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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:22 pm Post subject: Aluminium Paste |
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As mentioned elsewhere, today I received from Eishindo, a sample of their latest idea. In their own words...
| K.K. Eishindo wrote: | We have just created Aluminium paste for stable running of T-gauge.
Wheels & rails of T-gauge are very delicate and easy to be affected by only a few oxidized black powder to occur sudden stop on the layout occasionally as you experienced.
However, our patented paste can solve this problem and trains can run very smooth without cleaning for a long period.
We believe this will be very useful and helpful for the demonstration of T-gauge to your customers. |
Included was a zip-lock plastic bag with 5 x cotton buds, one end of each of which is impregnated with, well, very fine particles of a a silver-coloured substance, which I guess is better described as "aluminium paste". They may rename it Aluminum paste for their US customers. 
So far I've not needed to clean my tracks much, but the wheels do need cleaning. Some cars have built up quite a wobble due to gunk build-up on the wheels. Of course now that I've run the wires from the controllers to the track, under the layout, I'm going to have to find another way to get power to the Eishindo wheel cleaner. It will be interesting to see what improvement this paste offers. I hope to get to try it out tomorrow.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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pray59
Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 88
Location: Fremont, CA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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When is this new product going to be available?
-Robert
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-Robert Ray |
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Chris333
Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 74
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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No details were given as to a release. I gather they're still developing the idea. I'm sure they'll let me know once it is available to order.
I don't think it would be a grease as such. I can't see any kind of liquid present, but I guess something is binding it all together. I've not tried it yet. I should get to do that tomorrow.
The instruction is to "apply slightly onto the surface of the rails and wheels - Too much application will cause to prevent running since paste is adhesive."
By the way, in the same page they "recommend to operate T-gauge with switch back sensor at mode B for less friction of motor". Which I believe means that they don't recommend using mode A, which causes the trains to instantly change direction without first stopping. Apart from probably not doing the mechanism any good, it doesn't look very realistic.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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trainspotter-usa
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| B 67 wrote: |
The instruction is to "apply slightly onto the surface of the rails and wheels - Too much application will cause to prevent running since paste is adhesive."
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  That statement doesn't fill me with too much confidence...
Ian
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I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/ |
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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| trainspotter-usa wrote: | | B 67 wrote: |
The instruction is to "apply slightly onto the surface of the rails and wheels - Too much application will cause to prevent running since paste is adhesive."
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:shock: :?: That statement doesn't fill me with too much confidence...
Ian |
I suspect something may have been lost in the translation. I imagine that the paste is slightly sticky when too much is applied; they just want you to apply a thin film, just enough to keep oxides from forming.
My concern is that the paste might tend to attract dirt over time and defeat its own purpose. Time and experience will tell.
At least it's enouraging to know that Eishindo is actively addressing performance issues of their products.
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—David
http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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I'm sure adhesive is not what they really mean. Doesn't feel the least bit sticky to me. I can't see any kind of liquid, including oil, but obviously something is holding the particles to the cotton buds and to the wheels and rails once applied. Yes, I wiped it onto the wheels and small amounts could be seen on the black plastic of the bogie frames. Being the same colour as the wheels and rails, it is otherwise impossible to know it has been applied.
So far running DOES seem to be slightly better, but it's only been one day so far. I'm interested to see how long until I need to clean the wheels and rails again.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Well, my experience with the aluminium paste so far is hard to judge. It does appear to be making a difference, with almost no rail cleaning having been carried out since. It certainly hasn't caused any problems. I've had to clean some wheels, but more to remove bits of gunk that were causing cars to wobble wildly. I haven't had trains stopping for poor contact.
It's hard to judge because I didn't actually find much need to clean the track beforehand either. Then again, very few of my layouts have needed lots of track cleaning. Perhaps it's the environment here, or low dust counts or something.
In large scale, LGB now offers their brass-railed track with a nickel coating. I'm wondering if it is practical or possible for Eishindo to have their steel rails nickel-plated. If so, it could improve conductivity while retaining the magnetic traction abilities.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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trainspotter-usa
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 315
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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Darren:
I just wondered how things were progressing with the aluminium paste as its been 2 months since the last report
Ian
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I CAN see how cool this stuff is!!!
http://more-t-please.blogspot.com/ |
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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Another thing I'd forgotten about. Mr Hirai did briefly show me some samples in small bottles - so I guess that's another product to be out soon. The ones I got were on cotton buds.
I did mention to him that I had also tried small amounts of oil on the rails and that this seemed to delay track cleaning for around two weeks. I got the impression that he may have been trying something similar too.
In any case, they are obviously aware of the issues and are working on solving it.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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| B 67 wrote: | | In any case, they are obviously aware of the issues and are working on solving it. |
That's a lot more than most other manufacturers do about their products.
The more I learn about T, the more impressed I am.
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—David
http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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oh yes - it's all flooding back to me now. 
Mr Hirai showed me the bottle of aluminium paste. He also showed me an applicator. You dab this on the surface of the paste and then wipe it on the rails.
He did seem to be impressed at how smoothly my trains were running on my own layout too. The fact that they were running relatively slow as well.
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Darren,
Stratford,
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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| B 67 wrote: | oh yes - it's all flooding back to me now. :roll:
Mr Hirai showed me the bottle of aluminium paste. He also showed me an applicator. You dab this on the surface of the paste and then wipe it on the rails.
He did seem to be impressed at how smoothly my trains were running on my own layout too. The fact that they were running relatively slow as well. |
Someone really needs to talk with him about PWM. If anyone hasn't seen this video, it is impressive (and amusing at the same time)--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgY58PZAPY
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—David
http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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B 67
Joined: 23 Sep 2008
Posts: 277
Location: Stratford, Australia
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| Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:18 am Post subject: |
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| David K Smith wrote: | | B 67 wrote: | oh yes - it's all flooding back to me now.
Mr Hirai showed me the bottle of aluminium paste. He also showed me an applicator. You dab this on the surface of the paste and then wipe it on the rails.
He did seem to be impressed at how smoothly my trains were running on my own layout too. The fact that they were running relatively slow as well. |
Someone really needs to talk with him about PWM. If anyone hasn't seen this video, it is impressive (and amusing at the same time)--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgY58PZAPY |
I'd be surprised if nobody in Japan has already brought this up. Yes, I meant to ask, but didn't. I will still ask about this next time though. I'm placing another order shortly.
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Darren,
Stratford,
Australia. |
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