I need some suggestions for cleaning a large amount of metal wheelsets I picked up on Ebay. They seem to be in great condition for the most part. Some dirt and grime. Is there something I can dip them in…or am I going to be cleaning them until I’m 80??? I normally use goo gone on installed wheelsets. Is this recommended?
Fnd a friend with an ultrasonic cleaner, dump em in go for broke.
I use the home dishwasher. I have a small mesh bag with a zipper on it that hangs in the dishwasher - cleans them up great. Be careful about plastic axles…
Jim
Yep!, Ulrtasonic Cleaner with 90% rubbing alcohol. I got mine locally on sale for $30.
Oh! almost forgot to mention, Goo Gone can leave a residue unless you rinse them in warm soapy water then in clear water.
I think I would combine the methods listed – soak them in something like Goo Gone or Simple Green. Then run them thru the dishwasher and see if that works. If you have plastic axles, either dry them on low heat or keep them in the top rack – they should be ok.
Hope that helps. Sorry I can’t speak from experience.
I got 40 set’s for $5.00 The seller was a bit mad. I didn’t get them for 3 weeks. But he threw in some extra sets.
I always forget to check Harbor Frieght for stuff. Good price… And my wife can use it when I’m not.
I knew it left a residue…can you suggest something else? Alcohol alone doesn’t seem to remove everything unless I scrub it with a tooth brush for a bit. 
Call me lazy but if you have a lot of wheelsets to clean. 
I do not use any liquids at all. The fiber brush wheel for a dremel works very well. Just hold the wheels against the fiber and let them slowly spin in your fingers.
BB
The sonic cleaner does the scrubbing, but you can still use Goo Gone. Just give them a bath in warm soapy water in the sonic cleaner, then rinse with clear water.
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I always forget to check Harbor Frieght for stuff. Good price… And my wife can use it when I’m not.
I knew it left a residue…can you suggest something else? Alcohol alone doesn’t seem to remove everything unless I scrub it with a tooth brush for a bit. Call me lazy but if you have a lot of wheelsets to clean.
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Yep, my wife uses mine to clean jewelry.
Why not saturate a paper towel with alchohol or another cleaner & place it on some track. ? Roll ur cars back & forth until wheels are clean .
My wife just loves when she opens the dishwasher to find one of my experiments inside. [:o)]
I just remind her: For better or worse. [:D]
Bergie
jflessne
I don’t know how much experience you have with wheel sets, but check the axle length of the wheel sets you’re replacing. Be sure the new ones are not too short, too long or the shape of the point is different.
Check out Question #10 on the Hints, Techniques and Answers section of the Railway Engineering web site.
I reload bullets as another hobby. What also would work would be using fine media(ground corn cob husks and crushed walnut shells) which is abrasive enough to clean the junk off and will poli***he wheels. This can be used in a rock polisher or even in a vibratory brass cleaner. All suggestions I’ve seen would work well. Best thing is to see what you have without having to spend money when you dont have too.
Mad, LOL I would be out right [censored] off! Doh… guess next time he will use the reserve. Good score on your part though.
Model train parts cant be that bad in the dish washer…its not like you are cooking fish in there…[;)] he he he he
try your local jewler. if your a good customer they might put the wheels in their sonic cleaner, then they blast them with a little steam. works for my wifes rings. of course, it can get expensive if you significant other comes along!