Cleaning track connectors with Coca Cola?

Zerogee said:
Going back to the original post, Henri - how well did your Coke experiment work on your track....?
It's been a couple of days, any improvement?

Jon.
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Whoops, missed this one!

After one night in the coke the ends were really clean! Although a 'reddish' shine was over the clean bits? You could rub them off with your fingers, but you cannot get inside the track connectors.

And the 60cm tracks are quite the challenge to keep upright in my cramped shed...

I'll have some testruns on the track to see how 'bad' the problem really is. This topic is to prepare for track laying, but maybe I'm over reacting in my preparation process...

Gotta get them power supply out of the attic and do some testing! Want to hear the Saintz and Elias!
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Yes, extended exposure to acid often leaves more "copper" than zinc on the surface... thus more reddish.
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So that would mean it was de-zincifying? I know in plumbing terms, for below ground use, brass fittings are no use as the zinc can leach out making the brass porous. Non-dezincifiable fittings (or ABS/MDPE) are used instead.
 
Off the coke and back to basics - I have been looking at my Aristo track which has been lifted for three years and is about to be re-laid.

Where I cleaned the rail ends with white vinegar (any mild acid will do) and the fishplates (and you don't need to leave it overnight; just brush it on) the track ends are still quite bright. It's actually the fishplates that oxidize more noticeably.

So, I think, provided you are using screwed fishplates (I like um) and you clean the rail and fishplate with mild acid, then there is not much need for conductive grease.
 
Actually, the really clean metal will oxidize quickly. Any grease or oil that stays put will help, and after cleaning is the best time.

Also the Aristo joiners are the WORST for conductivity, only clamp to the side the screw heads are on, do not fit tightly to the rail at the foot, and there is very little contact between the hex socket screw head and the oval slot on the joiner.

(I have Aristo track, I know this for sure)

Greg
 
you lot are forever entertaining for sure :)
 
Gizzy said:
Tomato Ketchup.

Or HP sauce, which is now no longer made in the UK, but in the Nederlands!

Works the same way as Cola, but is thicker and easier to apply....
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Yeah but not so nice with a few rocks of ice, lime and sa good dash rum....
 
David1226 said:
You would not want to get any of that mixed up. I had a mouth ulcer a while back and the Chemist recommended Anbesol. I said 'Blimey, you wouldn't want to get that mixed up with Anusol.... all your gums would shrink.....'

David
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Exactly- just as you learn by experience- never keep the deep-heat and anusol in the same bathroom drawer !
 
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