some cleaning questions for SB

it's ok off topic. How in heck do you know what metal you have? spark test? Chemistry test? Might be hard to test without damaging the piece. If a part not original were added later, who knows what it'd be made of. Imagine even original parts had sometimes different metal alloys
 
Well, sometimes it is a bit of a guess, but how the metal is used, and knowing the properties of some of the likely metals helps. If it obviously a cast piece, that narrows it down to the metals most likely to be cast. Disclaimer: Nearly all metals CAN be cast, but some are difficult to cast, and then some are economical to cast, and exhibit properties as cast that are desirable for certain applications.

Spark test can be invaluable for getting an idea for what it is, but is not the be-all end-all, and obviously, you will need to try grinding on a location that will not be seen, or effect the part function. A magnet, as previously discussed, can narrow the field quite a bit. Normally, application, plus a few physical traits will get you by. If you really need to know what it is, get chummy with a good scrap yard. Many these days have a portable XRF gun and will shoot your sample for a fairly positive ID.
 
Cleaning SB

Thanks for the tip about ATF & acetone, hadn't heard that one. I must be loosing it. Not two weeks ago I used Easy-Off to remove the paint from an old follow rest, and completely forgot about it. Took three applications to get through three coats of ancient paint. Now where did I put whatever it was I was looking for?:whistle:
 
I was just doing some rust removal on parts using an Evapo-rust bath:

Before...




After...



I love this stuff. It is non-caustic, water based, will not harm other alloys, paint, plastic, etc. It's MSDS sheet reads like a glass of water. It's not the cheapest stuff but it's ease of use makes up for the price in my opinion. Here's a link to it's info: http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html

-Ron
 
ScrapMetal said:
I was just doing some rust removal on parts using an Evapo-rust bath:

Before...




After...



I love this stuff. It is non-caustic, water based, will not harm other alloys, paint, plastic, etc. It's MSDS sheet reads like a glass of water. It's not the cheapest stuff but it's ease of use makes up for the price in my opinion. Here's a link to it's info: http://www.evaporust.com/evaporust.html

-Ron
Click to expand...


Ron
You must be happy with these results. My friend used it on his recent purchase of a Van Norman Mill, He was hookedon the stuff. Its not cheap, but works so well, its worth the money.
 
Dont forget to get some fresh air while cleaning. You only have one set of lungs.
 
When I cleaned and refurbished my lathe, I cleaned the ways with WD-40 and a scotchbrite pad. Seemed to work quite well and didn't appear to damage the ways at all. As far as when I cleaned the rest of the lathe parts, I either bead blasted them or soaked them in a heated solution of water and TSP. Didn't have any problems with skin burns and my wife didn't complain about nasty smells from the solution (my sniffer went on the fritz about 45 years ago and I cannot smell almost everything around me). The TSP solution cleaned the parts very well with rinsing them off then compressed air drying them I didn't have any problems with them rusting. Got all of the paint off so I could prime and paint the parts. I have posted a couple of pictures of the completed refurbished lathe in the Lathe forum.
 
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