Boring swarf

Well yes, it's not particularly interesting, but after completing some deep, small hole boring recently, I suddenly became interested in swarf.

Because of the particular operation, I ended up with quite a lot of swarf down the spindle bore. Coat hangers, bits of rag, etc, worked to a point. Then the light bulb moment, what about a bottle brush? Bingo, a 40mm x 510 bottle brush from RS components. Cleans the spindle bore and chuck jaws perfectly.

Hope this is useful?

A vacuum cleaner is good for clearing swarf from inside of the spindle and chuck.

Paul

I have a set of brushes (Steel wire, brass wire and nylon - lots of different sizes) that have a 1/4 hex shank and I use in my cordless drill to clean holes.

I bought these at an exhibition, but I have seen similar sets offered on the www.

But I expect Radiospares' delivery was quicker!

MCB

It's desirable to ensure that the swarf emerging from the tail of the spindle does not affect the change gears. Some plug the spindle behind the chuck but this probably gets more swarf into the chuck.

When I had machines without the spindle poking safely through change wheel guarding, mostly due to no guards at all, I slid a bit of plastic pipe over the end to make sure stuff dropped clear. Whether I actually found something the right size for an appropriate stiff push fit or made something to adapt the pipe I had to the spindle I now know not.

Leaving it on after cleaning provided opportunities to investigate the self launching and flight characteristics of short, rotating plastic pipes!

Clive

On my Myford I find that twelve bore shotgun cleaning brushes ideal

I have fitted one of JAR's devices to the spindle tail on the Myford which has the incidental benefit of clearing the swarf. The device itself is intended to allow long stock to be turned whilst projecting from the spindle tail, a practice which I imagine can otherwise be just as interesting as flying pipe!