Noob question, Harbor Freight 7x10 lathe

I like that tooth brush idea!!!!

I would leave the lead screw cover on. The swarf (or whatever it's called) gets all over the lead screw and eventually gets jammed up in the half nuts. I've had to take the apron off of my mini lathe several times to dig the swarf out if the half nuts. Now I'm pretty funny about keeping the lead screw clean at all times. I've never had to take my apron off just to clean the carrage hand wheel gears.

One solution that I think would work to automatically to clean the half nuts would be to mill a undercut slot or two into the lead screw by the tailstock where the carriage is rarely used.
If you believe there is swarf in the half nuts run the carrage all the way to the right and close the half nuts and let the undercut slots in the lead screw clean the jammed swarf out of the half nuts like a tap. (It's just an idea, but I think it would work.)


Chris
 
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