Cleaning

[JSH]

Is there any reason NOT to use a shop vac to clean up with?
I am thinking one of the smaller 1-2 gallon shop vacs would be handy for this?
Jeff

 

[Gary]

Do you mean cleaning up the Swarf? Only thing would be a possible problem with fine metal chips mixed with oil + a possible static charge.

 

[Brad]

I hope it isn't an issue, I use mine all the time.
Everything I read says use a vacuum, not compressed air. Compressed air can force chips into places they shouldn't be.

I use a small whisk broom for most but the vacuum has its place.

 

[Gary]

If you use yours all the time Brad, that's good enough for me.

 

[KeithB]

We use a shop vac on the manual mill and it works just fine. We use a LOT of cheap Chinese 1" and 2" wide bristle brushes (from Harbor Freight) for brushing off chips and brushing on cutting oil.

 

[Brad]

Just keep it for shop use. Oil will get in the hose and drop out at times. I happen to own 3 shop vacs so it isn't an issue. The biggest gets used in the garage as it will handle bulkier stuff.

I use mine to vacuum up the oil dry that is around too. My lathe does leak some oil and I hate the little puddles.

 

[KeithB]

Good point about the oil dripping from the hose Brad.

 

[Ian]

One of my first purchases after using my lathe was a bucket vac from the home store, dedicated to the lathe. I put some floor-dry in the bottom to keep the liquid contained. It may not be an ohsa-approved system but it works for me and there's a fire extinguisher nearby. First morning after I used it I found an oil puddle on the floor (facepalm moment, I should have realized the convoluted tubing would trap oil). Re-engineered the hose hangar and now it's good to go.

 

[JSH]

Everyone pretty much covered any concerns I had. One of the little cheap vacs is what I figured on using. And the oil and chips getting into that hose was another concern. I just figured to hang it up so the hose would drain into the bucket.
Good thinking on putting a bit of floor dry in the bottom.
Anyone had problems with filters?
I would think not other than oil soak possibly.
Jeff

 

[Gary]

I'm going to try and fab a plastic elbow to connect to the inlet inside the canister to divert the gunk directly to the bottom. Don't know if it'll work, or not. Might even fashion a plastic surround to go around the filter to shield it from direct contact of the gunk as it's sucked in.

 

[Brad]

Mine has the paper filter over the foam. I haven't changed it in years. With mostly chips and stuff it won't clog very fast like it would with drywall dust and such.

A smooth hose would be nice isteads of the ridged one.

 

[fiver]

I suck up a lot of brass chips with mine.
and just do the hold my hand over the nozzle for a bit then let it go, and the partially cover it to increase velocity in the hose and raise the tip up high thing, every now and then.
this generally gets everything down in the bucket without too much trouble.

 

[fiver]

dang it I forgot [and I'm trying to bump up my post count] you can get smooth hose at the ace hardware.
it comes in clear or blue and is used for water and such.

 

[Ian]

I'm still on the prowl for a slick-sided, lightweight, oil-resistant 1.25" ID hose for mine, but for now the extension and accessories borrowed from a junk vac I've kept for years is free, handy, and working (now I can FINALLY throw the rest of it away). The bucket vacs come with a 4' hose which barely reaches the floor, but what do you want for $20.

 

[Intheshop]

Shop vacs, aka Rodney......as in Dangerfield.

Best said with a britisher accent,"ehh,ow bout a bit of Rodney ere".

Our best Rodney hookup is on a '51 W/T (uhh,that's Walker Turner) 1200 power feed drillpress.Uses a 2 1/2" IIRC,muffler clamp for the ribbed hose.Don't need to be tight because that formed pce that fits over the U ......is exactly rib spacing,which allows for very quick hosend positioning.

So,the U gets a bolt welded to the cntr of the U bend.This bolts to a band that goes around DP column....which uses the camlock off a bicycle seat stem.Either steal the neighbor kid's or get them off eBay.

It's like 4 or 5 axis.The muffler clamp body interface with a Rodney hose is the chintz.