Cleaning Machinery

[dlavery]

It depends on what is really on the machine. Is it really grease, or is it cosmoline still in place from the original packing? If the lathe is really old and some of the original packing material is still in place, it may actually be rendered pig fat (is there a faint odor of bacon? no, I am not kidding).

If it is cosmolene, try a good citrus-based degreaser (Wurth Citrus is one that I have used successfully). Spray it on and let it sit on the surface for a few minutes (up to 20 based on the age of the material and how "caked on" it may be). Then scrub off the softened material with lots of paper towels or rags. Then make a second pass with the same procedure. Some people have suggested using very fine steel wool, but I try my best to avoid this if possible, unless you also need to remove a surface leyer of rust, as the steel fibers have a nasty habit to finding their way in between the ways and way bearings.

If it really is grease, the best thing that I have found is kerosene on a rag applied liberally with elbow grease. Do the work in a very well ventilated area. When you are done, be VERY careful about how you dispose of the rags. Make sure they are placed in a fireproof metal container, as spontaneous combustion is a very real possibility with kerosene-soaked rags. Citrus degreasers are a suitable second choice, although I have found that kerosene works better.

-dave

[Bill_Hancoc]

Ahhh yes i have an old south bend lathe in my basement that is also at least 50 years old probably more and my dad and clean it with either scotch brite for removing rust. or for grease laquer thinner (aka paint thinner i think) that is a very powerful flamable cleaner and the same care should be used as kerosene but i think this is sronger than kerosene. it works very well but also removes apint so be careful.



may i inquire what size your lathe is? just wondering for no reason

[Simon Strauss]

Originally Posted by dlavery

It depends on what is really on the machine. Is it really grease, or is it cosmoline still in place from the original packing? If the lathe is really old and some of the original packing material is still in place, it may actually be rendered pig fat (is there a faint odor of bacon? no, I am not kidding).


-dave

Dave, are you asking whether or not my lathe smells like Andy Baker at the end of the day? no, what I'm dealing with is most definitely grease, although i cant exactly walk over and smell it right now i do know the last person to use it for any real turning purposes and know that he at one point had it all nice and shiny. Also unfortunately our shop is very poorly ventilated which is why i am trying to avoid kerosene or an abundance of WD-40 but i will try using a rage before i go at it again with steel wool like i had been.

So no one knows if any of the heavy grease removers for dirty dishes that are advertised all the time would work?

-Thanks, Simon

[sanddrag]

After a saturday of working on building a float for the Tournament of Roses parade (lots of dirt, rust, and oil) nothing will clean my hands except for "Fast Orange." Worth a shot.