By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more
Forum sponsored by:
Forum sponsored by Forum House Ad Zone

Cleaning T slots

All Topics | Latest Posts

Search for:  in Thread Title in  
Wolfie13/01/2012 18:44:05
avatar
502 forum posts
Does anyone have any brilliant ideas as to how you clean out t-slots full of damp swarf?
martin perman13/01/2012 18:51:11
avatar
2095 forum posts
75 photos
As an apprentice one of the tools we made were Tee's the shape of the slot with a tang welded to it which then had a file handle attached which you then drag through the Tee to clear the swarf.
 
Martin P
Mark P.13/01/2012 19:01:35
avatar
634 forum posts
9 photos
Hi Wolfie,I use a wet and dry bag less hoover.
Regards Pailo
Brian Selby13/01/2012 19:33:51
avatar
9 forum posts
19 photos
Wolfie
 
What about a stiff brush and a vacuum.
 
Brian
wheeltapper13/01/2012 19:35:58
avatar
424 forum posts
98 photos
I use a toothbrush.
are the slots open at one end or not?
I removed the plate from one end of mine so I can brush the swarf straight out.
 
Roy
Clive Hartland13/01/2012 19:39:05
avatar
2929 forum posts
41 photos
Get a bit of 15mm copper tube, cut across it a bit higher than the depth of the slots.
Cut through the tube under the slot and flatten out the tube and the cut/file the flattened piece to the shape of the slots and then use it to rake through the slots to clean them.
The copper will not harm the steel/cast iron.
 
Clive
JasonB13/01/2012 20:06:06
avatar
25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles
Or if you have cash to splash you can buy Tee slot cleaners or make your own from a bit of plastic

Edited By JasonB on 13/01/2012 20:06:21

wotsit13/01/2012 20:24:23
188 forum posts
1 photos
I get the wife to do it while I do something else - I was always told to delegate stuff when I was working - keeps her happy for hours I'll have to ask her how she does it one day.....
BERTO13/01/2012 21:22:31
46 forum posts
Hi Wolfie .
There are two approaches to this .
1) let the swarf build up in the tee slots then drag them out with a tee slot cleaner or vacuum them up .
2) Stuff something into the vacant tee slots to stop the swarf collecting in there in the first place .
I found that if i'm only doing a small amount of machining to a part then i use the first approach but if i am removing a lot of material like cutting dovetails or deep slots i use some cheap garden hose or similar to fill the tee slots i am not using .
This takes but a few seconds to do ,makes the clean up much easier and the hose is re- usable { also works on lathe tee slots } .
Another thing i use is a small ice cream container {plastic type} to collect the swarf that i brush off the table , I just hold it under one end of the machine table them brush the swarf towards it - saves on having to clean up more from the floor .
A Vacuum cleaner{wet &dry is preffered } is a valuable item to have as this makes cleaning the remaining swarf that is left on the machine,bench and floor easy to collect and will suck out most of the swarf from the tee slots but i save this for the final clean up of the day .
 
Ian

All Topics | Latest Posts

Please login to post a reply.

Magazine Locator

Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!

Find Model Engineer & Model Engineers' Workshop

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.

You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy

Latest Forum Posts
Support Our Partners
cowells
Sarik
MERIDIENNE EXHIBITIONS LTD
Subscription Offer

Latest "For Sale" Ads
Latest "Wanted" Ads
Get In Touch!

Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?

You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.

Click THIS LINK for full contact details.

For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.

Digital Back Issues

Social Media online

'Like' us on Facebook
Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
 Twitter Logo

Pin us on Pinterest

 

Donate

donate