard to come by these days ! He reckons the track bed comes up like new and of course the rails are clean. "



Personally as a youth I used vaselene petroleum jelly on my sliders to reduce wear, only the slightest amount applied sparingly with a finger and then lightly wiped off with a cloth, I believe helped keep my center studs rust free as well !!

Fore C & K track methylated spirits or Isopropel alcohol is the way top go for rails, I soak the pads of my Marklin track cleaning car in meths Wink Sanding is used by some for the center contacts but after that, they will always get a film of rust corrosion again. I will probably use very light applications of vaselene on my sliders again when I get my K & C Track layout operational Wink
Glen
Auckland NZ

" Every Marklin layout needs a V200, a Railbus and a Banana car", not to mention a few Black and red Steamers, oh and the odd Elok !

CS1 Reloaded, Touch Cab, C Track Modules, K track layout all under construction. Currently Insider
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by NZMarklinist
Offline Yumgui  
#8 Posted : 28 February 2015 21:16:19(UTC)
Yumgui

United States   
Joined: 20/03/2011(UTC)
Views messages in topic : 1,660
Location: Paris, France
Originally Posted by: Makistrain Go to Quoted Post
Yumgui:
Will report, and thanks for your very thorough and I fear somewhat labor intensive response.
Cheers,
Makis


Agreed about labor intensive, but no fear ... this is why I request a sticky somewhere. These questions forever always come back ^^

Y ;)
If your M track is rusted ... DON'T throw it out !
Working on: https://studiogang.com/projects/all
My heavy train station renovation: https://youtu.be/QQlyNiq416A
Inspired by: http://www.nakedmarklin.com/... Am not alone in this universe, phew.
Offline seatrains  
#9 Posted : 02 November 2020 07:48:40(UTC)
seatrains

United States   
Joined: 22/11/2006(UTC)
Posts: 669
Location: Shoreline, WA
I just ran a bunch of m-track through the dishwasher, normal cycle and no detergent and they came out great. I also dried each piece with a terry towel and blew any excess water off with a craft size (small) heat gun. Why didn't I do this years ago?
Thom
European Train Enthusiast - Pacific Northwest Chapter
4th Division, Pacific Northwest Region, National Model Railroaders Association
Offline Henrik Schütz  
#10 Posted : 04 November 2020 08:39:10(UTC)
Henrik Schütz

Sweden   
Joined: 04/08/2015(UTC)
Posts: 74
Location: Stockholms Lan, Stockholm
Originally Posted by: seatrains Go to Quoted Post
I just ran a bunch of m-track through the dishwasher, normal cycle and no detergent and they came out great. I also dried each piece with a terry towel and blew any excess water off with a craft size (small) heat gun. Why didn't I do this years ago?


I did the same some years ago, one of the pieces came out totally stripped from paint! The other nine clean and perfect.

All pieces came from different batches

Regards
Henrik Schütz
Offline sudibarba  
#11 Posted : 08 November 2020 02:06:29(UTC)
sudibarba

United States   
Joined: 28/07/2006(UTC)
Posts: 880
Location: Augusta, GA USA
Take a rag with Napt
ha ( lighter fluid) on it and wipe the tracks down.
I was told many years ago to clean all Marklin track and motors by Helmut Wilkness (I think that is the spelling).
It does a wonderful job of cleaning and is so easy. Helmut was one of the best Marklin guys in the USA until he passed.
Naptha can be bought by the gllon at Ace hardware.
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