Cleaning ways and sliding surfaces

olcopper

Registered
Registered
Joined
Aug 30, 2015
Messages
93
The ways on my lathe and the sliding surfaces in my mill have become stained over the years and, I was wondering what is the best way to clean them, I'm aware that I shouldn't take a side grinder to them, but, is a wire brush in a hand drill OK? How about a 3M pad? or, is there a chemical that will clean them up and not damage the ways or surfaces?
olcopper
 
One of those blue non-scratching Scotch-brite pads and some oil and elbow grease is all I would use, maybe a little liquid polish for stubborn spots like Simichrome or equivalent
Agree with John, no wire brushing or heavy abrasives- no power tools
Mark
 
I would use a razor blade to "shave" off any built up areas. Other than that I would do nothing to staining. To remove staining, which is just another form of oxide color like bluing, requires the removal of some metal. It might be just a very small amount but, it is still removal. Not a good idea IMHO for just "looks".
 
Agree with Bobby, even light rubbing removes some molecules and ya want to remove as little as possible
 
I recall something waaay back in time of either cleaning or lapping ways with a tool with a long handle, was I cleaning it or lapping it, mostly remember it was hard work.
oc
 
Back
Top