Cleaning rails

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Pyropetepete

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Mine needs rather a deep clean, lots of smokey sams, skid marks have made it black

What's best to use?
 
Make a cleaning "tank" with a PVC pipe and end caps (large enough to fit the rail)

Fill with White Vinegar from the super market, grocery store, etc.

Let it soak for an hour.

May need some additional wiping with a rag and some clean Vinegar, then hose it off with plain water and dry.
 
Our rail pads sit in the field the whole season (Oct - Apr). All we do is spray on some WD-45 and rub them down with a "green meanie" when needed.
 
I take a piece of 6" PVC with a 2 inch slot cut into it length wise. I then glued on end caps (1 is threaded). Fill with water and vinegar like above.
 
Make a cleaning "tank" with a PVC pipe and end caps (large enough to fit the rail)

Fill with White Vinegar from the super market, grocery store, etc.

Let it soak for an hour.

May need some additional wiping with a rag and some clean Vinegar, then hose it off with plain water and dry.


............and when done you have something to store and transport your rail in.

I use mine (pvc pipe) for storage/transport only. I clean my rails within a day of use. I use a spray bottle with vinegar lay the rail on the ground and spray with vinegar let soak a bit and then wipe with a green Scotchbrite pad. Rinse with garden hose. Let dry, then I spray mine with silicone spray.
 
............and when done you have something to store and transport your rail in.

I use mine (pvc pipe) for storage/transport only. I clean my rails within a day of use. I use a spray bottle with vinegar lay the rail on the ground and spray with vinegar let soak a bit and then wipe with a green Scotchbrite pad. Rinse with garden hose. Let dry, then I spray mine with silicone spray.

I take mine to the self serve car wash, and high pressure wash it.

Andrew
 
If we didn't already have a 2700 psi pressure washer at home, I'd do what Andrew suggested above.

Also, you'd be amazed at what a great job Simple Green does.

All the best, James
 
Ounce for ounce white vinegar has to be a lot cheaper than other cleaners. And the chemistry works. Lots of cleaners are harsher also on the aluminum, which I guess would not matter too much if not in contact to long and rinsed real well.
 
Make a cleaning "tank" with a PVC pipe and end caps (large enough to fit the rail)

Fill with White Vinegar from the super market, grocery store, etc.

Let it soak for an hour.

May need some additional wiping with a rag and some clean Vinegar, then hose it off with plain water and dry.

Ditto!
Makes cleaning 1010 rails almost easy. I'm using a 1-1/2" x 78" PVC tube for our micro 3', 20mm 4' and 1010- 6 foot rails. Generally a gallon of White vinegar is enough. After about an hour even caked on APCP residue is gone. Flush with water, wipe down with a few paper towels and they are read for the next club launch.
 
Make a cleaning "tank" with a PVC pipe and end caps (large enough to fit the rail)

Fill with White Vinegar from the super market, grocery store, etc.

Let it soak for an hour.

May need some additional wiping with a rag and some clean Vinegar, then hose it off with plain water and dry.

I use this method for storage and transport, it never occured to me to use it as a soak tank too... very nice, thanks for the tip.
 
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