Rusty wheels

[MikeWilliams]

I've just had a query from a customer who bought one of my kits last winter and is just about to start work on it.  He is an experienced engineer and doesn't use any forums so I will share his query with you:

"This morning I discovered, to my horror, that ... the two wheel sets have a lot of what looks like rust on them.  The rust on the wheel tyres is particularly worrying as I have never seen this happen to Slaters wheels before.  I've seen rust on steel platework from GRS loco kits, but nothing much to worry about.

I should say that your kit and ....  have been stored in my den/come-office, where my 4 printers ... are kept - so there should not be any damp there."

Obviously, as the supplier, I have to replace the wheels at my cost, and the postage etc, but it is annoying, especially as I thought Slaters' tyres were stainless.  I have never come across this before - has anyone else?

Mike

[John Candy]

Mike,

I have just looked at a few of my oldest GRS kit wagons, none of which has been run and have all been stored in the dry and YES they have a coating of what appears to be rust on the Slater's wheels!

Photo of one attached.

John.

[454]

Rust was evident on some wheels on the treads of my brand new BR Mk1 Kingscale coaches albeit minor but nevertheless it was rust but not serious enough to complain as it was not detrimental to appearance or functionality.

Dave
454

[Jon Nazareth]

Yes, I too have found rust on Slaters wheels.  These were brand new wheels still in their bubble pack and it has happened on several occasions.

Jon

[Richard T]

I don't think Slaters wheels have ever had stainless steel tyres in any scale, they are all described as steel on their advertising and website.
All of the slaters wheels I have ever used in most scales, over many years have always been prone to rust.

I think they have usually some type of oil or cutting fluid on the tyres, it often leaches out of the join between the tyre and the moulded centre, sometimes affecting paintwork.

Anyway, it is true to prototype, I cant remember seeing many shiny wheels when I was trainspotting in the 50s/60s, they were all rusty and oily.

Richard

[Peaky 556]

Mike
Have you tried a magnet on these wheels?
They are magnetic which tells me they are NOT austenitic stainless steel.
My inspection tells me they are made from a ferritic type of stainless, as used in cutlery and 1970's sink draining boards.
This can best be described as 'rust-resisting'. With regular rubbing by hands and scouring in the washing-up water keeps it bright, but it has little or no nickel in its composition which makes it considerably cheaper, and probably a bit harder.
In any case, some discolouration around the non-rubbing bits does add to the realism, I agree wholeheartedly with Richard.
Run the models instead of keeping them in a damp outhouse!
Cheers, Tim

[MikeWilliams]

Thanks all,

So they are stainless, but low grade which will rust.  I agree that it's not important, but it is to some customers who unwrap the kit and don't like the appearance - and send them back to me.  Personally I clean them with a glassfibre brush and blacken them.  Guess I need to put a note in the instructions that if the wheels are rusty that's normal.

Thanks all.

Mike

[blagdon]

Mike, if I had known you had some rusty Slater's wheels, I would have bought them off you at the AGM!

Seriously, if you get any bad'uns, please stick a pair in my Tar Tank when it's ready; they will look great on older Private Owner wagon(s).

Ian the Gauge '3' Pirate

[454]

Thats interesting, rust being a serious selling feature for wheels.



Dave
454