Oil reservoirs

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Oil reservoirs

This topic has 21 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 8 December 2015 at 20:45 by Tractor man.

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3 December 2015 at 12:46 #214978
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
Hi all,

stripping my new jig borer I found a novel lubrication system with drilled cavities and galleries to supply and retain oil for the slideways.

Each hole was stuffed with rolled up material which had degraded quite badly, and the galleries had sections of pipe cleaner pushed in them to wick the oil up onto the cross slide ways.

Has anyone any experience of this type of lubrication set up? Do I need an oil gun to pump oil into the nipples which feed the galleries?

I have found a source of wool felt that will replace the rotten material in the holes so hopefully it will all work when I stick it back together.
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3 December 2015 at 12:46 #17913
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
3 December 2015 at 13:51 #214984
John McNamara
Participant
@johnmcnamara74883
Hi TM

Oil wicks and Pipe cleaner like twisted fine wire with a loop at one end to thread a wool or cotton yarn through drilled holes are a common method used to carry oil to the bearing surfaces of industrial sewing machine heads it is still used to this day.

The system works remarkably well. Capillary action doing work, drawing the oil through the machine.

Make sure the wicking thread touches the larger felt pads and only the wick not the soft iron fine wire touches the bearing surface. try to replicate the old system.

Regards
John
3 December 2015 at 13:58 #214985
Trevorh
Participant
@trevorh
Hi TM, in heavy industry we use the felt quite regularly for bearing lubrication, you can either pre soak the felt and then fit or once fitted, pump the oil into/onto the felt but you have to make sure its saturated – literally dripping wet

then as previously stated via capillary actionthe bearings will remain lubricated

Trevorh
3 December 2015 at 13:59 #214986
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
Perhaps you could look at the type of filter materiel that is used as fish pond filter! It is inert unlike wool based materiel. The pipe cleaners sound OK.

Clive
3 December 2015 at 15:46 #214995
Robbo
Participant
@robbo
Capillary matting as used in horticulture could be a good replacement for the rotted material, though obviously it normally sucks up water, not oil.

Once upon a time we had cotton-wound copper wire, which was used as a wick to feed oil from an oil reservoir, the cotton winding providing the capillary action and the copper core giving the stiffness necessary to get the stuff in place.
3 December 2015 at 17:02 #215004
Chris Evans 6
Participant
@chrisevans6
I do not wish to hi jack the thread but; has anyone got a supplier for felt to make oil/bearing seals. I have tried chiropody felt but it is to soft. I need a sheet about 1/4" thick for seals on an old motorcycle. Chris.
3 December 2015 at 17:14 #215009
frank brown
Participant
@frankbrown22225
Felt of various grades is used for the dampers in pianos, try a piano repairers. I am sure that there is one on your high street!.

Frank
3 December 2015 at 17:56 #215014
john carruthers
Participant
@johncarruthers46255
If there is a glass works near you the benches are often covered in a dense felt. It is used for 'blocks' also.
Modern 'non cut' bench covers are coming in so old felt can be had for the asking (and a beer).
3 December 2015 at 18:01 #215015
Grizzly bear
Participant
@grizzlybear
Hi Chris,

Mucho felt on the 'net.

http://www.jaharrison.co.uk/products/felt-products.asp

To name one. Usual disclaimer.

Bear..
3 December 2015 at 20:01 #215026
Chris Evans 6
Participant
@chrisevans6
Thanks for the link Grizzly, I have sent an enquiry. I never found them when I searched before.
3 December 2015 at 22:14 #215037
DMB
Participant
@dmb
Could also try shops that sell materials for making clothes at home – “dressmaking” materials. I obtained some felt from that type of shop in Kensington Gardens, Brighton, run by very helpful Indian family.”What colour felt?”
3 December 2015 at 22:16 #215038
DMB
Participant
@dmb
.

Edited By DMB on 03/12/2015 22:30:25
3 December 2015 at 22:35 #215040
stan pearson 1
Participant
@stanpearson1
Hi TM

If you email Armstrong oilers they will sell you the proper felt pads.

Armstrong.oilers@nymr.co.uk

Stan
3 December 2015 at 23:06 #215044
Paul Lousick
Participant
@paullousick59116
Wick type oil lubricators are common on steam engines and use the capillary action of wool or cotton to carry oil from a reservoir to the axles bearings. The reservoirs are open cavities and are filled with oil. They normally have a lid to cover them.

A reservoir for the oil is either part of the bearing casting or is a separate fitting, screwed into it. A small hollow tube is fitted in the middle which prevents the oil from quickly draining thru to the shaft.

Oil is carried from the reservoir to the shaft by the capillary action of the wick. The wicks are made from wool or cotton and normally wrapped around a piece of copper wire for support. This will only work with natural wool fibre. Synthetic wool does not work.

Paul.
4 December 2015 at 08:43 #215061
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
I use pipe cleaners as oil wicks in old machinery at our museum, just use another piece if you want to increase the oil flow.

Ian S C
4 December 2015 at 09:39 #215072
Chris Evans 6
Participant
@chrisevans6
Well I had a very prompt quote for an A4 size piece of 6mm felt. £15 I can live with that, but £13.84 postage; no thanks.
4 December 2015 at 17:20 #215104
ega
Participant
@ega
Chris Evans 6:

I have a stock of thick paper maker's felt somewhat thinner than 6mm. You would be welcome to a piece for the (actual) cost of the postage. PM me if interested.
4 December 2015 at 22:52 #215122
Grizzly bear
Participant
@grizzlybear
Hi Chris,

3-4mm thick pressed 100% Wool Felt 60cm wide per 0.5 metre, free post on eBay.

£4.25

Search 'Felt fabric'

Usual disclaimer.

Bear..
4 December 2015 at 23:33 #215128
julian atkins
Participant
@julianatkins58923
i would like to echo frank brown's suggestion. all my thick felt pad was provided by a local Church organ repairer gratis. i havent much left to spare after fitting to many miniature loco axleboxes otherwise i would offer to send you some. the organ stuff is quite a bit thicker than piano damper stuff.

cheers,

julian
5 December 2015 at 03:27 #215142
Paul Lousick
Participant
@paullousick59116
Bearing companies supply square and rectangular section strips of felt for shaft seals.
8 December 2015 at 20:45 #215619
Tractor man
Participant
@tractorman
I found a small sheet of 6mm natural 100% wool felt on the auction site and worked out how to roll it into a small enough cylinder to fit into the drilling in the saddle.

I left a small gap at the top so I could make a small disc of felt to sit on top making it easier to slip the table on without trapping any material.

The table is at the grinders and will be ready to collect tomorrow so I will be popping through to pick it up after work.

I used cotton pipe cleaners to make the wick sections for the other bearing surfaces.

Many thanks for the suggestions and offers of help, much appreciated.

TM
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