To blow or to suck, how do you clean your lathe or mill?

R

Randy_m

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I myself have gotten into the habit of using a vacuum. I was taught that compressed air could in theory blow small chips under your beds and carriages. On the other hand I have seen people that are pro's blow chips with compressed air all the time. So my question, do you suck or do you blow your chips?
 
I would be real careful about using a vacuum cleaner if you use light oil like WD-40 or kerosene. The fumes could turn your vacuum into a flame thrower. They make cyclone vacs that would be safe if you do not put saw dust in there. A vacuum full of oil and saw dust can burst into flames with time as well. Just suggesting that you think things out before you use a vacuum.
 
Never even thought of that! Haven't ever had a problem, but you never know. What are other opinions out there?
 
I use a small paint brush, rags and a wet/dry shop vac. I only use air to blow off tools and parts that are out of the machine.
 
For me, its allways the shop vac
I have never been in the habit of using shop air. I think it would drive metal bits into places you don't want them.
Blowing metal chips with air, only relocates them, and you still need to clean them up later. With a shop vac, its a one time clean up, and only empty the vac as needed. The down side to shop vacs, is if your not carefull, the hose gets clogged up with swarf and a bit of a pain to clear out at times.
 
A brush or a shop vac is the only way to clean a machine. Compressed air will blow chips and dirt past the seals and if you have a DRO, into the scales. NEVER use compressed air on a machine. Early in my machining career, I was spotted cleaning my machine at the end of the day with an air hose and was reported to the owner. He promptly came out as proceeded to ream me a new you know what. It was not one of my favorite moments in life, but it was memorable. :scared:

Tom
 
:nono::nono::nono:Serving my apprenticeship, if you ever got caught with air or vacuum near machine tools you would have he11 to pay from the :nuts::lmao:old timers...brush, pan, and way oil were it I have seen both and it still makes me cringe when I see someone using a airline on any machine but especially and grinder...uhg!:angry:
 
Small paint brush and a dust pan. It doesn't take long to put into operation, nor to put away and not long to empty either.
Bobby
 
Mostly suck. The long, curly lathe stuff is removed by hand. I have shop air, but not continuous. Only used to operate air tools and painting. We have central vac, it works great for my needs. I use oil very sparingly, mostly when threading, so that is not an issue. The mill chips are handled with vac and paint brush.

Bill
 
The only time an air hose comes near my pathetic stable of machines is when it is attached to my venturi type vacuum. There is something to say about blowing swarf and dust beneath wipers and ways. My main problem is that IT IS DANGEROUS. I do not make it easy for myself or others to blow chips about the place or into personal orifices. So many personal injuries are caused each year by working with a blow gun, that it amazes me that some folks would horse play with one. If I had employees I'd give a week without pay for picking up an air hose without a very good reason.

Old fart don't want no fun. Sorry but old fart wants you to be whole and healthier than he is, when you be "old fart".

Steve (sorry but it seems the air hose has no manual that most would read)
 
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