Hi All,

Whilst it might seem like a bizarre question, I'm just wondering if anybody has any clever tips/tricks/or gadgetry that makes it easier/safer. There was an incident with the carpenter sanding down the worktops  and now I'm paranoid about the layout being covered in dust (like the rest of the kitchen/conservatory...) to the point where it could lead to the loco's playing up if I run them before a thorough de-dusting.

Note to self - keep the layout covered just in case as you can never under-estimate other people's stupidity!

Thank you in advance
Paul

 

With a hand held vacuum cleaner, but mainly because I'm ballasting at the moment.

John P

If you use some nylon tights over the nozzle (slack so that they go a few inches up the nozzle), then if anything gets suck up that shouldn't, you won't lose it.  Also useful for picking up excessive grass.

Just using a standard hand held hoover at the moment.
I did used to use a little battery powered keyboard cleaning vacuum on a previous layout

I have some attachments that fit onto a standard vacuum cleaner.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F333200280566

I'm very careful about getting too near any small details in case they get sucked in.

During construction I use the flexi hose from a normal vacuum cleaner.   

I do have a smaller portable Express Vac with a hose that goes with me occasionally to big 4 days shows: it was one I acquired from work where it had been used to clean out photocopiers etc.

 

I think the important thing is to have a decent long hose and suitable tools to restrict cleaning to the trackwork.  For cleaning dust from buildings I use soft old makeup brushes to "tickle" the dust off roofs etc., holding the vacuum cleaner hose end in the air nearby and thus avoiding the risk of too much direct suction.

Just use our Dyson with the brush attachment

A hand held rechargeable similar to the Black & Decker Dustbuster.

With one of these...

 

I came very close to tragedy once.... using the big vacuum without the precautionary stocking filter, I managed to suck up two BEER wagons!!  :'(

Luckily I managed to retrieve them straight away.

Twas a close call! 

The Tomix track cleaning car is surprisingly good - I always assumed the vacuuming part was likely to be a gimmick, but was genuinely surprised how much dust it sucked from even clean trackwork...

Cheers,
Alan

Quote from: Dr Al on February 11, 2020, 09:09:52 AM
The Tomix track cleaning car is surprisingly good - I always assumed the vacuuming part was likely to be a gimmick, but was genuinely surprised how much dust it sucked from even clean trackwork...

Cheers,
Alan

Couldn't agree more.
I use the LUX vacuum cleaning wagon and was equally surprised at how much dust builds up on what appears to be clean track. Even if you can't vacuum the scenic parts of your layout on a regular basis I would recommend using one of these wagons on the track. At least you are then keeping the dust away from your locos.

..........and after a couple of minutes running round my layout. It even managed to pick up some stray scatter material and I hadn't done any scenic work for months.

Personally, I use a combination of track cleaner, soft brushes (make-up ones are good), one of those of USB powered mini-Hoovers (with a USB extension cable) and finally a dust buster for really stubborn bits.

The key is to take your time or as Barrie would say "softly, softly, catchy monkey". 

Hope this helps.

Paddy

Thanks everyone. Some good ideas there. As it's a micro-layout I cant run a track cleaning car on it but some of the mini-hoover/stocking ideas seem doable 

I have two 12V battery hoovers..
1 is a general cleaner,
2 is reserved for hoovering up static grass, so I can use it again..

There is a wagon with a weighted pad with replaceable cloths for track top cleaning..