so I brought my new lathe home the other night, it is a craftsman 101.07403, I am totally jazzed about this, still have lots to do though before I start messing around like built a good table and CLEAN! Holy shit it is a mess. Been trying mineral spirits, simple green, brake cleaner, you name it. My biggest challenge right now is the threaded rod the carriage rides on, it is filthy. When I crank the carriage from front to back I feel some resistance about half way there, I think it is gunk on the ways. Basically gunk and crap everywhere. Whats the best stuff to use to clean these things up? Do I dare try to "polish" the ways at all?? Any help, advise, links, etc. specific to this model?? Seems the 109 is pretty well represented on the web but the 101 is alittle tougher to get info. on, thanks-
Might try kerosene-- make sure the fumes are gone before plugging it in. Don't think I'd use any abrasive on the ways--unless there was damage to them and then very very carefully.
Kerosene is all I have used, works great for cleaning the lathe and removes the rust as well, I would not scrape the ways to clean them might try steel wool soaked in uh kerosene, by the way the fumes of kero are not that explosive like gas, so you should have no problems there.
Roost--Thanks for the web site,I've not been there before. Oldspeed-- It wasn't just the kerosene--Dan seems to be mixing all types of cleaners to clean the lathe and some are real explosive when you add electrical sparks. I wouldn't even have it plugged in to clean it,old motors really spark around the brushes sometimes.
I've actually been mixing the brake cleaner, simple green, mineral spirits and alittle club soda together and drinking it while trying to clean the lathe with it plugged in and running full tilt, maybe that is why I am having a hard time?? Seriously though thanks for the tips and the safety advise is well heeded. I'll try some kersene, if I dont like the way it works I can burn it in the heater or use it on my concrete forms. thanks for the advise, keep it coming!
thanks for the link, that looks like one of the better machining sites out there, gonna spend some time at that one...
Didn't know you were still online Dan-- I sold a compressor to a guy with a big 10 hp electric motor(new) he thought it needed cleaning with something flamable--then he plugged it in---new motor $350 More than the compressor. I've been guilty of just not thinking about what I just did and what can happen when you don't. Good Luck with the lathe.
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