polishing in the lathe

[Paul NarramoreParticipant @paulnarramore61033]

Blimey! Newbie here. I've used cloths and emery cloth when polishing metal in a lathe. I know the risks but take the utmost care, however that does bring it home to me how there are alternative and safer ways of doing work. It's also probably that the reason my lathe saw very little use for two years was that I needed guidance before actually using the lathe.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Big change, they've gone to a complete removal of any manual holding element – no bits of wood!

Neil

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I don't use polishing cloths in a lathe. It's a bit sad that some schools did this as it will have an impact in all of them what ever is used for polishing. There is nothing safer than a decent length of emery cloth strip and it's what's been used for this for a lot longer than I have been around. Strips of cloth of sufficient length would be ok as would 3m film cut into strips as needed. There is only really any need to hold the ends. I'm sure others do something else at times as I do but …………..

Bores can be managed with some sort of stick with a slot in the end. I usually use a piece of bar. Afraid I don't but a hand on the end. I might even mount it in the toolpost but it wears very quickly used like that. It can make a very efficient multi point cutting tool especially if rather coarse.

I looked at buying a more modern boxford recently. Ex school from a company that visits lots of schools doing machine maintenance for them etc and also buying machines of them. Manual machines are now very thin on the ground, mostly gone. CNC rules as it's completely enclosed. Sad and mostly down to silly practices that can easily go wrong plus the precautionary principle. One's been mentioned a couple of times – ties is workshops – where the hell were the overalls which should be worn anyway.

One handed filing is amusing. Have a hand / fingers on each end and it's rather difficult to get it to catch anywhere providing it's a suitable size for the work that is being done.The worst thing to do is use a needle file one handed and have the end catch.

People shown in photo's with there head close to a running lathe and no safety glasses is why B'ham has it's very own dedicated eye hospital with no appointment needed. Urgency was gauged as people came through the door. I've known several people who needed a visit sometimes days after the swarf went in – painful as the skin grows over it. It can happen no matter how far some ones eye happens to be away from the work but if a lathe is spitting little hot bits about something is wrong somewhere. I feel that the problem can be much worse when milling.

John

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Edited By John W1 on 13/10/2015 15:01:00

[JonParticipant @jon]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/09/2015 10:35:57:

> Notice left arm on head stock for filing, you have support.

Note also the guard over chuck.

Best junk the guard then have access. Theyre always in the way and make it too difficult to see whats happening. The only time I use mine is to shield most of the coolant flinging off chuck when up close.

Quite agree John emery been used for a century or more and not just in strips but A4 sheets, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure there are idiots out there spoiling for the real machinist. Too many iffs rather than good practice and backing it up but like everything else they ban it.

I don't wear glasses, never have, one thing I am aware of feeling for whats happening and reacting. Not the opposite where tools don't cut then operator forcing and scrapping the cutter/s.
Its the intermittent cuts that tend to fling or that horrible brass, see what happens then maybe glasses or helmet with visor.

Ludicrous one handed filing up against chuck. As said use both hands one arm supported, you have control.

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Posted by Jon on 13/10/2015 20:31:56:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 03/09/2015 10:35:57:

> Notice left arm on head stock for filing, you have support.

Note also the guard over chuck.

I don't wear glasses, never have, one thing I am aware of feeling for whats happening and reacting. Not the opposite where tools don't cut then operator forcing and scrapping the cutter/s.

I guess stupid is the word I am looking for, you can't guard against that

Tony

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Just got the latest ad from axminster tools. Sanding pads shown used in a wood lathe.

How do woodworkers manage to use abrasives quite happily in their lathes. Is it because they have much riskier things to worry about like table saws, planer thicknessers and spindle moulders?

Martin

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I thought the same, but the Axminster pads seem too small to get caught up and drag your fingers in.

Perhaps the practical answer is just to use short lengths of emery roll.

I must admit I use sponge sanding blocks as (1) they can't pull your fingers in and (2) if one gets thrown out of the lathe, it is unlikely to hurt!

Neil

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