Hey everyone,
I have been looking into the GLEAM method and it seemed like a good idea. However, I notice a lot of the posts are relatively old. I am wondering if you have to re-GLEAM it after a while and if it is realy worth all the time and elbow grease I would have to put into it.
Thanks,
sfb
I think the consensus, among the relatively few members here who have actually gone to the trouble to try it, even on a small section of track, is that it does work, it is durable, and that usually wiping the rails with alcohol or lacquer thinner cleans up any obvious discolouration due to organic crud from sparks. I’ll let those who have done it speak for themselves, but I can’t recall anyone posting that they had to redo the process after a year or two. But I have read posts from people exasperated from having to clean their rails every week claiming that they have gone over a year in the same circumstances, but only after gleaming.
Crandell
I GLEAMed my layout in 2006 and haven’t had to redo it yet. However once I get my new track locked down I’ll have to GLEAM the new track. Not a big deal.
Does it still run just as well as it did when you first did it? Sorry if I seem sceptical; I don’t have a lot of time or budget for my layout right now. Also, what would be best for clearing dust off of the track if I GLEAM it?
If all it is is dust, then a clean dry rag turned occasionally. Once gleamed, it is best not to compromise the surface rendered by the final stage.
As was said, a clean dry rag would be sufficient. My trains run just as well now as they did 4 years ago. In the event that something like plaster dust was spilled on the track simply vacuum the plaster dust up then clean the track with the rag. Under no circumstances use anything abrasive. That means no sandpaper, no bright boy, etc. For problem areas where something that’s stubborn to come off use 90% alcohol on a clean rag to scrub the area then dry with a clean dry rag.
I used the GLEAM process a few years ago and have not had to redo the process. As the others have said, once the process is done do not use any abrasive items to clean the track. I use electrical contact cleaner sprayed on a rag to wipe the track. My layout is in the garage and it does require a regular maintenance schedule to keep everything clean. I have seen a dramatic reduction in the amount of cleaning required between operating sessions since I Gleamed the tracks. If you have the time and are experiencing poor operating conditions due to dirty track I highly recommend the process. It does not cost much just a lot of elbow grease and care not to damage any scenery. Gleaming the track does not mean that you will never have to clean the track, hopefully just a lot less times a year.
Tom
I first used the GLEAM process about four years ago, on some Atlas Code 100 flex that has since been lifted and re-laid - without being re-gleamed. Other than an occasional quick lick and a promise with a dry paper towel, and an infrequent vacuuming, that track has been trouble free.
Likewise, I’ve gleamed all of my more recently laid trackwork right after the drops and jumpers were soldered and the joints cleaned up. Even after a few extended periods of non-use I haven’t done any kind of detailed cleaning. When I posted that I run my wedge plow to clear the tracks of accumulated foam shavings I wasn’t being entirely facetious. I also run a ‘magnet car’ (steel-bodied machinery flat with Kadee magnets stuck to the underside) to police up loose spikes and such after working on hand-laid specialwork. Other than initial gleaming of new work, my track cleaning time is measured in minutes a month.
No, I don’t have my layout in a NASA clean room. In fact, it’s in a non-climate-controlled garage with vents open to the dusty outside winds.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - on gleamed rails)
Seems like it might be wise to GLEAM one’s track before laying it.
Ed
Since you have asked. This is my story. Though I know others say they have had good results.
I have done gleaming and still had to clean the track about every day I wanted to run trains. My layout is not in a climate controlled room which is probably the reason for the lack of improvement.
I have also tried No-Ox with the same lack of improvement. With both methods I still need to use rubbing alcohol to clean the black film that recovers the rails. I followed instructions carefully for both methods. In fact did each twice with the same lack of results.
I finally bought some track cleaning cars from Aztec and now cleaning is much faster and easier.
And no I do not have any connections to Aztec.
Gleaming does work but it’s only half of the equation. You also have to remember to clean your loco and rolling stock wheels now and then.
Hamltnblue, I have been cleaning the wheels on all engines every time I am going to run one. I have come to the conclusion that cleaning track and wheels will just be a part of running. A sealed room in a none dusty rural setting would seem to be the solution for me. But since that is not going to be, it’s still fun doing operations even with this.
i gleamed my track four years ago and have been pleased with the results. I do run a few masonite pads under some boxcars and they do pick up the black residue. two of my engines don’t like that residue at all ( the rest run fine no matter what) and the pads solved the problem. other than that the track has been trouble free. i am in a garage in Florida, however it does have air. i gleamed my track prior to putting it down but it wouldn’t matter when you do it.
Help a newby. What is the Gleam process?
Thanks,
Rich
What do you put in the search box to bring up the vast amount of information on Gleaming?
In a nutshell - burnishing the track to close microscopic pits and smooth down high spots. Many do it with a large stainless steel washer. I used a chunk of tool steel. Seems to help considerably even four years later.
Perhaps if one were to type the word gleam in the search box to the right of the screem, much information might be gained.
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/search/SearchResults.aspx?q=gleam+AND+sectionid%3A88&o=Relevance
Tom
Does anyone know how the MRR staff clean their track?
They use Brite boys, track cleaners and cleaner cars. They also have people working on the layout all the time. A luxury you don’t have.
Not to argue or dispute what anyone has said, but I have never gleamed and the track stays pretty good. Now my room is climate controlled, has ceiling, sheetrock walls, carpet on the floor and no animals get down there. I do get a little dust, but running the trackcleaner train over the exposed area takes care of that.
My layout is three decks, a lot of the track is hard to get at and not a good candidate to “gleam”. But basically, I run the track cleaning train around the layout if it has been idle for a period of time, and I am good to go.
It may be the room conditions, it may be that I do vacuum the carpets periodically, it may be a lot of different things, but what I do works, so I see no point in gleaming on my layout. But I have talked to enough folks that do gleam, and hear the horror stories of the pre gleaming operation and thank my lucky stars that I don’t have it.
Bob