Oil wick

I think the traditional stuff is Worsted thread. this is not the same as normal knitting wool, but I can't comment on whether it's any better. See here for more details.

.

Oops … wrong reference … I have struck it through ^^^

But it looks like nobody noticed

MichaelG.

Nigel -

Might the literally home-spun wool still have lanolin on it? Or be of a tighter spin than the commericially-made ones?

Another option not mentioned, is garden twine made from sisal or cotton, so bits left in the garden will decompose. It is of natural fibres and fairly loosely-spun. Cotton string, general-purpose, is also readily available.

Michael Gilligan - thanks for posting that link, they are easily the best and most useful photos I've seen yet of a Pultra headstock stripped down.

Much obliged

Colin

That’s a handy link Michael but why would felt be better than cotton braid?

A friend that has done his 17/50 has some left so he is sending me some , it looks like candle wick.

many thanks for all the replies and helpful links.

Dell

.

It’s probably debatable [which is good, because that’s what forums are for] … but I would assume that felt provides stronger capillary action than braid.

That said: I am not entirely convinced by Google’s translation

… Is there a fluent French-speaker in the house ?

MichaelG.

.

DeepL produces these, for the two French texts:

Detail of the two wicks of braided cotton which make the oil rise towards the bearings:

Replacement of the cotton braids with felt wicks, which are better suited to the rise of the oil in the bearings:

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 31/10/2022 08:38:35

Locomotive axle boxes use felt sat in a tray of oil and rubbing on the underside of the axle

Horses for courses. I think felt being so thick would (in times past) have got gummed up by oil decomposing, collecting dust from open topped containers etc. There would need to be a balance between thickness of the oil used and density of the wick to get the right flow rate. Machinery manufacturers would have the time to experiment to find what suits their production line, The best an amateur can do is try something and be prepared to change it.

Good logic, Bazyle

Most likely the ‘best’ wick for any individual lathe will depend upon the oil it uses.

MichaelG.

Well headstock all stripped out and Sod’s law the wicks were fine but new going in anyway because there is no way I could get the old wicks back in, also very negligible wear on bearings or spindle, just waiting for new wick to arrive.

Dell

Edited By Dell on 31/10/2022 15:58:33

I use Worsted wool on my 3" Burrell works OK for me I picked it up at the local knitting shop the wife use's

H

Managed to get hold of some original wick, what a fiddly job to fit without pinching or cutting it when fitting the bushes but got there in the end and I know it’s not jammed because I could slide the wick either way before I cut it.

Dell

Forgot to add pictures

Nicely done, Dell

… big sigh of relief ?

MichaelG.