A handy tip from me

[AlNyhus]

Kinda hard to clean out the T tracks without air after drilling 44 holes 1/2 to 3/4 through 1 3/4 ".

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Ricco, I have a shop vac hose rigged up when removing a lot of material.

 

[ELR LVR]

Kinda hard to clean out the T tracks without air after drilling 44 holes 1/2 to 3/4 through 1 3/4 ".

View attachment 1734178

1" trim paint brushes can be stuffed in those T-slots as well
I use toothbrushes and paint brushes for the most part
air when needed for a final super clean if I need it

 

[ricco1949]

1" trim paint brushes can be stuffed in those T-slots as well
I use toothbrushes and paint brushes for the most part
air when needed for a final super clean if I need it

Pretty much what I ended up doing.

Brush as much as I could
on the floor with small paint brush and then finish with some air.

Ricco, I have a shop vac hose rigged up when removing a lot of material.

Gonna have to give that a try next time.

 

[ricco1949]

I use more alcohol than acetone. Acetone dries so quickly it leaves frost.

I always wondered how guys kept their lathes and mills spotless like they were NIB without using cases of brake cleaner.

Will try your alcohol/acetone combo with a rechargable sprayer.

Thanks for the tip .

 

[ELR LVR]

I always wondered how guys kept their lathes and mills spotless like they were NIB without using cases of brake cleaner.

Will try your alcohol/acetone combo with a rechargable sprayer.

Thanks for the tip .

I would think it would need to be 100% Alcohol, (without water mixed in right?)
I would hate to have small water spots or rust form on any surface

 

[ricco1949]

I would think it would need to be 100% Alcohol, (without water mixed in right?)
I would hate to have small water spots or rust form on any surface

Yes the 99.9% stuff.

Before I had A/C in the shop. I tried all kinds of rust preventives for bare metal on machines. Found that good old Marvel's Mystery Oil in a spray bottle was the best. It lasted for 2-3 months.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I keep my mill bed covered except for the area being used. Usually with masonite. Makes cleaning easy.

 

[Fuj]

Kinda hard to clean out the T tracks without air after drilling 44 holes 1/2 to 3/4 through 1 3/4 ".

First off, once your set up is made, block all exposed openings to the t-slots.
I have plywood covers that I made to fit all occasions. I also use small sections
and strips of conveyor belt to close off open slots. As for cleaning the slots out ??
One of many first apprentice projects is to make a t-slot cleaner to push out the
chips then use a brush. If its steel, I've been known to put a strong magnet in a
zip lock bag and pull chips away with that. Then of course there is a shop vac.
Ever need to go to go to the docs and have your eyes scraped out ?? Not fun
and usually caused by blowing chips around. Even safety glasses with side shields
can be not good enough......Here's a pic of my mill with table covers.

 

[WSnyder]

I keep my mill bed covered except for the area being used. Usually with masonite. Makes cleaning easy.

Many years ago a guy on Practical Machinist did a big run of extruded rubber way cover material for Bridgeports and clones. They have 3 rails on the underside that tap into the T-slots. I got enough for a couple of sets and glad I did. They're pretty useful. Being rubber, stuff doesn't get scratched and doesn't slide off the table very easy if bumped. No idea if anyone has something like that anywhere.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Many years ago a guy on Practical Machinist did a big run of extruded rubber way cover material for Bridgeports and clones. They have 3 rails on the underside that tap into the T-slots. I got enough for a couple of sets and glad I did. They're pretty useful. Being rubber, stuff doesn't get scratched and doesn't slide off the table very easy if bumped. No idea if anyone has something like that anywhere.

H&W machine still has those.

 

[WSnyder]

H&W machine still has those.

These?

Bridgeport Protective Way Covers | 1022

Not heat resistant. For Heat Resistant Way Covers Click here.

machinerypartsdepot.com

If so that's not what I'm talking about. Mine are 1/4” thick with full length ribs that go in the T-slots to hold them in place. The Lagun table is a little bit deeper than a Bridgeport which leaves a little exposed surface front and back.

 

[pingunit]

There are these:

Amazon.com

 

[Fuj]

I went with wood over rubber especially when having to machine a harder
metal with carbide. them 6's and 9's are so hot, they will embed in the
rubber. And burning wood smells better......LOL

 

[tobnpr]

1" trim paint brushes can be stuffed in those T-slots as well
I use toothbrushes and paint brushes for the most part
air when needed for a final super clean if I need it

 

[Alan Warner]

What?
I barely smell it, and it evaps in maybe 2 minutes or sooner, I havent encountered the scent lingering unless I spill old fuel on the floor thats been laquered due to age.
Just offering.
I use gas constantly as a solvent around the shop
especially for degreasing, cleaning the concrete etc.

Don't tell your insurance rep!
Stay safe

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

What?
I barely smell it, and it evaps in maybe 2 minutes or sooner, I havent encountered the scent lingering unless I spill old fuel on the floor thats been laquered due to age.
Just offering.
I use gas constantly as a solvent around the shop
especially for degreasing, cleaning the concrete etc.

There have been quite a few nasty explosions/fires from using gasoline for parts washing.
I don't know how all the different solvents stack up comparatively, I just am skittish from all the horror stories I've heard/read.
Gunsmithing Kinks Vol.1 has a doozy.

 

[jpjulian]

There was this guy I went to school with, Ken. A neighbor hired him to paint his garage or house or something..... My buddy Ken wasn't very neat or all that careful with the paint and I swear he got at least as much paint on himself as he did the house or garage. Knowing that gas was a good solvent, he poured a healthy dose into his bath water to get the paint off........ Ever had a Zippo leak in your pocket? Blistered your leg pretty good didn't it. Well, then there was Ken, and did he have blisters........

 

[Knotwild]

There have been quite a few nasty explosions/fires from using gasoline for parts washing.
I don't know how all the different solvents stack up comparatively, I just am skittish from all the horror stories I've heard/read.
Gunsmithing Kinks Vol.1 has a doozy.

When I was too young to remember good, my grandfather ran cranes and draglines. He would come home with greasy clothes and Sis (my grandmother) would wash them in Amoco white gas in the utility room. It worked great until the gas hot water heater cut on and the resulting mess gave her some very bad burns on her legs.

 

[Edd]

I would use a nonflammable brake cleaner.