Thanks for the comments! I have heard mixed feedback on lubricants. One concern I heard is that the lubricants can affect traction tires. I have not tested so I can't confirm. I have tested with Wahl clipper oil. Our club use to use this back in the day. But you had to make sure to put almost an invisible layer on. If you get heavy, the oils could gum the track. I also know folks you put a little CunductaLube on the rails. I do love ConductaLube and use it in my loco maintenance.
I have found that alcool being a polar molecule, can form coke between the track and the wheels at the electric contact point, even if it evaporates completely before running train. Doing so , I had to clean my tracks and the wheels every two weeks. Now I use WD40; I know it is a lubricant, but it works very well, but hat a good conductivity , and is non polar liquid,. I have clean my tracks 2 months ago, and have no problem to run my trains. Just put a tiny drop on your clothe like alcool, and that s it. :)
WD40 is NOT a lubricant (despite manufacturers and users claims) its a WATER DISPLACEMENT (hence WD), made for Nuclear Missiles and other Aerospace items! It does very little to lubricate long term (got a squeaky door? - use WD-40, it'll be fine for about 2 weeks, then squeak again. Use some 3-in-1.). Also - make sure that you use 91% alcohol, not the cheaper 70'ish % stuff (it's cheaper, because it's got more water in it). And - I would REALLY like to see someone do a DCC conversion - especially on those tiny switcher engines... I know, you are analog, but I would love to go DCC someday.
Thanks for the comments! I have heard mixed feedback on lubricants. One concern I heard is that the lubricants can affect traction tires. I have not tested so I can't confirm. I have tested with Wahl clipper oil. Our club use to use this back in the day. But you had to make sure to put almost an invisible layer on. If you get heavy, the oils could gum the track. I also know folks you put a little CunductaLube on the rails. I do love ConductaLube and use it in my loco maintenance.
I have found that alcool being a polar molecule, can form coke between the track and the wheels at the electric contact point, even if it evaporates completely before running train. Doing so , I had to clean my tracks and the wheels every two weeks.
Now I use WD40; I know it is a lubricant, but it works very well, but hat a good conductivity , and is non polar liquid,. I have clean my tracks 2 months ago, and have no problem to run my trains. Just put a tiny drop on your clothe like alcool, and that s it. :)
WD40 is NOT a lubricant (despite manufacturers and users claims) its a WATER DISPLACEMENT (hence WD), made for Nuclear Missiles and other Aerospace items! It does very little to lubricate long term (got a squeaky door? - use WD-40, it'll be fine for about 2 weeks, then squeak again. Use some 3-in-1.). Also - make sure that you use 91% alcohol, not the cheaper 70'ish % stuff (it's cheaper, because it's got more water in it). And - I would REALLY like to see someone do a DCC conversion - especially on those tiny switcher engines... I know, you are analog, but I would love to go DCC someday.
let me ad that a very thin layer of lubricant is far better than oxydes for conductivity