Cleaning Rails/Waxing Rails

[Dianna Kihs]

I would like to no how everyone cleans the rails and if anyone waxes them? I watched a Jamie Walden video and waxes the rails.

[RunningThreads]

Dianna

I think most of us just wipe our rails with a piece of batting every day or so.  I think waxing helped the old wheels glide a bit (not needed with M&M's) but it didn't really seem to slow down the oxidation IMO.

 

Nigel

[Mattie-Sue]

I was wondering the same thing.  I hope someone will have some info on this.

[ffq-lar]

APQS no longer recommends waxing the rails. Wipe them down to get off any oxidation and clean the wheels if needed, and you're good to go. You can use alcohol on the rails but not on the wheels. The alcohol can shorten the life of the wheels. I use plain batting or a paper towel on my M&Ms. The oxidation doesn't stick on the wheels and easily flakes off with a bit of pressure from the batting.

[Mattie-Sue]

Thanks Linda.  I have been using alcohol on my M&Ms so that will change.  I have used silver polish on the rails.  Is this a bad idea.?  Alcohol just didn't seem to do enough.  Maybe if I use batting instead of a soft cloth it would work better.  Thanks again.

[Dianna Kihs]

thanks Linda, for answering my question. Will clean the rails with alcohol and use the batting on the wheels.

[cegates]

It may be my imagination, but polyester batting seems to do a better job of cleaning the rails and wheels than cotton or cotton/poly blend.

 

Carol