Christmas Question - Dealing with Tree Sap

In my 20 & 1/2 years on this earth, with nearly all of them involving a train running around a live tree, I've NEVER had an issue with sap. The only sap I touch is when I grab the trunk of the tree to move it in/out of the house at the beginning/end of the season but I generally put on some work gloves to do that. 

Needles become a bit of an issue as time goes on, and having 2 dogs, puts some dog hair on the tracks, trains, and layout. With a VERY simple layout that can really be disassembled and reassembled in about 30 minutes, just about every other day I take the entire thing (scenery, trains, track) up, thoroughly vacuum, clean everything, and put it all back together and we are set. 

"I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap. "

          --Rodney Dangerfield

While growing up, my family did the cut tree thing for 20 years, and pretty much had the same experience as SJC.  No sap issues, but the needles would eventually become a pain.

Andy

FWIW, if you get pine sap onto clothing, Isopropyl Alcohol will take it out.  We were doing some serious "logging" after Sandy and had pine sap all over our jackets and pants.  I managed to get it all out using alcohol, then we just tossed them in the wash.

Might depend on the type of tree to some extent.

I recall having issues with sap to some extent growing up (we normally bought Balsam firs), but I have not had any to the extent where it drips since being out on my own (but I have also had a Frasier fir most years).  I've seen sap on some trees to the extent where it does ooze a little from the branch tips, but it's not always prevalent, and it's more of an issue with getting it on arm hairs and clothing while doing the tree than worrying about it dripping down by itself later.

Out of just being cautious, I try not to park trains directly under branches, and for my outer loop, the track probably doesn't even go under any branches.

-Dave

OK.  I have only had a couple of trees where we actually cut them down ourselves.  Sap did weep then but it wasn't an issue because the only thing under the tree were the wrapped presents and the tree skirt.  I don't remember whether things came out in the wash or not.

I am hearing that either the stuff won't likely be a problem or will clean up with isopropyl alcohol.  Will that hurt the plastic or paint on trains?  I assume ceramic buildings aren't likely to be an issue.

Like they say, iso alcohol brings it off of hands and all when you get it on them - at least it has for me in the past.  I would assume you could use if on locos and rolling stock, too, but frankly it has never been a problem for me.

Isopropyl definitely can take paint off of trains.  I was experimenting (read that as I was learning that I really don't have the proper skills ) with trying to take the lettering off of a caboose to possibly re-letter it, and Iso took off the letters and also the paint, and probably softened the plastic a bit too  (no warping, but I definitely think I "smoothed" some of the wood grain that was originally molded to the body). 

My experiment may have been biased in that I was specifically trying to get the lettering off, so I did not do a bunch of smaller swipes with the ISO to see what would happen.  It's possible it might dissolve sap before paint.

I only mention this because if you did get sap on something, using something like ISO could make it worse.

Just get a simple aluminum pole.   Festivus for the rest of us.

If you are going to put up a cut tree the sap can be a problem for hands and clothing but as far as the trains go we never had a problem with it.

But, water can be an issue. Don't forget to cut the base of your trunk off about three inches. The tree lot will do this for you but make sure when you chose the tree you factor in height off the floor for your trains. This 3 in cut off will help keep your tree fresh through the week or two that it is up.

Water the tree every day, it should drink alot of water the first day or so, but check it every day.

Oh yea, electric trains hate water so be careful.

Have fun and a very happy and safe Holiday season.

hello guys and gals...........

An FAKE tree would have been a better choice for this reason and less messy to deal with. 

the woman who loves the S.F.#5011

Tiffany

Park your train in a train shed at the end of a run. Just like parking your car in a garage to keep it clean.

I ran trains beneath live trees for many years and never had a problem (aside from fallen needles, which weren't really much of a problem).

In recent years I have only had artificial Christmas trees...some so real looking that you can't tell the difference without actually touching them.  Still I do miss the smell of a live tree.

Blasphemy! 

The thing I am always more conscious about with the bottom is making sure the tree will fit properly in the stand once the bottom is cut.  For that reason, I have a small piece of paper I take with me that has 2 dimensions marked on it: 1) the diameter of the ring (to make sure the trunk will fit the stand) and 2) the depth of the stand when assembled (bottom of bowl to top of ring).  If a tree doesn't have enough trunk to touch the bottom of the bowl(without cutting off bottom branches) once the stump has some cut off, it stays on the lot (though I don't do 3" like Mario, I generally use 1" as a minimum).  I don't ever let the lot folks cut the bottom, I do it at home right before putting in the stand. (partially because of the precision of item #2 above in some cases)

Agree with the watering reminders.  I have found the "tree fountain" by Molor products to be a very good help.  Lets you use a larger container (2L soda bottle for standard model, or for their "Santa Fountain" I think it's a gallon) with a piece of tubing to auto water the tree as it needs it.  Does take a bit of skill to flip over the bottle quickly so as to not spill too much.

-Dave

YUP. 

However, we do have an artificial tree that we can put up instead.  This is just the first year where we won't be gone for a several day stretch.  Since someone will be there to give the daily water, we were considering the option.

Me too, Allan.  Me too. 

I like this.  If I manage the layout I'm thinking of, I can leave the train in the tunnel.  Great suggestion!

Everyone:

I do appreciate all the advice.  I'm leaning towards a live tree now.  Merry Christmas!