How do you guys clean your lathe?

[kf2qd]

Would someone please define the word "clean"? I am unfamiliar withthat term. ???

 

[stevehuckss396]

Would someone please define the word "clean"? I am unfamiliar withthat term. ???

If you turn the lathe on and the chuck does not hit swarf, it's pretty clean.

 

[kevincoxshall]

My dad bought me a compressor for christmas a few years back. As I don't have a vac in the garage I use it to blow out the chips from the T slots. Then dustpan up. Other than using it as a poncy dust blower i pump the car tyres up with it to.

 

[wheeltapper]

the trouble with that is it blows the swarf into other places, motor, circuitry,etc.
not a good thing.

I clean my slots with a cheap toothbrush.

Roy

 

[dsquire]

My dad bought me a compressor for christmas a few years back. As I don't have a vac in the garage I use it to blow out the chips from the T slots. Then dustpan up. Other than using it as a poncy dust blower i pump the car tyres up with it to.

It works great for that BUT... Be sure that you wear safety glasses when doing that. I did that very same thing years ago and blew a small piece of metal into my eyeball. Ended up in emergency and then a specialist. There is still a rust spot on my eyeball today that they remind me about every time I have an eye exam. I was lucky that there was no permanent damage but it is just another reason why we should ALWAYS wear safety glasses. :bow:

Cheers

Don

 

[Tin Falcon]

Most pro shops do not allow compressed air for machine cleaning has a bad side affect of forcing chips into recess of the machine and into people.
Not recommended.

Use the shop vac
Tin

 

[John Rudd]

My 9*20 is raised up by about an inch on some pieces of ms plate that I had cut...
This gives sufficient clearance to be able to brush out most of the swarf into a small dustpan and tossed into the bin....

Periodically I spray WD40 all over and wipe down with a rag, then give the slideways a good dousing of oil (especially if it aint going to be used for a while...)