Setting up a lathe

[BLACKHEARTCUES]

setting up a lathe

Hello

>For cleaning machinery and any metal tools such as taps and drills Loctite sells a product, Natural Blue part #82251, that is excellent. Does not harm any metal and leaves protective film but can be brutal on plastic. Natural Blue is biodegradable and you must wear protective gloves at high concentrations. Available from any one who sells Loctite products.
>To clean very dirty machinery dilute 50% with water or according to instructions on jug. A little Natural Blue goes a long way. Put drop sheet or garbage bags under machine to protect floor. Use heavy duty disposable paper towels like Bounty or heavier duty and soak them in the Natural Blue. Wipe machine until paper towel is saturated then use another one. Very tidy because almost no water is used. If you use cloth towels it is unlikely that you ever get them clean again.
>Acetone is hard on your skin and liver. Use protective gloves when using. Also acetone strips away all protective films from metal. When finished with acetone spray on a protective coating of light oil or Bostik Top Coat.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO CLEAN YOUR MACHINERY?????????Does that mean the saw dust too?????????? Man, no wonder my wife won't come in the shop...JER

 

[blud]

olis

Hello

>For cleaning machinery and any metal tools such as taps and drills Loctite sells a product, Natural Blue part #82251, that is excellent. Does not harm any metal and leaves protective film but can be brutal on plastic. Natural Blue is biodegradable and you must wear protective gloves at high concentrations. Available from any one who sells Loctite products.
>To clean very dirty machinery dilute 50% with water or according to instructions on jug. A little Natural Blue goes a long way. Put drop sheet or garbage bags under machine to protect floor. Use heavy duty disposable paper towels like Bounty or heavier duty and soak them in the Natural Blue. Wipe machine until paper towel is saturated then use another one. Very tidy because almost no water is used. If you use cloth towels it is unlikely that you ever get them clean again.
>Acetone is hard on your skin and liver. Use protective gloves when using. Also acetone strips away all protective films from metal. When finished with acetone spray on a protective coating of light oil or Bostik Top Coat.

The loctite products are fine for metal lathes when machining metal.
I find transmission fluid[ the red stuff], is best for oiling down your machines when machining woods. It will not ball up the saw dust, as regular oil for metal lathes will do. A lite coat will last a long time. Wipe on light coat, then wipe it off, and your ready to go.
Just leave a lite film of the trany fluid.

blud

 

[JoeyInCali]

The loctite products are fine for metal lathes when machining metal.
I find transmission fluid[ the red stuff], is best for oiling down your machines when machining woods. It will not ball up the saw dust, as regular oil for metal lathes will do. A lite coat will last a long time. Wipe on light coat, then wipe it off, and your ready to go.
Just leave a lite film of the trany fluid.

blud

Same here Blud.
I bought a plactic bottle of ATF at the local Shell station after your scoop months ago.
Works real well. Thin enough that they don't get on wood when you drop the wood on the ways. Thin enough you don't get dust build-up.

 

[Tommy-D]

> When buying a used machine,such as a lathe or mill that is being replaced by a machine shop,what are some of the positive/negative things to look for,and what questions need to be asked before buying? Tommy D.

 

[cueman]

> When buying a used machine,such as a lathe or mill that is being replaced by a machine shop,what are some of the positive/negative things to look for,and what questions need to be asked before buying? Tommy D.

If it is a commercial machine shop, they are either upgrading and making room or they have about wore it out. If it is a small machine shop or a retired type of guy it may have been taken better care of. Either way check the gears, lead screw, slop in cross-slide, chuck and such to make sure your deal is as sweet as is sounds. Throw all power feeds in gear and listen for grinding or skipping sounds. Listen to the headstock bearings for any clicking sound. Most anything on the machine can be fixed but at what expense and headache is the bottom line question you need to consider. Another question to ask is has it turned a lot of cast iron. If it has I would check the ways near the headstock to see how much wear there is. If the bed is worn a lot walk away, because that is one expense that will be more than the machine is likely worth.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[blud]

used

> When buying a used machine,such as a lathe or mill that is being replaced by a machine shop,what are some of the positive/negative things to look for,and what questions need to be asked before buying? Tommy D.

When someone is selling USED machinery they are like some USED car salesman..
blud

 

[DaveK]

> When buying a used machine,such as a lathe or mill that is being replaced by a machine shop,what are some of the positive/negative things to look for,and what questions need to be asked before buying? Tommy D.

Dave Ficken (sp ? I might not be even close on this one, sorry Dave) wrote a great piece on evaluating used lathes. Dave was a used machinery dealer, and had a great reputation on the 'net.

http://www.mermac.com/advicenew.html

Dave