Whatcha using to Clean Your Machines?

Me I use VM&P Naptha (Lighter Fluid). it's the MOST GOODER solution , Unless You live in the U.S.S.K. (United Soviet Socialist Kaliphonia) we been using it for 100 years in our parts Cleaners, until the U.S.S.K determined that Oil that out of the ground is some how bad. I keep it in a old B12 Chemtool can with a parts strainer, and every now and again I strain it though a coffee filter and good as new! Mind you B12 is a wicked good Cleaner on it's own but it evaporates too fast for my taste
 
I wash my machines down with coolant, then finish them off with Windex and Bounty paper towels. The coolant loosens any scum that might be on the machine and the Windex finishes it off.
 
burnrider said:
Question for posters on this thread;

If your lathe ways and machined surfaces are clean and shiny (normally) why not use a solvent like WD-40, diesel etc. followed by an oil (spray or otherwise) to prevent rust?

Does the bigger equipment leak oil, or need cleaning because of a fluid cooling system? Sounds like a lot of regular, heavy cleaning is done.
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Most machines you find in a real machine shop or fabrication shop dont get cleaned on the regular basis. They are subjected to alot of cutting oils, and many do leak in different areas. Over time all the foreign matter getting blown off the machine and elswhere from the shop starts collecting on the machine surface and thats where you get that nasty crud we have to clean off. Some machines go many years in between cleanings. Mine are subjected to that kind of abuse. Once to I do get around to cleaning one its usually a very dirty job.
 
I am about to endure a coolant type change in my lathes. I bought a semi-synth Trim brand, and they offered a special machine cleaning chemical along with the purchase of the coolant. I can't recall the name of it, but I'll let you guys know how it works. I will have to completely clean and dry the machines, including the sumps.
 
Wow, nobody mentioned carb cleaner. Is it because it's environmentally unfriendly? Many of my father's old friends used to use it for cleaning. I don't use carb cleaner. I agree with you guys that not having to worry about where you're going to dump the stuff afterwards is nice and convenient.
 
Most of us are old enough to know people or be people who were affected by "the good stuff". I have no idea what I have a sensitivity to, but contact with certain chemicals can cause a reaction as pleasant as a light case of poison Ivy, or a genuine "it sucks to be you" case of blistering, peeling, and when nothing is left to blister and peel you get the cracking and bleeding thing. That is generally accompanied by the "mummy prayer" thing where your hands are bandadged and you pray the blood stops soaking through and it'll be over soon. Soon being a couple of weeks. So by all means use Napthas (no real need for a liver) Methyl Ethyl Ketones (MEK) Heck people would open the hatches on my aircraft elevator pump rooms with signs saying "danger" neurotoxin, carcinagen, yada yada, because they heard that cellulube strips paint (it does).

I implore my friends to take care and use some common sense and a little more labor to live a lot longer and more comfortably. Relax and let safe and light duty chemicals do the work with time.

Tis why I say I use Makers Mark bourbon. No hurry and the wait is not so bad. Even if you only spray 409 on the machine.

Steve
 
swatson144 said:
Most of us are old enough to know people or be people who were affected by "the good stuff". I have no idea what I have a sensitivity to, but contact with certain chemicals can cause a reaction as pleasant as a light case of poison Ivy, or a genuine "it sucks to be you" case of blistering, peeling, and when nothing is left to blister and peel you get the cracking and bleeding thing. That is generally accompanied by the "mummy prayer" thing where your hands are bandadged and you pray the blood stops soaking through and it'll be over soon. Soon being a couple of weeks. So by all means use Napthas (no real need for a liver) Methyl Ethyl Ketones (MEK) Heck people would open the hatches on my aircraft elevator pump rooms with signs saying "danger" neurotoxin, carcinagen, yada yada, because they heard that cellulube strips paint (it does).
I implore my friends to take care and use some common sense and a little more labor to live a lot longer and more comfortably. Relax and let safe and light duty chemicals do the work with time.
Tis why I say I use Makers Mark bourbon. No hurry and the wait is not so bad. Even if you only spray 409 on the machine.
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I agree. Better to be safe, take the time it takes, and get the job done. I remember getting PVC pipe cleaner into a cut I had on my finger. I wasn't feeling too good the next couple of days and I think my nerves got slightly screwed up from it. Never again. I'm glad folks are smarter, or maybe more cautious?, these days.
 
One thing That sticks out is no one has mentioned Waxing the Machined Surfaces to avoid rusting
 
I wax my woodworking table surfaces, like on the tablesaw, joiner, planer, bottom of router, hand planes, etc.....just nothing containing silicone. I've not waxed any machine tool surfaces, but if it weren't exposed to the oils and cutting fluids, it should keep the moisture out pretty well.
 
rickard said:
One thing That sticks out is no one has mentioned Waxing the Machined Surfaces to avoid rusting
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I wax my woodworking surfaces too. I'm not sure it would work to strip off all the old oil, wax and then re-oil on the machines. They'd have to be re-oiled as they see nearly daily use. Might work great on the non wearing surfaces.

Steve
 
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