M5A1 coming along...

[SDT16]

Very Interesting! So a jar of molasses that you get from the grocery store or is it something different? Does it smell bad during the process? You have my idea gears turning. We have some CDP tracks that have some seized links, do you think a long soaking would free those up?

Sean

Stuart is looking Nice!

[charlie fitton]

Originally Posted by SDT16

Very Interesting! So a jar of molasses that you get from the grocery store or is it something different? Does it smell bad during the process? You have my idea gears turning. We have some CDP tracks that have some seized links, do you think a long soaking would free those up?

I did it with store-bought, but scaled up production would be expensive.

Go to your local farm supply and get a five-gallon pail that would be used for horse feed... should be much cheaper.

[jdmcm]

Exactly...horses being a rather large part of my life, even more than MV's...a trip down to the local feed store is all you need..I found 50/50 mix with water works great...and if you keep it covered you can reduce evaporation and keep the mix alive for a long time...I am still using the original batch I made up. And yes Sean, I have no doubt a long soak would free up the CDP track...the results, though they take a long time, are nothing short of amazing. And yeah..it stinks!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Thanks for keeping us updated on the Stuart John. Good to see the tracks back on the machine!

There are some good youtube vids on the use of molasses for de-rusting. I have cleaned up some parts with this mixture as well. In my opinion it works really good for cast parts, but had some trouble with a very thin piece of rusted sheet metal....there wasn't much left after a few weeks in the molasses bath

I think I have seen some pics on HMVF, where someone dropped a complete cannon in the stuff.

Alex

[SDT16]

Thanks John,

Well I do have time.

I have been thinking about building a large container to hold the entire set of tracks. They are currently rolled up. I figured I would lay the on the side and stack them. This sound like a much safer way to go environmental speaking.

I am also now thinking about seized suspension units. Those are always a Joy to take apart!

But I will experiment small first...... to evaluate the smell factors!

Sean

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by SDT16

Thanks John,

Well I do have time.

I have been thinking about building a large container to hold the entire set of tracks. They are currently rolled up. I figured I would lay the on the side and stack them. This sound like a much safer way to go environmental speaking.

...

Sean

If the track is rolled, it is probably in pallet sized portions. There are any number of equivalent sized metal or plastic tubs/tanks which might be suitable. A long flat pan will show a large surface for evaporation (and accidental foot falls). Whereas, a squarer pan will have less of the molasses' surface exposed, and the track might be easier to manipulate with a forklift and lifting straps.

I'd like to know if the sticky sweet attracts bees and critters. A good black bear bait is exactly this - molasses.

[jdmcm]

I bought a couple of large rolling home depot garbage cans with lids, and as you know we had a hot summer out here in BC. So far the critters have been a non issue, but I do keep the lids on, if you walk by the cans you hardly notice the smell, but when you open them...WA-POW! Haven't had any bear run ins yet either, but the pace of unbridled development here has pretty much driven all the wildlife away...I think I would rather put up with the bears than the condos..but that's just me