Cleaning post-war train cars

I have made several posts regarding this. You will find many people have their own unique way of cleaning and repairing Lionel postwar and most if not all of these different ways work. I haven't started yet but from what I've been told, mineral spirits are good for cleaning the motors brush plates and brush wells that usually build up with grime. As for worm gears, and other intricate workings… I am at a loss. I have little to no idea about most cleanings/repairs. However it seems in your case only cars are in order for a cleaning. If I am reading correctly. I would take some white vinegar to take rust off of wheels. Or if it's easier, just buy new sets of trucks to replace the old ones. If the shell is dirty, then you could probably get some paint and patch up nicks and such.. Otherwise you might have to provide some pictures so we can see what your dealing with. Good luck.

For cleaning cars, I use windex and a micro fiber towel to wipe off most of the dirt, Then I use my Mineral Spirits, linseed oil, vinegar mixture with Q-tips, and another micro fiber towel. Cleans them up pretty well.

if your living alone with your dog or cat, I hear you can put the plastics in the dishwasher......

nope, my wife would pop a few rivets.... for real....

You better be careful cleaning painted train cars with chemicals. The writing on some cars and engines will wash off. White writing as well as red will come right off. I use a little water on a tooth brush, some times soap, and brush carefully, rinse off. As for rust, "evaporust" is the hot ticket now. No need to fuss with vinegar. Rust is gone, clean metal is left.

Rob

Miggy posted:

if your living alone with your dog or cat, I hear you can put the plastics in the dishwasher......

nope, my wife would pop a few rivets.... for real....

GAURANTEED melted plastic. Do NOT try this!

Rob

I use a soft bristle brush.  Preferably an old time shaving brush.  I mix some dish detergent 50/50 with water.  Get the trains wet and softly work the brush into the crevices and rinse.  Dirt and grease consume the detergent pretty quickly, so I repeat until the item can stay sudsy while I brush.  I wash them in the sink with running water available to do a quick rinse.   I shake them to knock off the excess water.  Then, I set them on the linoleum floor in front of a high speed fan.  Accessories and transformers the same way.   After they dry you will see places you missed and go for a second round.  Track goes in the dishwasher 

I use handy wipes for shells.   

50/50 mixture of Dawn dish detergent and make-up brush from the $ store is all I use.  A hair dryer does the rest.

CLICK HERE for a video about this very subject.

OGR Backshop Foreman Jim Barrett shows you how. The OGR On-Demand video is only 99 cents.

Be aware that some Lionel decorating will wash off with plain water.
If you post a list of the items you want to clean, perhaps folks can comment on your specific items.

An example: the decoration on many 1960's 027 boxcars, like the swifts premium one, has while lettering that will come off with just a gentle cleaning with soap.
You might make it through cleaning, but if you try to dry it with a towel, off comes the lettering!

Do a search on this forum, you'll never be able to read it all!

Are you looking at cleaning aluminum, plastic, plastic painted, diecast, motors, trucks, bakelite, the goop off of wheels? There are numerous materials through the postwar years, and as many ways to clean them.

For the most part I've used a soft toothbrush and dish detergent, tuner cleaner, & Qtips. I DID wash the paint right off a tanker once so be careful.

Ernie

On my older, painted Lionel cars I use cold cream and a soft cloth. Doesn't hurt decals or paint and removes dirt.

I use dish soap and a soft toothbrush. The paint will endure but I just do a lite brush across any lettering.

Jim 1939 posted:

I use dish soap and a soft toothbrush. The paint will endure but I just do a lite brush across any lettering.

This is all I ever use. Beware of glass cleaners. Many like Windex contain ammonia and with turn clear plastic (windows) yellow/haze.

Pete

oldrob posted:

Miggy posted:

if your living alone with your dog or cat, I hear you can put the plastics in the dishwasher......

nope, my wife would pop a few rivets.... for real....

GAURANTEED melted plastic. Do NOT try this!

Rob

I would never recommend the dishwasher, but you'll only get melted plastic if you use the heated drying cycle.  If you air dry, you won't melt any plastic.  OTOH, you will probably wash off any decals of possibly damage lettering, etc.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

oldrob posted:

Miggy posted:

if your living alone with your dog or cat, I hear you can put the plastics in the dishwasher......

nope, my wife would pop a few rivets.... for real....

GAURANTEED melted plastic. Do NOT try this!

Rob

I would never recommend the dishwasher, but you'll only get melted plastic if you use the heated drying cycle.  If you air dry, you won't melt any plastic.  OTOH, you will probably wash off any decals of possibly damage lettering, etc.

I agree with gunrunnerjohn; don't use the dishwasher as it will damage your trains!

Hand washing for trains with a soft bristle brush is what I think is the best solution and a mild dish soap.

Lee Fritz

THANK you! I should NOT have brought that up.. <salute>

thank yo

I agree with those who mentioned a mild dish washing soap.  Unless you want to restore these trains professionally, just do the best you can.  Remember, these trains are fifty to seventy years old.  As long as they are clean, that is what is important.   I recall buying at train meets forty or more years ago.  Quite a bit of them had come from homes or businesses where smoking was the norm.   As soon as I brought them in the house, my wife would comment on the odor.  

If it is the odor maybe using mothballs might work to cover the odor, put mothballs(2 or 3) in the car for about 12 hours only, more then 12 hours may leave a permanent smell of mothballs.

Lee Fritz