Which reminds me, I have to start using that CMX Clean Machine that I bought over a year ago and still have not taken it out of the box. LOL Several forumites, in the past, have suggested using lacquer thinner. Any thoughts?
Rich
Rich, I use lacquer thinner using HO CMX Cleaning Pads 20-pack ( A corduroy upholstery fabric with backing ) for the CMX brass tanker ( clean machine ).
Some text from Tony’s about the pad.
Cleaning Pad Material: Tony’s Train Exchange has found all cloth type cleaning pads, supplied by hobby stores, to be inferior. Your best bet is a corduroy type of upholstery fabric with backing. This will not unravel and the ribs can be oriented perpendicular to rails to assist scrubbing action while minimizing pad loading.
Rest of the info page of cleaning cars at Tony’s:
http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/clean_machine.htm
Although you really do need a lot of ventilation when using the lacquer thinner. I have three large fans sucking and blowing out through a screen door to the outside. No headache here yet. [:D]
Lacquer thinner disintegrates the dirt/crud.
I’ve tried lacquer thinner once but it stinks very badly and tends to linger for a long time afterwards. Alcohol doesn’t smell near as bad and the smell is gone after 10 minutes or so. Both do a great job but I prefer the alcohol.