Machine cleaning

Gents,

Has anyone got a tip for cleaning an Emco FB-2? I have noticed that machining most notably aluminium seems to leave a dirty mess and I was wondering does anyone have a good cleaning solution to cleaning the green painted areas of the mill itself but also the base.

Thanks in advance,

Mark

P.S.I have tried with WD-40 which sort of works but requires a lot of elbow grease and the results are so-so.

For my mill and lathe i use some cheap spray on engine degreaser applied to a rag or paper towel . This stuff always pops up on special at a few of my local auto stores and i buy it by the box full spray cans of the stuff .

We have found that" Cillit Bang" works well for machine cleaning.

I prefer to use an oil based fluid for my machines....be it WD40/paraffin or whatever....Wiping down after cleaning is bound to leave a least a thin film that ought to afford some protection against the dreaded brown stuff..

Edited By John Rudd on 08/08/2018 18:44:10

I used to struggle with my machines an awful lot, both with rust and a horrible brown "lacquer" which stained every bit of paint. This required acetone to remove or isopropyl alcohol with loads of elbow grease. Big problem was that whilst acetone shifted the stuff it also removed paint just as quickly if not very careful..

Not on here but Ketan of ARC finally gave me the clue indirectly whilst I was reading something else he had commented on. It was the oil. I had used 3 in 1 for years to stave off rust and lubricate the machines. We used to sell oils from Morris's in small quantities and in one delivery of the bulk stuff in 5 gallon cans was a can of hydrovane compressor oil called "Airforce". They said don't bother its more expensive to pick it up than leave it. So this was left in stock unopened for a long time. Then I read the snippet. Compressor oil in machine preparation.

I now use this stuff exclusively for both lubricating and cleaning down after a session. No more staining, good lubrication, lots of rust protection. If I am leaving things for a bit like at the moment with the workshop "down" for the move then a blow over with very cheap "Maintenance Spray" in green cans does the trick. It seems to be a sort of WD 40 with fine oil mixed in. A wipe over before next use, lubricate with Airforce and everything appears to stay clean and rust free.

regards

Ian

I found white spirits to be as good as anything for cleaning. Get rid of the muck,then a wipe over with an oily rag.

No muck,no rust !

Friend of mine uses diesel,say,s it,s better than any cleaning product.

Machine what?

Another guy clams that if you have time to clean your machines,or your workshop,then you are not busy !

Not altogether sure I agree with that !

Carburretor cleaner supplied in spray cans (halfords)will remove those brown stains left by soluble oil and old lubricating oil from the paintwork,Though I would not clean machined surfaces with any solvent as it removes lubricating oil,When I started in the 1950s every machine in our small works was thoroughly cleaned usually on Fridays,all swarf had to be removed ,slideways thoroughly cleaned and lubricated with oil can and rag,and the whole machine wiped down with oily rags.No slideway covers in those days,You would be in real trouble if you used compressed air a real no no.

Gents, thanks for taking the time to answer. I will look into it all. My main worry is the painted parts. I know the machines are painted with machine grade paint but I dont want to ruin it,

Thanks again,

Mark

Carb and brake cleaners do very little and expensive conidering the amount needed.

We used parafin applied with a brush to clean off decades of grimed on grinding dust to congealed hardened oils.

The oly other thing found is the cheap £1 spray on Elbow Grease found in pound shops and the like, works superb on alloy wheels.

Discolouring of aluminums is oxide and will need stripping to some extent

Try Muk-Off? Good for bikes and alloy wheels. Halfords.