New Mill

Hi, I have just taken delivery of a new Champion 20V and am looking to install it.

The instruction manual says about removing the anticorrosive agent applied to the mill for transport and storage purposes using "Stove Distalliate".

Unfortunately, Stove Distilliate is not something I am aware of and looking online hasn't really helped. Can someone enlighten me as to what it is and what it may be called in the UK, or what I could use as an alternative?

I am sure I will have more questions, later but that's a start for now.

Thanks, Keith

Paraffin stove maybe?
Bill

The nearest we would have in the UK would be light diesel fuel or a camping stove fuel.

You could probably do a good job by spraying with something like WD40 using the appropriate PPE of course.

One further question, the instruction manual for the Mill is quite small and I was wondering if anyone knew of a more complete instruction manual. When I bought my lathe I had a similar issue and found a really good one for the lathe on the Little Machine Shop website. Unfortunately, they don't have a similar one for my mill.

Have a look at this...

**LINK**

Paraffin...?

George.

Thanks, paraffin did occur to me as a possibility, but i haven't got any. WD40 is something that I do have and will give it a try.

Thanks.

What do you normally use for degreasing?

White spirit would do. Or even light oil on a rag should remove the sticky stuff.

regards Martin

And an earlier source than George's, indicating where it lies in a range of oils:

US Geological Survey 1909

Bill

Meths for the stubborn deposits.

Yes use white spirit. It was obviously written by an Indian/Chinese using words and products they were familiar with. Paraffin is rather oily, pungent and lingers in an inflammable state, WD40 is mostly a paraffin with additives and price inflators.
In the UK white spirit or paint thinner in other countries is the go-to solvent for any grease or oil removal and evaporates quickly. You shouldn't need much, use on kitchen towels or some of your bog roll hoard and after use quickly push into jam jar so it can be used to light your BBQ this weekend.

Keith,

For a manual, try the U.S. Grizzly site. Their manuals are more comprehensive than those supplied to UK distributors. Some slight differences but the basics are the same. This looks similar to your mill, to me. Others in their range might be more suitable. You decide. Download in pdf on the righthand side of the page or under the "documents" tab.

Manual download

John

+ 1 for white spirit.

Easily available from DIY stores in UK, and a good solvent for oil based products

Howard

Hi Keith nice to have a nice new machine. When you remove the grease that protects the slides etc. you will need to lubricate the slideways and lead screws with a slideway oil I use 60 grade. don't forget to check the spindle taper inside the spindle as that will need cleaning and not lubricating. The small clamp handles for the ways are a bit of a nuisance as it is possible to break them by positioning them so they catch as the slides are moved and clash with the castings. check for play in the slides after cleaning and oiling they may need adjusting. I didn't check that the headstock locking was tight when I first got my machine as it was lightly tightened but moved when I started to cut steel test piece and it cost me a new carbide cutter. also check the head for being square and tramed up. Make sure that it is bolted down before using especially tilting the head.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 03/04/2020 12:22:26

Stove Distillate is an americanism, like gas for petrol, and kerosene for paraffin etc. It's a type of paraffin.

For cleaning up mills and lathes any cheap solvent that removes water-proof oil-based waxy goo anti-rust protection will do. White paraffin from garden centres is a little less obnoxious as a cleaner than Pink or Blue paraffin. White spirit is better. WD40 is a good solvent but expensive if a lot is needed. Diesel works but leaves a greasy layer. Petrol is excellent but far too dangerous - one spark and you is toast!

In the past Chinese lathes arrived heavily smothered in 'chicken fat' - a thick yellow protection that took a lot of work to remove. It seems to have gone out of fashion - my machines needed little more than a gentle wipe down with a little WD40.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 03/04/2020 12:23:43

Thanks all, most helpful.

Keith

Good luck with your new machine Keith. I have had my 20V for about 7 years now, and the only problem I have had with it was the NVR switch gave up last year. A new one arrived the next day. I have done a few mods on it, but I am more than happy with it.

Dek.

Many years ago when I was an apprentice we cleaned components in what was referred to as the paraffin tank. It was only when I saw it being cleaned out and refilled from a 45 gallon drum that I realised that it was actually white spirit that was being used. White spirit removes grease and other muck very effectively and does not leave an oily surface when it evaporates, but it does dry your hands up dreadfully.

I stopped using paraffin for cleaning a long time ago, surfaces always seemed to rust more quickly with paraffin than with white spirit.

Neil

Downloaded the Grizzly manual and it really does look exactly the same mil when i look at the parts diagrams.

Why is it that we have to do to America to get decent instruction manuals, lol.

Thanks