How can I clean my scalextric track?

[ellis427]

As the title follows, I haven't used my big scalextric track in my attic in a good year or two, however the track has gone very dull and less responsive from volt drop, although it still has 14 input points for power.

Whats the best method or substances/tool to clean the conductors?

any help would be appreciated taa

ps: to show the mountain of a job i have...

[miniman]

Track cleaning "rubber" probably your best bet.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=Scalextric+t...

[m8rky]

Bit of wire wool would do the job.

• worst I have got an awesome Scalextric track thread ever*

[Mark.]

Can't help how to clean - but loving the set up there! How do the cars get on going up that incline?

[garethj]

You want Plebys Products, you do. It's a bottle of cleaner with a block of thick foam to apply it, and a cloth to remove it. Works brilliantly.

Great track by the way!

[Fluid]

You lucky git. I'd give my right nut, for a set up like that.

[Justin Cyder]

Best man cave evva. When I was a kid, there was a kind of metal impregnated rubber you could but for cleaning Hornby track that was pretty good.

Don't do what I did - clean your track with wire wool then use the wire wool to bank one of the corners. Bedroom fires are a terrible thing.

[rotarymazda]

ellis427 said:

Whats the best method or substances/tool to clean the conductors?

Now the kids are old enough, I've dug my old sets out of the garage and found that a bit of oil on the braids did the job. Then run the cars for a few laps, rinse and repeat.

[S2Mike]

I reckon with so much track to clean you should cable tie a bundle of wire wool onto the front of one of the cars and send it round the whole track!
Awesome set up by the way!

[Hugo a Gogo]

I remember we used to use the 'ink' end of a rubber, the sort of blue hard bit

[Stedman]

I want a go!

[nickg123]

Can't help with cleaning but can we see more of the track? Would love to see the full layout or maybe a vid of a car going around it - Looks superb!!

[Podie]

When I was a kid, the model shop used to sell a blue rubber type thing... was a couple of quid. Used to bring up the track a treat.

[theshrew]

Buy some plebys. Its a cleaner for scalextric track

[ellis427]

Wow what a response!
And thank you for the suggestion especially love the strap wire wool to the front of a car, brilliant.

As with other comments regarding the circuit, it took many a year to complete, and Takes a solid 25+ seconds a lap for those interested!

The cars are fine up and down the hills, obviously the older ones on solid brittle tyres require abit of key setting up out of the bend before but all are great, and air can easy be had (especially when you add in some old side cars and official old scalextric jumps that slot in).

Moving on I may try and connect a mini sports camera to a car! Got to be worth a try, it all got abit ott up there though! 200 cars and hours spent building hills, pits and wiring in lighting around the circuit for night racing... Anyone got any ideas? Or pictures!

[Stedman]

Probably something like this

[Jos Notstoppen]

As said before Pleby's is good for the track.

Another good addition is to use thin adhesive copper tape over the metal rails, this improves conductivity around the track. It can be got from Ebay and other places. It takes a bit of time sticking it to the track but it is worth it. It also improves the life of the braids.

[bristolracer]

Do NOT use wire wool! It will drop bits between the conductors and you will end up with shorts all over the track!

As others have said plebys is the stuff

if you havent found it yet the slotforum is a good resource

[garethj]

ellis427 said:

Moving on I may try and connect a mini sports camera to a car!

I used an 808 keychain camera which is light and cheap. You can see some of the videos I did here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5688xzxDEY&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jmjtFh3GjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAxGHa4q20k&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSjdLNvgEk0&fea...

To get the onboard footage I used blutak to hold the camera to the bonnet, or bootlid of the car in front, or hung out the side pointing at the wheels.

[ellis427]

thanks again for your replies i'm saving this job for a rainy weekend!

and ta for the advice about the camera sounds like this could be a right laugh!

will update soon.