I was wandering what techniques we all use to dust our layouts. I use a small shop vac type unit and a compressed air can (like for computers). Its kinda teddious, but effective.
I have been thinking about building like a temporary cover out of a screen door frame covered with a sheet to place over the layout when not in use, but I have visions of droping it upon removal. (Dusting seems easier than rebuilding hurricane damage).
You’re thoughts, as always, are welcomed.
Well there is no way to do this process without it being “tedious”. For cleaning water areas I would suggest using a small damp cloth, Qtips work really really well to get into tight areas. Another way to deal with the water area is to first brush off the water with a small brush (this will reveal small debris that you were not able to get to before), then take a vacume to it to pick up all the excess stuff. You can use the same process for ropad as well. If it has to do with lichen or ground cover the best option I have found is just to paint over it again. If worse come to worse and you have mildew in your lichen, put new lichen in.
If you’re an airbrush guy, try using the air compressor to blow dirt off of things. I use a general-purpose Campbell-Hausfeld compressor with no fitting on the end to make the dust dance, though when pointing it at one’s layout I’d recommend a relatively low pressure setting–airbrush power (25-30 psi) should be enough…no use sending the scenery flying unless one wishes to model a tornado scene!
a LITTLE HUMOR. Build your layout in a cleanroom and install high security locks.
But, that is not possible so best thing to do is have a mini-vac and goo-gone . Of course the goo-gone being for the rails,it is gentle and does not scratch. Some scenes actually look good covered in dust(halloween) . I try to keep all the pets and foriegn things out of my space. I am even going to replace the ceiling material in the trainroom. I usually try to plan my cleaning and make time for it,so I can concentrate on it.
I call it weathering. [:D]
Mrs. Mac
I don’t have to dust my layout, nature seems to provide all the dust my layout needs!!
Dana
On the current, first layout, it’s drape the table (3.5 x 10 ft) w/very old, ie worn thin 7 light sheet material when not active. Otherwise, vac the track & open areas w/the dust (what else) brush, squirt the air bottle at the details…be sure the light stuff is glued in place.
For the NEXT layout, I’m shopping for a house to provide the space I want. Working first from that end I, second, contemplate isolating the train world part and adding electrostatic precip filters to the presummed forced hot air supply to said train area.
I’m seriously considering using a framed cover to protect my 4x8’ layout from both dust and physical damage. But Allan’s comment about Hurricane damage reminds me that it should be made from light weight materials and fixed to the frame work to prevent it from causing a federal disaster area itself.
Cleaning dust? I paint, chalk, and rub to make my stuff look dirty, heaven forbid it would really be dirty!!! Just mix up some wet glue and stick the dust down. Problem solved. Or run your trains really fast to blow the dust off. Rent a big fire department type drying fan and play hurricane. Turn some dust mites loose and let them eat it. Buy an electro-static air cleaner and hook it to you layout so it replels dust. Turn you layout upside down and hit it with a rubber hammer. Put it in the back of your pickup and run it through the Robo-wash. Change your furnace filter more than once every three years, or put one in? Set it on fire and let the fire department wash it for you. Invite your mother over to look at it and complain about your wife’s houskeeping. Tell you wife you are going to invite your mother over to look at the dirt on it. Pretend a comet (or nuke) landed ON China (or Iraq) and it’s fallout. Mount Saint Helens? Cover the dust with white powder and it’s Christmas or a train from Columbia derailed. I mean do anything to avoid doing anything that could resemble housework. Geeze. FRED
The best solution I have seen applies to preventative measures. Hopefully your layout is in a separate room. Put in a door seal and sweep. This will help filter out house bound dusts. Any heating/AC ducts coming in? I put a filter right at the grill. Keeps the furnace fan from blowing in stuff. If you can afford it, they made electro-static filters now…they are great!
As to taking off them off the layout itself. lite airpressure from an aircompressor, a very soft brissle brush, and paper towel with rubbing alcohol works too. You want to really soft things so you don’t scratch paint jobs. I don’t like the vacuum idea as you always can bump a detail off and then it gets sucked up.
Holry
Jason
I use to use a Dustbuster until it bit the dust! Not a lot of power, and easy to dump
out if something did go klink, klink. FDM
Now I use a shop vac and crevice tool. I hold my hand at the end to keep it up off the layout and buildings in trying to avoid the Wizard of Oz funnel effect.
I have two items that I use, usually when the fingerprints are noticeable in the dust.
First, a shaving brush. This became redundant when i gave up shaving. It has nice, soft bristles.
Second, a mini-vacuum attachment, I think by Shop-Vac. It has a part to reduce the diameter from 1.25" (approx.) to 3/8" (approx) plus a bunch of ends. If I’m just dusting, I put a piece of window screen in the large end to catch any loose parts that get sucked up.
I use the hose attachment on my DirtDevil vacuum with a stocking tighly fitted on the end to suck up dust but not details. I hover the tube a few inches off the layout surface. When the stocking filter is packed with debris, I rub it off into a bowl of water so it can’t get air borne. I do this until the entire layout, then alcohol clean the rails with q-tips.
I use the house central vacuum with a “mini-attachment” kit that people use for cleaning sewing machines, computers etc. It gives you a kit that fits all vacuums, has very small crevice & bru***ools. Tedious, yes. Safer & more controllable than large vacuum tools.
Raven1,
It says you joinedalmost a year ago, and that this is you first post. Wow. You picked my thread. My first virgin.
Thanks for the help (all).