Thread: todays tools gloat

Well I've been shopping again, she's taken it pretty well really, but you guys are going to get me in trouble one of these days.

Amongst other things I picked up this, now I just need is the surface grinder to go with it.....
Its 280mm x 106mm, I assume this is a transfer block for holding small parts? (if not I might have done my dough)


Also added this to the collection, it looks great but is very tight, I'm told benzine is the go which I think is light fluid but at the prices I've seen it would be cheaper to wash it in Bourbon. Any ideas?


Stuart

p.s. I've noticed the less time I spend in the shed.....the more money I spend on "things" for the shed.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Well I've been shopping again, she's taken it pretty well really, but you guys are going to get me in trouble one of these days.

Amongst other things I picked up this, now I just need is the surface grinder to go with it.....
Its 280mm x 106mm, I assume this is a transfer block for holding small parts? (if not I might have done my dough)


Also added this to the collection, it looks great but is very tight, I'm told benzine is the go which I think is light fluid but at the prices I've seen it would be cheaper to wash it in Bourbon. Any ideas?


Stuart

p.s. I've noticed the less time I spend in the shed.....the more money I spend on "things" for the shed.

Stu,

Benzine was Etalon's recommendation in the 60s. After mentioning it, I had a look in my copy of Mike Yamamoto's book, the " Repair of Mechanical Dial Indicators and Calipers". He recommended odourless paint thinner or acetone as a cleaner. Not much chop as a free-er upper in the case of the acetone. I used the stuff to remove the dried oil in my Zentimess. It removed it alright, nothing moved until I applied a touch of watch oil. And odourless paint thinner sounds a bit vague.

BT

Hi BT,

Acetone I can do, but I'm worried about paint as I planned on dipping the whole thing in.
Maybe Kero and a quick swim in the ultra sonic cleaner would be the best place to start? sure it might not do much.... but I'm hoping it can't do much harm either. Who knows I might get lucky.
I could try acetone, syringe and cotton bubs first, couldnt do much harm either.

Stuart

Stu,

I have a recollection of Ewan removing the paint from graduations on one of his Tesa mic barrels when he dunked it in the ultrasonic cleaner.

I found this conversation on PM and while they don't identify an exact product for cleaning ( what's mineral spirit? ) they do warn against using WD-40 and 3 in 1. -http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/micrometer-spindle-too-tight-256692/#post1927551

A bit more searching... Lazlo on the HSM site made this comment - "Starrett tech support told me clean mineral spirits. I think mineral spirits are a more refined version of Kerosene or paraffin oil. The "low odor" mineral spirits (i.e. Stoddard Solvent) are ultra-refined. The manual for my Cadillac height gage (same precision micrometer threads) recommends the same.

I wouldn't recommend using WD-40 -- it leaves a sticky film."

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/arc...p/t-22392.html

And some info on Stoddard solvent - http://www.restek.com/catalog/view/5929

BT

I think mineral spirits may be turps. Also what about car brake cleaner. Nasty sort of stuff in an enclosed space but doesn't affect the paint. I use it in a pump up spray bottle. Usually washes crud away before your eyes. Bare metal does need oiling afterward to stop flight rust.

Ken

Originally Posted by Toggy

I think mineral spirits may be turps.

Ken

could it be white spirits?

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I have a recollection of Ewan removing the paint from graduations on one of his Tesa mic barrels when he dunked it in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Sure did, and that was just in soapy water. Its pretty easy to put back though.

I'm with Richard, i thought mineral spirits was white spirits, the stuff they use for dry cleaning.

Ew

high spirits.jpg

(I do have some laquer sticks for putting paint in graduations btw)

Michael

Bob
I tried to search the Practical Machinist site, about not using the 3 in one oil for Micrometers without any luck, could not seem to find it !
I have been using the 3 in one oil for a few years now for Micrometer threads, after picking up the idea from Practical Machinist, in the USA.
So, I am interested to know what are the bad effects of using this stuff?
I can easily clean the oil off & change if there are problems?
Be interested to know.
regards
Bruce

If only metric did liquid names

Mineral turps I have. I'll start there and see how things go.

Thank you gentleman.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Abratool

Bob
I tried to search the Practical Machinist site, about not using the 3 in one oil for Micrometers without any luck, could not seem to find it !
I have been using the 3 in one oil for a few years now for Micrometer threads, after picking up the idea from Practical Machinist, in the USA.
So, I am interested to know what are the bad effects of using this stuff?
I can easily clean the oil off & change if there are problems?
Be interested to know.
regards
Bruce

An extract from the PM thread - Ortho's post

Originally Posted by bosleyjr

Noooooooo! Actually,I agree with everything you said, smalltime, except for the 3 in 1. That product contains citronella which is intended to clean stuff off (think goo-gone), but it oxidizes and attracts dirt, and this may be why your mics gunk up. A light mineral oil works best, and doesn't oxidize. Starrett sells instrument oil, which is purified light mineral oil.

I agree with bosleyjr wholeheartedly. Add WD40 also to the "do not use" list to clean mikes.

I too use 3 in 1 Bruce along with Hoppe's Gun Grease because I love the smell of them both but I use Koch Uhrenol Sorte 1 watch oil on my micrometer threads.

Bob.

Mineral turps and mineral spirits are two different but related mixtures. They are not the same thing (despite the Wikipedia info provide above) :
Mineral Turps:
Oil-based paint thinner, turpentine replacement
Chemical Entity
Low Aromatic White Spirit > 60%
Solvent Naptha (petroleum) light arom. 20 – 40%
Contains benzene < 0.1%

Mineral Spirit (White Spirit):
Dry cleaning agent, turpentine replacement for paint thinning and cleanup.
Chemical Entity
1,2,4-Trimethyl benzene < 10%
1,3,5-Trimethyl benzene < 10%
Xylene, Mixed Isomers < 10%

They 'feel' quite different on skin, smell differently and evaporate at a different rate. Mineral spirit is a much better degreaser and cleaning agent for machinery than mineral turps (my own experiences). A specific test a while ago with quite a few solvents showed that mineral turps dissolved Urethane glue while still wet whereas Mineral Spirit only did so maginally, Shellite even less so, while incidentally Acetone did not...

However, looking a bit closer at the local 'Diggers' brand MSDSs, I find some marketing 'crap' to confuse things more:

Low Odour Kerosine:
Low Aromatic White Spirit 100%
Benzene < 0.1%

Kerosine:
Naphtha (petroleum), hyrosulphurised heavy 100%
Benzene < 0.1%

Shellite:
Naphtha (petroleum), hydrotreated light 100%
Containing
n-Hexane 10-30%
Ethylbenzene <10%
Benzene < 0.1%

????

It sounds like it may not really matter what solvent you use for what???? other than specialist solvents...

I need to be a chemist!
Think I'm just going to have a Bourbon

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

I need to be a chemist!
Think I'm just going to have a Bourbon

Stuart

A bourbon or Jack Daniels?

Ben.