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How best to clear up swarf.

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Alan Jackson 1	26/07/2011 23:15:47
1 forum posts	I bought my first milling machine(Sealey SM2502) in April '11,to machine304 grade stainless steel, to make box lock mechanism housings. I have found that it can take over an hour to clean up the swarf after each milling operation, partly because it does not pick up easily with a magnet. I use kitchen towel to soak up excess coolant(3-in-1 oil) then a toothbrush and cotton buds to clean the table's T-slots. I un-bolt the clamping plates and clean them with kitchen towel,and clean the concertina-like rubber covers over the lead screw? with kitchen towel. I work without the Perspex guard,so that i can get the coolant onto the work easily,preffering to wear safety goggles instead of the guard. Am i spending too much time cleaning?
Thor 🇳🇴	27/07/2011 06:33:14
1766 forum posts 46 photos	Hi Alan, I too clean the T-slots with an old toothbrush. To prevent to much swarf entering the T-slots may be you could cover them with Perspex or something similar? With a bit of heating the Perspex can be bent to make a tray for the swarf, then lift the tray off the milling table and brush the swarf into the dust bin. May be that will save you some time. Thor
John McNamara	27/07/2011 07:23:42
1377 forum posts 133 photos	Hi Allan Jackson A wet pick up vacuum cleaner is by far the best tool with a crevice tool (Ideally a metal tube one end flattened to about a 10mm opening slot, it will fit in your table slots, easy to make if need be.) It will pick up any oil or coolant as well. It sure beats getting splinters of needle sharp swarf in your fingers, and only takes a few minutes. I got mine at a market for a few dollars but the bigger hardware outlets sell them quite cheaply. I also use it on the lathe. If the turnings are too big they will stick in the crevice tool (Do not try the open end of the hose without the tool it will block the hose), I just pull any turnings that do not pass the tool while the machine is sucking and drop them in the bin. 99% of the time any smaller pieces end up in the bag. Occasionally they will stick in the hose. These days the hose is plastic just feel along to the obstruction and gently squeeze that will compress the obstruction and it will pass through. Or for a stubborne one turn the hose end for end. Cheers John Edited By John McNamara on 27/07/2011 07:24:08
JasonB	27/07/2011 07:28:19
25215 forum posts 3105 photos 1 articles	I'm affraid I don't go to those extreams of cleaning. Just make yourself a "T" shaped plastic scraper if you must clean out teh tee slots or you can buy them for a couple of quid. Its enough to stop the slots jamming up when you slide a tee bolt along, certainly does not have to be totally void of all swarf. I'm Sure Our John S does not go tho such extreams in his shop. Maybe he will post a pic of his metal chip catchers If the swarf is wet with coolant an aquavac kept for the workshop will also do a reasonable job. The other option is to just lay something flat over the exposed parts of the table(not rag or something that may burn) you then have a flat surface to clean. Jason
Jim Nolan	27/07/2011 07:30:29
77 forum posts	A Henry works for me Jim
Eddie	27/07/2011 07:54:17
56 forum posts	Hi Alan I use a combination of kitchen towels over table or the other area where swarf, the stuff we make, are falling and then a wet and dry vac to cleanup the shop. The paper towels is cheap and quick to avoid any long cleaning job prevention is better than cure, strips of fridge door seal magnets keep paper towels in place. The same is one on the lathe. Eddie
Andrew Johnston	27/07/2011 08:25:48
7061 forum posts 719 photos	Henry? I don't see how inductance is going to help? Andrew
John Stevenson	27/07/2011 08:50:40
5068 forum posts 3 photos	Posted by JasonB on 27/07/2011 07:28:19: I'm Sure Our John S does not go to such extremes in his shop. Maybe he will post a pic of his metal chip catchers Jason I have been know to have to odd clear up but only if there is a Q in the month. In the meanwhile this helps a lot. This is not a staged shot BTW but note that the machine is relatively clean. Just a simple tray with holes for the T bolts and a couple for the coolant to drain back into the T slots. I fit these to all my machines. There is a 10" three jaw chuck under all this lot but the machine is 'clean' John S
chris stephens	27/07/2011 13:01:18
1049 forum posts 1 photos	Hi Guys, Aren't these forums useful, you learn something new every time. Cleaning machines, WOW, what a brilliant concept, I really must try it sometime. Next, I suppose someone will say you should sweep the floor too. chriStephens
Ian S C	27/07/2011 14:47:11
7468 forum posts 230 photos	Hey Chris, I clean my machine every now and then just to make sure its still there, and as for he floor, no room for dirt, there's too much other stuff for there to be any dirt. Ian S C
KWIL	28/07/2011 12:10:58
3681 forum posts 70 photos	I am glad I am not alone!!!!
1	28/07/2011 12:53:58
65 forum posts 1 photos	I don't know whether I should take note and be more like the "old hands" here or carry on as I do. I clean my Warco machines after every session, give them a light spray of Duck oil and put the covers on. Be they ever so 'umble, they cost me a few weeks pay and I want them to keep going as long as I do. I don't spend an hour doing it though, 20 minutes with an old paintbrush and some paper towel does it. Cotton buds sounds a tad too much. Jim
Eddie	28/07/2011 13:16:05
56 forum posts	Hi John Looking at the pictures, well there is more swarf in any one of those than what I have made in a couple of workshop sessions, lathe and milling machine. Working mostly not in the workshop. making the odd sparepart or repair job. now working on an Independant 4 jaw chuck for woodturning, This will require a lot of meatl removal on both machines but still a far cry from the amount in pic's. It feels if I also only work in months with a Q. Eddie
Clive Hartland	28/07/2011 19:44:11
2929 forum posts 41 photos	I have seen on one of the tool suppliers web sites a pack of plastic inserts that go into the T slot and stop swarf falling in. I have just looked but cannot remember which one it was! Clive
chris stephens	28/07/2011 20:52:56
1049 forum posts 1 photos	Hi Guys, Many, many years ago as part of my Medical Technician training, pairs of us did a rotation in the Medical Physics workshop of one the Hospitals in which we were training. My colleague was a former machine minder who offered a bit of advise which was "If you want to ingratiate yourself to any workshop staff, without being asked, start cleaning the machinery as they love clean machines but hate the bother of doing it". Since I am now the "Staff" in my own workshop, I need friend Roger to ingratiate himself once more, here. chriStephens
jomac	02/08/2011 11:39:26
113 forum posts	Hi yesterday I put up a post on this subject, and hoped that it would work, as, for the last 3 weeks I could not post replies, it worked on another subject. today. Anyway what I said before, was to cover the work area with cling wrap, including chucks etc etc. ( just make sure that it will not get caught in moving parts) sometimes fine dust and chips stick to the cling wrap, so when I have finished milling or lathing, all I have to do is remove the cling wrap with all the swarf, and then wipe the work area down with an oiled paint brush followed by an old rag. It works for me. John Holloway
Clive Hartland	02/08/2011 16:40:20
2929 forum posts 41 photos	I posted earlier about T slot covers, I have since found them again and the are on the Wabeco site. If you look for the milling machines you will see, 'Ask price,' click on that and they are in that listing. They are for 14 and 16 mm widths. Bit expensive for three pieces though! Clive
Jon	02/08/2011 21:17:11
1001 forum posts 49 photos	OP yeah way way too much cleaning, its a tool. Rag or a blow over with compressed air and sweep up, job done. 3 hrs work and compressed down. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL15/728921/1252422/393696139.jpg
WALLACE	03/08/2011 08:32:01
304 forum posts 17 photos	I read in an old engineering book that an air line tended to force dirt into a machine so wasn't a good idea ! Any truth in this or is it a bit of an old wives tale (not that SWMBO ever gets to clean up the workshop...... ..) W.
John McNamara	03/08/2011 09:03:41
1377 forum posts 133 photos	The problem with air is it blows metal dust and chips all over the workshop, including into your lungs and eyes if you are not careful. Better to suck it away than spread it around Cheers John

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