Wouldn't the oil collect dust?

 Oil on the track will attract dirt, which will get deposited on the wheels.

Trains need clean, dirt and oil-free track for traction.

Keep the track, wheels and pickup rollers free of oil. This has been done for over 100 years and trains run best that way.

Larry

Thanks guys for your input.. and I completely agree with you ..BUT some out their have been using it and swear by it ..

I'm looking for "Operating layouts that are using it and sharing their experiences...

thanks ...daniel

Since you apparently don't believe the posts above, try it and see for yourself.   I personally don't oil my tracks, it seems pretty obvious to me.

Timely subject as I am about to embark on my once per year track cleaning effort..which is a year overdue. 

Using Wahl Clipper Oil is an old model railroaders trick...and I have used it with good results on all 3-rails. In the past however, I've always used it after cleaning track with denatured alcohol...it is very light machine oil and seems to evaporate within a day or two...BUT I've since learned that using alcohol first is not appropriate due to the polar vs. non-polar characteristics of grime, etc., and it actually escerabates grime build-up. Big Jim posted an informative article about all this but I don't know where it is.

So, this year I will be conducting an experiment and just using the clipper oil...assuming I can get it done before Christmas I will post my findings...assuming this thread doesn't get lost amid the myriad threads that saturate the OGR boards.

Thanks Paul for  sharing your experience using 

Wahl Hair Clipper Blade Oil

daniel

Even with clean rails I've had arcing issues (all brands of trains).  Some rollers seem to be low quality sintered metal. You can use CRC 2-26 on the rollers and pin and Also on the Center rail to cut down on arcs.

This would make a good article. Someone should set up a simple oval somewhere, other than a layout, and just try the Wahl Oil and the CRC 2-26 on it just to see what happens. I have never tried it, but I suspect the Wahl Oil would make the track slippery.

Our club used the Wahl Clipper Oil each set up of our modular layout (HO).  After the layout sat dormant between set-ups, we put just a dab on the rails in front of an engine.  The first time around might require a bit of help, but you could see the improvement each subsequent lap.  By the fourth or fifth lap, the engine was running smoothly and easily.  The oil had NO deleterious effect on tractive effort.

palallin posted:

 The oil had NO deleterious effect on tractive effort.

Six months later everyone was replacing traction tires.

SPSF posted:

Even with clean rails I've had arcing issues (all brands of trains).  Some rollers seem to be low quality sintered metal. You can use CRC 2-26 on the rollers and pin and Also on the Center rail to cut down on arcs.

I don't recall  ever seeing an after market roller pickup to replace lower grade metal electrical roller pickups. How would you know if it is lower grade? I have experienced arcing in HO numerous times but the wheels would account for that.

It would seem like a good upgrade if there were "low arc" rollers for sale.

After a through cleaning of track. apply CRC 2-26 with a cloth to all three rails.  Your track will stay clean much, much, longer,  your conductivity improves, and you will have no arching... You will notice locomotive improvements on any dead spots frog points.  IN ANY CASE' DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF OIL ON YOUR TRACKS.  The clipper oil is great for lubricating wheel sets , gears and couplers .......

The article was very informative. It said the cr2-26 was good,better than others but it is only semi-polar. There were more things in the non-polar category that worked better.

Had to delete a couple of posts / attachments here because of copyright problems.  Remember guys...always get permission from the owner, author, publisher if you are taking excerpts from published articles!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Since you apparently don't believe the posts above, try it and see for yourself.   I personally don't oil my tracks, it seems pretty obvious to me.

I did order that's why I'm asking ... I should of asked this first I have a trolley line . that the center pickup  roller  sparks a little..  not the whole way  down ..but no matter how much I clean the rails and roller. its still their..

That's when I searched here first with little response to the wahl  oil. and found on the net some positive written info..

I figure if this helps get rid of those sparks it would help the newer TMCC, etc  units ...

I'm not a expert repair electronic board guy ....But my understanding is ANY sparks near them will ruin them .

And if indeed this will help  maybe our electronic board won't burn out . Or maybe  that might be the reason they do..

daniel

Anybody try Zap Rail-Zip? I used it on my Real Trax carpet layout in Florida 19 years ago. It was effective, but I would have to apply it frequently. Then, I moved to NH and set up the same track on a plywood bench layout. Up here, a dry cloth was all I needed to clean the track.

Paul Kallus posted:

 Big Jim posted an informative article about all this but I don't know where it is.

This very interesting article was published in the Model Railroad Hobbyist/May 2019, under the "Publisher's Musings" column. This is an online publication. 
It seems things have changed since May, so, if you are interested in reading the articles in back issues, it appears that you will have to subscribe to the magazine, which just happens to be FREE.

My post was "Cleaning Track...yes again"
Get out of it what you will.

The research behind that article was in desperate need of peer review. It’s best taken as opinion based on some facts, but without the proper control-tested data to support its conclusions.

I have used denatured alcohol for more than 30 years in both N scale (where clean track is absolutely essential) and in O gauge. It cuts through the grime instantly and, with a lint-free cloth removes it instantly, then dries within seconds. Let’s just say I found nothing better.

I have also tried Rail Zip, which was essentially much like Wahl clipper oil, on my N scale layout and got a grimy mess within a couple of weeks that counteracted any benefit in terms of electrical conductivity.

In O gauge, I have used Goo Gone on occasion. It also works well, but it does require the extra step of removing the residue after application.

These are my experiences, which others have shared, but it still comes down to choice and opinion.

Jim R. posted:

I have used denatured alcohol for more than 30 years in both N scale (where clean track is absolutely essential) and in O gauge. It cuts through the grime instantly and, with a lint-free cloth removes it instantly, then dries within seconds. Let’s just say I found nothing better.

 

This is exactly what I've been doing since 1983, except that I use a folded paper towel instead of a cloth.

A lot of overthinking in this thread, IMHO

Well since I started this thread I got my bottle in the mail today.. I cut a small 1inch by 2 inch terry   cloth  rag and added three little drops on it.. I used my three fingers  to go over the whole layout ..  never reloaded the  cloth ..The oil has no smell and on your fingers it does not feel greasy  or slippery..probably because  i did not put on much..

so far the cloth showed  some residue (even though the track was clean ) 

I read that site about how and why this will work .. they mention what I think is wait  it should evaporate

So sorry to keep you hanging ..  I'm not going to run any trains til tonight...But I ll let you know tomorrow how it worked...daniel

I got some 3-in-1 oil like that on the rails of an HO Christmas layout I had years ago, and wow what a mess.  The steamers I had at the time would barely pull any cars on the flat!  I spent hours cleaning all the track and wheels. Oil and rails don't mix IMHO.

palallin posted:

Our club used the Wahl Clipper Oil each set up of our modular layout (HO).  After the layout sat dormant between set-ups, we put just a dab on the rails in front of an engine.  The first time around might require a bit of help, but you could see the improvement each subsequent lap.  By the fourth or fifth lap, the engine was running smoothly and easily.  The oil had NO deleterious effect on tractive effort.

 

 

Same results here on both my club's and my own N-scale layouts.

Lionelski posted:

Jim R. posted:

I have used denatured alcohol for more than 30 years in both N scale (where clean track is absolutely essential) and in O gauge. It cuts through the grime instantly and, with a lint-free cloth removes it instantly, then dries within seconds. Let’s just say I found nothing better.

 

This is exactly what I've been doing since 1983, except that I use a folded paper towel instead of a cloth.

A lot of overthinking in this thread, IMHO

Seems like the paper towels always get caught in a couple of areas where track sections meet and causes "lint" to release, so I've used a lint-free cloth for years now, but I'm considering trying the denatured alcohol with some of the new micro-fiber cloths that are out there to see if the "cleaning action" is any better.

Wondering if anyone has tried micro-fiber cloths with denatured or isopropyl alcohol ?

I learned from experience on our layout, equipped with both MTH DCS and Lionel Legacy/TMCC, that virtually ANY contaminant applied to the tops of the 3 rails, negatively affected the DCS. Thus, I always cleaned all the rail tops with Denatured Alcohol. I used cotton "Shop Rag" wrapped around a short piece of 1"X2" pine, moistened with the fluid. Never had any more problems, i.e. keeping the rails clean. 

I've had my layout up for about 10 years. I think I've cleaned the track once in that time. TMCC/DCS work fine and no electrical issues. As long as the track isn't rusty and conducts electricity I wouldn't worry about it .

Sounds like some drown their track with an oil containing product. What’s suggested is just an impossible to see or feel hint of oil. Just to fill the microscopic holes. I had a friend who found that WD40 worked really well on his N gauge so that months went by instead of weeks between cleanings. He used it very sparingly...

Richie C. posted:

Lionelski posted:

Jim R. posted:

I have used denatured alcohol for more than 30 years in both N scale (where clean track is absolutely essential) and in O gauge. It cuts through the grime instantly and, with a lint-free cloth removes it instantly, then dries within seconds. Let’s just say I found nothing better.

 

This is exactly what I've been doing since 1983, except that I use a folded paper towel instead of a cloth.

A lot of overthinking in this thread, IMHO

Seems like the paper towels always get caught in a couple of areas where track sections meet and causes "lint" to release, so I've used a lint-free cloth for years now, but I'm considering trying the denatured alcohol with some of the new micro-fiber cloths that are out there to see if the "cleaning action" is any better.

Wondering if anyone has tried micro-fiber cloths with denatured or isopropyl alcohol ?

The rag gets so black, it seems like old white socks that you can use and toss are ideal for the job.

I use old towels, socks, and underwear for rags, no reason to spend money for rags when there so much free stuff available.

Have never used oil on our old 2 loop track layout nor cleaner but just a rag or a old cotton sock but i do it often.

Some old pre and post war engines rollers when sitting on shelf a good while do spark then stop after a few runs around the MTH dcs engines do not spark that i have noticed.

 Yesterday I wrote..... ".But I ll let you know tomorrow how it worked...daniel "

  First I want to say I am not a paid spokesman nor have any financial gain  reviewing this product..

   So here"s what happened  ..   I have a  DZ stuff trolley  1220 board.So when  I  first power the layout the trolley or gang car I have started.. It goes through its start up then works.. Well what happened was very interesting, I had to power down the transformer because the speed  was far faster than it ever was ..

Next was to start the two  engines .  the postwar GP (modified gear ratio) an the Milwaukee road  TMCC.What I can tell you is its not how much faster it might of went ( I  do not run my trains fast) BUT how much SLOWER I could run them.. and  to me the train with all the cars  ran evan around the curves they seemed  to flow the same  way as if they where on the straights..

After @ 1/2 hour running them I  wanted to see how much grime was on the rails I used my terry cloth towel and took off so much black grime..

I shut the lights and saw NO sparks on my trolley center pickup . But on my gang car  it did help but I notice the center pickup still had some smaller contact  sparks.

So you know I used in the past  isopropyl alcohol., goo gone.. and a green scotch pad.. followed by a clean terry cloth, the track was just cleaned before I added the Wahl oil  And as a note every time I cleaned it this way I ran a rag  dry rag over the track to confirm it was clean and it showed Clean.. ( I will tell you every time I cleaned my track IT showed it was black with the above products and to me was  working)..But.....

If you remember, Gary the guy that sold me the postwar gp reduction gear truck.  I called him and he said its because I  use the oldschool lionel  Metal tubular track . that the reason it  is working plus my track was used buying form trainman  (from this site) 

He knows very well of the benefit using it on this type of track He went on to say (but this is another topic!) that  graphite is evan better!

SO as mentioned I will continue to use this until I see NO more black all my engines will be wiped down with  wahls oil

But as mentioned I will go over everything  with a semi wet wahl cloth and then re go over everything with a dry terry cloth..Nothing will ever be loaded up .

This morning when I checked the track  by sliding my fingers over the rails nothing felt oily . daniel

One last thing if you figure how much wahl fluid  I used,it would be the same as a lionel smoke bottle eye dropper tube  @ 1/2 ways SO this bottle will out live me ... I  have 14 022 switches and two operating  trains plus the trolley line the layout is @16foot by 14 foot L shape  layout  lots of tack and curves  on it.. (too many  to remember  but a lot)

Here is what the big guys are doing to keep their track clean.

The Long Island Rail Road has had problems in the Fall with train wheels slipping on wet leaf covered rails. This slippage  causes wheel flat spots resulting in shortened trains as these cars were taken off line for wheel replacement/trueing.

A new laser car is solving this problem. According to an article in today's Newsday "It uses a high powered laser to incinerate slimy leaf residue that accumulates on the rails."

Who will produce a working model of this car? Lionel? MTH? Menards? One of you guys? 

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I use old towels, socks, and underwear for rags, no reason to spend money for rags when there so much free stuff available.

Could also buy cheap white towel from the Dollar Store and make squares to wrap around a 3 by 5 pine 1 inch board. Very professional looking.

Track cleaning is overrated. As long as there is no rust and no arcing, I leave my tracks alone.

My standard gauge, due to the weight of my 400E and 408E, is very forgiving to less than clean track!

And with my LGB, the slider contacts clean the rails continuously. NO muss, NO fuss!  ☺