From the DCC4Everyone list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DCC4EVERYONE/):
Re: DCC and Rail Cleaners
Posted by: "Hart Corbett" hwcorbett@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
hwcwsl
Fri May 23, 2008 9:14 pm (PDT)
However, I also have approached cleaning rails differently and it works
very
well:
Most people have used "Bright Boys" on their track at one time or another.
These leave fine scratches that ac***ulates dirt. The material in them is
a
crude form of cratex, a hard, rubberized material with abrasive in it. The
Bright Boys use a coarse abrasive and also harden over time.
I decided to look into cratex material further, so I went straight to the
Cratex Manufacturing Co., Inc., at:
http://www.cratex.com/rubindx.htm
This takes you directly to the "Rubberized Abrasives" section where the
properties of cratex are described. Read it, then click on "Blocks and
Sticks" to see what sort of flat sizes the stuff comes in. There are a
number to chose from. I bought one stick about a year ago -- 6" long by 2"
x
1". It's in "Extra Fine" grade [part no. 8804]. You'll have to ask the
Cratex company for prices, using the e-mail link on the page.
When I received the stick, I cut most of it into smaller sections, roughly
resembling the size of a typical Bright Boy. I used a radial saw with a
very
old blade. Be SURE to use an old one because when you're done, the blade
will be unusable and unsharpenable!
This stuff is FAR superior to anything like a Bright Boy! It gives a very
fine polish to the rails, much like using a liquid or gel metal polish
applied with a rag but without the mess. It also does not wear down
appreciably which is far different than a Bright Boy. If you want to clean
a
block after use, run it under warm water with a detergent powder applied
to
it. Rub the powder in with your fingers and then rinse. I use Boraxo
powdered hand cleaner for this.
Here's further info on the Cratex Co.:
Cratex Manufacturing Co., Inc.
328 Encinitas Blvd., Ste. 200
Encinitas, CA 92024-3723
USA
Phone numbers:
(800) 800-4077 and (760) 942-2877
Fax numbers:
(800) 788-0463 and (760) 942-4513
------------------------------------
Mark Mathu
Whitefish Bay, Wis.
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