chips from cast iron abrasive ?

As Howard Lewis has suggested above, a strong magnet is a worthwhile item when machining CI.
But I'd suggest you put the STRONG magnet into a polythene bag and 'stick' it near the cutting tool. When there's a good collection of CI dust on the outside of the bag, just extract the magnet from the bag over a waste bin and reuse. Small neodymium magnets are ideal and cheap enough online.

(One other issue to watch - don't wash your hands after machining CI in the kitchen sink or SWMBO will be irate next morning at all the rust marks which will have appeared. Removal thereof will require painting with Jenolite or similar).

Washing hands in any sink after machining cast iron will give i the "measles" look. And it takes some work to remove the stains! Possibly a justification for a separate plastic bowl, maybe even oit of doors if the weather is good enough!

Howard

The other thing with cast iron is to wear a face mask.

The alternative is pretty unpleasant when you blow your nose over the next 24 hours...

Neil

Our shiny new plastic sink in the downstairs cloakroom developed orange spots when I washed my hands there after machining cast iron it took ages to remove the spots and wife was not impressed when it happened. With time the spots do actually disappear, thankfully. Dave W

As I posted above ~~~ rust spots in the wash basin whether it's acrylic, s/steel or a Belfast are easily removed by painting the surface with a rust remover. Jenolite is very good but the gel ones take a bit longer to destroy the tiny particles of rust. Either way, it avoids domestic strife if the "painting" is done before retiring for the night but remembering to gain 1st access next morning in order to flush the basin before SWMBO sees it.

When boring out 3, 5" cylinders of Meehanite over several evenings, I incurred some interrogation about the "black deposits all over your pillow". Said deposits were due to carbon particles from the iron in my hair. Wearing a head covering whilst at the lathe or being bald should avoid that issue (showering afore bed may not be advisable because of the first problem i.e. rust spots in the shower tray !).

I used to have to go over the inside of the sink with wire wool to get rid of the rust spots left when deglazing the brake drums with wet and dry paper before fitting new brake shoes.