Does anyone have a great technique for removing dust from freight car roofs, hopper car innards, etc.?



Y es, light du st can be re moved with a soft brush. But what I'm talking about is what I'll call "permadust" -- the stuff that sticks even after brushing. A smooth roof presents no problem -- usually a damp cloth will do the trick. But most freight car roofs are not smooth, and the damp cloth or even a Q-Tip will still leave dust accumulations around the runningboards,  ribs, hatches, etc.



I'm sure someone will suggest just leaving it on as weathering, but in this case, it just doesn't look very convincing!



I'll welcome any help.



Regards,

Bob Chapman

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

This is along the lines of prevention rather than treatment, but I found that when I stopped smoking, the permadust problem went away. For me.

With that, I determined that if I ever had a "$10 million" layout, it would have a viewing area with appropriate ventilation for them as smoked. Of course, it would also have continuous air filtration for the whole layout, anyway.

Dust never sleeps! Though it does seem to lie down a lot.



Ed


Edward Sutorik

<<Does anyone have a great technique for removing dust from freight car
roofs, hopper car innards, etc.?>>

Bob,

Warm water, dish detergent, a tooth brush and a very gentle touch.

Don't immerse the cars, the water will find any and all paths to the
interior of the car.

Get them wet, use the soap and toothbrush to dislodge the crud and rinse.
Not any different than prepping a car for painting.

Daub the water off with a clean dry towel, then use a hair dryer to
evaporate any remaining water.

Purists may choke on this, but it works fine as long as the cars don't any
time immersed and you use that very gentle touch with the tooth brush.

In some cases, dis-assembly (removing trucks, etc.) might be appropriate.

Best regards,


Steve Haas
Snoqualmie, WA

Soft paint brush and shop vac.



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From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...] On Behalf Of chapbob611@...
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2012 1:52 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: [STMFC] Dust Removal from Roofs







Does anyone have a great technique for removing dust from freight car roofs, hopper car innards, etc.?

Y es, light du st can be re moved with a soft brush. But what I'm talking about is what I'll call "permadust" -- the stuff that sticks even after brushing. A smooth roof presents no problem -- usually a damp cloth will do the trick. But most freight car roofs are not smooth, and the damp cloth or even a Q-Tip will still leave dust accumulations around the runningboards, ribs, hatches, etc.

I'm sure someone will suggest just leaving it on as weathering, but in this case, it just doesn't look very convincing!

I'll welcome any help.

Regards,

Bob Chapman







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bob
this set of attachments fits any vacuum cleaner and includes a tiny brush attachment that I use; http://www.micromark.com/SearchResult.aspx?deptIdFilter=0&searchPhrase=vacuum+attachments . I also use a soft 1/2'' brush for any stubborn dust.


Scott Haycock

Does anyone have a great technique for removing dust from freight car roofs, hopper car innards, etc.?
Regards,
Bob Chapman

Have you tried air pressure? I use up to 100 psi to clean lots of things. Gradually increase the pressure from typical air brush pressure to that which will achieve the desired result without removing the running boards.

Gene Green

Also, have you tried one of those static dusters?
http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/static_dusters.htm?gclid=CJC1ld-3p7MCFUdxQgodOFcAqwas
an example...

On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 4:51 PM, Gene <bierglaeser@...> wrote:

**

Does anyone have a great technique for removing dust from freight car

roofs, hopper car innards, etc.?

Regards,
Bob Chapman

Have you tried air pressure? I use up to 100 psi to clean lots of things.
Gradually increase the pressure from typical air brush pressure to that
which will achieve the desired result without removing the running boards.

Gene Green

--
Jeff Shultz
Error: Pithy Saying Generator not installed

From: "Steve Haas" <Goatfisher2@...>
Subject: RE: [STMFC] Dust Removal from Roofs

Warm water, dish detergent, a tooth brush and a very gentle touch.
Get them wet, use the soap and toothbrush to dislodge the crud and rinse.

I use distilled water for the final rinse. Cuts down on water spots.

Steve Shaffer

--- In STMFC@..., "sshaffer" <sshaffer@...> wrote:

I use distilled water for the final rinse. Cuts down on water spots.

Steve Shaffer

I think there are a couple more model railroad uses for distilled water; thinning paints when water is the appropriate thinner, and soaking decals. The latter is especially true for those of us who live in bad water areas. As Steve Shaffer says, "Cuts down on water spots."

And, those with air conditioners have a ready source of free distilled water part of the year.

Gene Green