Does anyone know how to get rid of the oxidation on the side rods of vintage steam engines without using sandpaper?
try a dremel with one of the purple scotchbrite-like attachments. don’t use the coarser gray or brown unless you want to strip off all the plating
Here’s what I have done on a lot of vintage steamers, and it works really well. First, take the rods off the locomotive (remembering, of course, how to reassemble and reattach them), and wipe down with an oily cloth. Then take a piece of fine steel wool, with a bit of liquid soap and gently scrub the rods. They will shine like new. Don’t overdo it, or the plating will wear down. Wash off with hot water, dry and recoat with a thin film of oil. Obviously, make sure there are no strands of steel wool stuck in the rod assemblies (i.e. eccentric or crosshead and valve gear assemblies) Hope this works as well for you as it does for me.
Why do you put a thin coat of oil on the side rods after your finished with them? Is it to protect the new finish? Thanks for all your help. Feel free to post anymore advice if anybody else wants to.[8D]
I use this method for two reasons; first, as you suggest, to protect the new finish from future oxidation, and second, the rods, when reassembled, will move a lot more smoothly. For the record, by “a thin coat” I mean a coat applied with an oily cloth or a toothbrush. Don’t leave the rods dripping with excess oil.
funny this should come up right now. this weekend we went to a train shop and bought a box of old stuff the shop guy called junk and in it was a 1615 switcher very crusty. the side rods were a lovely shade of light yellowish green. out of curiosity I pulled them off and dropped them in a glass full of Tarn-x and waited a couple of minutes. the result was they came out looking like brand new. of course you have to wash off the Tarn-x because it has acid in it, but a great result I think. oh yeah if anyone has a junk one of these I could use a couple parts.[:D]
Scott