New Lathe – cleaning the oil off

[Ace ChandlerParticipant @acechandler49785]

Hi Folks,

Really basic question [hence the beginners forum]

I've just received my new axminster mini lathe – the whole thing is covered in 'transport' oil – I guess to keep in good condiution while it's being transported to me. do I need to do anything special to clean it off? – like solvent ? – or should I just clean down the excess with a rag?

Many Thanks, Ace

[Ace ChandlerParticipant @acechandler49785]

[David Maynard 4Participant @davidmaynard4]

WD40 seems to be flavour of the month – not for lubrication but for solvent/cleaning properties….

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

+1 for WD40, spray on, leave for 10 seconds and clean off with a link free cloth, this should remove the 'transport coating'

Then apply quite a liberal coating of a 'millway' specific oil to all the bed and slide surfaces, the tail stock quill etc, and run everything back and forth to the full extents.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Kerocene (paraffin) and an old rag.

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Ace,

Congratulations with your new lathe.
As Paul, I have used kerosene (paraffin) or lamp-oil that doesn't smell as much, and an old credit card to scrape off the protective grease. Oil well afterwards.

Thor

[AdrianRParticipant @adrianr18614]

I just finished my new mill. Paraffin, tooth brush, couple of rolls of kitchen roll torn into quarters.

I would also take the top and cross slide apart to clean the muck out of the slides, threads and bearings.

Moly grease to reassemble and as said above oil it.

 

I put a magnet under my paraffin pot before poring it away, I am glad I took the advise to strip and clean, this was just from the quill and fine feed.

 

Adrian

Edited By AdrianR on 29/05/2020 07:39:26

[Ace ChandlerParticipant @acechandler49785]

thanks folks, appreciate the guidance… expect a dribble of more super basic questions as i get to grips with my new toy!!

[Author]

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