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Is alcohol a good track-cleaning solvent?
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Offline Night Train  
#1 Posted : 08 August 2004 22:35:59(UTC)
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Night Train


Joined: 30/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 67
Location: ,
I am writing once again, because my father is concerned about my using 91% pure isopropyl alcohol to clean my C-track and M-track layout. I have a Centerline Products Marklin-compatible track cleaning car that I wet with a spray bottle of 91% pure rubbing alcohol to run behind an engine and in front of a set of cars to clean track and wheels on my trains. I admit, this works, but I'm worried about the rubber tires on the engines. Is this solvent going to do any damage to my rubber tires on the steamers and the ICE train I own? I use good-quality grade 91% isopropyl alcohol, because it is a clean solvent and it leave no residue on the track or wheels of the train to collect dust and dirt. I run the track cleaning car everytime I run my decapod-pulled freight train, because we live in the desert, and in Arizona, dust is a never-ending battle. Also, the alcohol cuts the grease and grime build-up on the track and wheels, and keeps my wheels and track literally, "squeaky-clean". I'm just wondering if the 91% isopropyl alcohol might do damage to my rubber tires. I also use 91% isopropyl alcohol for other cleaning duties like cleaning my old Super Nintendo video game system, and cleaning my computer mouse, computer keyboard, and television remote control mainly to kill germs and disinfect surfaces around my house. It is a very powerful cleaner, and since it is 91$ pure, it tends to be too strong for some plastics. It'll also eat the paint off my engines and cars on my Marklin layout if I am not extremely careful with it. So, please answer me back on if 91% ispropyl alcohol is the proper solvent to use to clean track and wheels on Marklin trains, and if not, suggest something that will not leave a residue behind. Thank you! Good-bye for now. Sincerely: Night Train Cool
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Offline justin182  
#2 Posted : 08 August 2004 23:26:44(UTC)
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justin182

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Joined: 02/10/2003(UTC)
Posts: 111
I don't see any problems as long as the cleaning car stays behind the engine. Even in a small oval the alcohol left on the tracks when the train passes the same point again will have evaporated. I would not use it to clean your locs with rubber traction tires though. It may degrade the rubber and cause problems for you.
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Offline tnx jake  
#3 Posted : 09 August 2004 00:08:32(UTC)
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tnx jake


Joined: 07/11/2002(UTC)
Posts: 388
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Night Train,

I also use the Centerline track cleaning cars. I have two of them. I use Ronson lighter fluid on the first car behind the engine and run the second dry to pick up the residue. Seems to work fine. However, I need not remind you that when using lighter fluid you should be in a well ventilated room and treat it as the flamible fluid that it is.

I have not used alcohol, so I cannot comment, but I would recommend the second Centerline car running dry to pick up the residue. You would be surprised what the handi-wipes on that car look like when finished.

Jack
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Offline HueyCE  
#4 Posted : 09 August 2004 02:17:28(UTC)
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HueyCE


Joined: 12/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 2,528
Location: Groton, Connecticut
You can use the alcohol to clean the track, but don't use it on the traction tires. Alcohol will dry out the rubber and cause it fall apart.
Building German Era I-II layout(Mk IIIc).UserPostedImage
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Offline jorge_vilarrubi  
#5 Posted : 09 August 2004 02:35:16(UTC)
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jorge_vilarrubi


Joined: 15/12/2003(UTC)
Posts: 655
Location: Buenos Aires,
Smoke fluid is an excellent track cleaner, according to my experience. Very good for wheels too.
Be cautious with sparks if you use lighter fluid or any other flammable substance, allow drying before running trains again.
Remember: rails and wheels are both components of a system, you should clean BOTH.
Regards,
Jorge Vilarrubí
Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
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Offline Webmaster  
#6 Posted : 09 August 2004 03:53:42(UTC)
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Webmaster


Joined: 25/07/2001(UTC)
Posts: 11,165
There are basically 2 kinds of solvents, as I recall from chemistry classes...

Polar and Non-Polar solvent. It has to do which kind of molecules of dirt the solvent has to dissolve...

Alcohol-based solvents clean up things that can be diluted with water, which includes some kinds of grease. It will not clean up some carbon-based residues that can only be cleaned with Non-polar (oil-based) solvents.

???

Just look at it this way:

Alcohol mixes with water, so it can mix with things that can be diluted also with water...

Oil does not mix with water, so it can mix with things that cannot be diluted with water, as carbon-based stuff...

When I do loco servicing, using oil-based solvents is mandatory if you want to clean out the carbon residues on rotors, sprockets and such, and alcohol is used to clean out the rest...

Since I always change the tires after cleaning loco wheels, I first give them a round with an oil-based solvent, and then a round with alcohol and finish off wiping them with a dry cloth or such... This gives excellent results...

When it comes to track, the same procedure could be applied as I see it, but that is of course a tedious way of doing it.

Lighter fluid (and also most commercial cleaning stuff like "Ajax", in your store) can do "both"... The great thing about lighter fluid is that it evaporates quickly and does not leave any residues on the track. A commercial cleaning agent usually needs a second round of plain water to remove the residues....

As mentioned earlier, rubber & alcohol does not go together so well, so when cleaning the tracks with alcohol you should have a felt pad car or something to wipe most of it off at the end of a "cleaning train" since alcohol evaporates rather slowly...

I am not certain about the effect on the C-track roadbed by alcohol, but since C-track "ages" and becomes more brittle for some reason - I do not exclude possible long-term deterioration issues of the C-track roadbed using alcohol...


But to cut it short - Yes, alcohol is a good track-cleaning solvent...wink
Juhan - "Webmaster", at your service...
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. [Old Chinese Proverb]
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Offline john black  
#7 Posted : 09 August 2004 10:28:29(UTC)
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john black

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Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by Webmaster
<br /> ... but since C-track "ages" and becomes more brittle for some reason ...


Very interesting, just learned something new. How about K-track aging ?

I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators.
AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only.
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Offline David Dewar  
#8 Posted : 09 August 2004 12:32:33(UTC)
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David Dewar

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Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
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Dont worry John I think my C track will be here long after me!!!
David
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer.
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Offline rschaffr  
#9 Posted : 09 August 2004 15:55:54(UTC)
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rschaffr

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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC)
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Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
Most of my K-track is over 20 years old and is still as good as new.
-Ron
Digital, Epoch IV-V(K-track/CS3/6021Connect/60216051), Epoch III(C-track/6021/6036/6051)
http://www.sem-co.com/~rschaffr/trains/trains.html
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Offline john black  
#10 Posted : 09 August 2004 16:22:44(UTC)
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john black

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Joined: 22/04/2004(UTC)
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Location: New York, NY
David, Ron - that's fine, many thanks, so we are safe Smile

I hope no one visits a poor Southener's layout in Brooklyn. Intruders beware of Gators.
AT&SF, D&RGW, T&P, SP, WP, UP, BN, NYC, ARR, epI-III - analog & digital Marklin Classics only.
CU#6021 FX-MOTOROLA DIGITAL SYSTEM. Fast as lightning and no trouble. What else ...
Outlaw Member of BIG JUHAN's OUTSIDER CLUB. With the most members, worldwide
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Offline Night Train  
#11 Posted : 10 August 2004 01:50:39(UTC)
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Night Train


Joined: 30/04/2003(UTC)
Posts: 67
Location: ,
Thank you very much for replying. Since I am a smoker ... cough, cough! I too have access to Ronsonol and Zippo lighter fluid, because I use a Zippo lighter to light my smokes with. I will try it, but the track cleaning car also comes with a small bottle of Goo Gone, and I wonder if that will work without the possible flammable side-effects of Ronsonol? Please reply if you can. Thank you! Sincerely: Night Train
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Offline rschaffr  
#12 Posted : 10 August 2004 02:00:26(UTC)
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rschaffr

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Joined: 03/01/2003(UTC)
Posts: 5,181
Location: Southern New Jersey, USA
I use GooGone on my tracks with my Centerline car. It does a pretty good job unless the tracks are really dirty. I usually run a "cleaning consist" of my Lux car to polish off the worst stuff then my Centerline to clean with solvent.

Don't make the mistake I made of PUSHING this consist. The Goo Gone acts as a great lubricant until it evaporates and I had no traction at all on my lok.
-Ron
Digital, Epoch IV-V(K-track/CS3/6021Connect/60216051), Epoch III(C-track/6021/6036/6051)
http://www.sem-co.com/~rschaffr/trains/trains.html
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Offline tnx jake  
#13 Posted : 10 August 2004 02:42:44(UTC)
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tnx jake


Joined: 07/11/2002(UTC)
Posts: 388
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Night Train,

I used Goo Gone before I used the lighter fluid. I think they are about equal in cleaning the tracks. I prefer the lighter fluid as it evaporates quickly where the Goo Gone takes a while.

Jack
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Offline steventrain  
#14 Posted : 17 July 2005 12:32:45(UTC)
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steventrain

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Joined: 21/10/2004(UTC)
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Location: United Kingdom
Quote:
[size=1" face="Verdana" id="quote]quote:Originally posted by David Dewar
<br />Dont worry John I think my C track will be here long after me!!!
David


So am Iwink.
Large Marklinist 3- Rails Layout with CS2/MS2/Boosters/C-track/favorites Electric class E03/BR103, E18/E118, E94, Crocodiles/Steam BR01, BR03, BR05, BR23, BR44, BR50, Big Boy.
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