I didn’t know cat vomit could give a locomotive a hangover
Dan
I’ve always used baking soda to take the acid induced corrosion off of metal battery posts/cables.
Urine should be alkaline so acid will reverse its effects. The black is copper oxide, not a salt. Although google suggests alkaline pee is an indicator of a sick cat, so maybe not.
Battery post deposits result from the action of acid so baking soda works on those salts.
You make biscuits using the same acid/base reaction to fluff them up (leavening). The reaction releases CO2, the bubbles. The “science project” volcano is the same process.
One tip, if you do clean battery posts with baking soda make sure you follow with a clear water rinse to remove the residue.
Commas serve a function. [Y]
Actually, normal urine in cats is slightly acidic. I looked it up on the internet, so that’s a truth written in stone. [*-)]
uh-huh
I continue to appreciate the responses. One thing I noted this morning on the piece of flex track that I worked on is that the corrosion near the ties is still there, although improved. This evening, I will work with baking soda and rinsing some. The turnout came clean, if you will pardon the pun.
Please note that the entire track that was affected is not corroded. On some pieces, the corrosion is only for a few inches; on others a foot or more. I do realize this will take me some time to fix, but hey, I need something to keep me off the streets.
The soda will certainly help remove the odor. Mouse caca leaves such an awfull smell! I suppose the cats were not very good at catching mice.
Gary,
I have no ideas on what to do or how to take care of the track but just wanted to express my sympathy for the loss of your wife and the awful effects to you and the family. I, too, lost my wife 3 years ago to lung cancer. Being married for 46 years and suddenly being alone has been hard to handle and I feel for you. All my best.
oldline1
No work on the track this evening. Staring at electronic medical records and reviewing charts all day at work can have this effect on me sometimes. I did locate the retractable brass brushes that Dave Nelson recommended on Amazon. Despite being a Prime customer, they won’t be here until after Christmas sometime. That’s ok. I have other things to do on the trains, and this track rescue project isn’t going to get done in a few nights. Thanks, and I will continue to post progress.
Actually, some of my cats are pretty good mousers. After I discovered the cat urine problem in the basement, I relocated the track into the spare bedroom. The upstairs house cats (who do use their litter boxes) are not allowed in this room, as I also keep my self-inflating camping matresses in there, as well as the cat food. Turns out this room is the main mouse hangout. Country living: I can’t win. The mouse problem is minimal compared to what the cats in the basement did, but I am declaring total war on the little pests. I also need to invest in a housekeeper, as I cannot keep up with everything.
oldline1, I really appreciate your post, and feel for you as well. Besides my wife, cancer took my dad, his sister, my maternal uncle, and several close friends. I hate cancer with a passion. My best to you, too.
Certainly is a great thread. I used some very old pva glue to glue down my ballast. The pva had turned alkaline. The day after ballasting, I noticed some of the rails had developed a blue green copper oxide (copper sulphate) on them. After some research, I made up a solution of baking soda and used a small brush to paint onto the copper sulphated rails. I focussed on switch rails of turnouts which all came good. There are still a few places that I need to fix but all the turnouts and joins are clean.
Google informs that the reaction of degraded PVA glue with copper yields copper acetate, which is blue green. Reason is heat and humidity degrade PVA which then releases acetic acid (vinegar) and other stuff not reactive with copper.
Copper acetate can also look black until smeared.
Copper oxide is black. Under some humidity conditions nickel silver rail will generate black non conductive copper oxide.
Given we now know cat pee is most likely acidic I change my vote to using baking soda first to clean off copper “corrosion” appearing on nickel silver rail.
Acetic acid won’t oxidize copper by itself, air is also necessary. The rail corrodes as the pee dries.
So I will definitely be trying the baking soda. The question now is what is the proper ratio of baking soda mixed with water? My brass bristles won’t be here for around another week.
Thanks, Gary
I mix it to a paste about the consistency of toothpaste, and apply it to the brush like toothpaste. The idea is to use it as an abrasive as well as a chemical. You can mix a bit more ‘liquidy’ and apply with a French’s-mustard-bottle nozzle or equivalent if that’s more convenient.
Continue to brush as you rinse. Be sure there is no residue of anything left on the track, especially between the rails and tie strip, by the time you’re done agitating.
Thanks for that lastspikemike.I might try some more baking soda solution to halt any more corrosion.
This evening, I worked on a piece of the flextrack with some baking soda mixed with water, and scrubbed with an old toothbrush. I washed the rails off, and dried with a hairdryer set on low heat. It did get some of the corrosion. I will reassess in the morning. I look for more improvement when the brass bristles arrive.
This morning, I checked the piece of flex track and turnout that I worked on yesterday evening with the baking soda and toothbrush. The corrosion is completely gone from the turnout and only visible in a couple of places on the flex track. So I believe this method is going to work. Come on and get here, brass brushes! I only have 5 more turnouts and around 40 pieces of flex track to go, lol.
Not sure what I did, but apparently deleted the post from earlier today. The brass brushes are indeed the ticket but did not arrive until January 15. I mixed baking soda with water to a toothpaste like consistency, scrubbed the track with the brushes, then rinsed with water. I dried the track with a hairdyer on low heat, but high fan. It is working great. Some of the more corroded pieces took a second cleaning. I have cleaned all of the affected turnouts, and 25 pieces of the track. I only have about 20 to go, lol. So I’m going to try posting a pic of the cat pee flextrack, along with some cleaned pieces.
So I have lots to learn about posting photos here. I’ve tried to fix it 3 times and am done for now, lol.