mmm confused

[oldskoolron]

as ive previously mentioned I have watched an learnt a heap of toms vids on youtube ..I see some ppl saying NOT to use compressed air to clean your lathe and mill ect but see many others using it that have a lot of vids on youtube ..
common sense says don't use it and so I made a little magnetic brush to pickup the metal bits an I use a vacuum for alloys an brass that way I can save it and melt it down to make my own ignots
my question is ...is it ok to use the air or not .just like to now im not being to over cautious
cheers

[Vinny]

No, it's not safe. The air can cause the chips to go in all directions, including back at you.

[oldskoolron]

that's y I don't do it vinny its just there are some blokes who have many instructional vids using them and if its someone new to it like me unless you have had a dad who was safety conceinse [spelling is *****] ud get pretty confused .

[Mayhem]

Low pressure air is fine. You only want to move them out of the way, not launch them across the shop. Low pressure also prevents them getting under wipers etc.

[Dr Stan]

(08-27-2016, 12:07 AM)Mayhem Wrote: Low pressure air is fine.  You only want to move them out of the way, not launch them across the shop.  Low pressure also prevents them getting under wipers etc.

Generally true, but whomever is using air to clean off a machine needs to pay close attention to other people in the area.  Every commercial shop I've worked in we used compressed air for clean-up.

In contrast I use my leaf blower to help get back in corners and such.

[oldskoolron]

thanx for the replies fellas .the only time I found it hard is when lil slithers of brass get caught in the dial grooves ect normally I use a paint brush or spend time taking it apart to get the bits which is hard when I am only good for 15 to 30 mins standing at one time .also getting the bits out from the t nut slots on the milling table is a pain .mainly asked to clear it up for those like me that aren't trained or have had the experience ..plus its even harder when using oils or wd40 as it tends to clump to the machine in use .that why ive decided to use a mix of soluble oil an water .it cools the job adds some lube but is also able to evaporate in the heat of the day here 27c to 35c

[dallen]

I wouldn't waste my time collecting chips to try to melt down, they will mostly turn to dross/slag

[ieezitin]

Hello

With a liberal amount of commonsense and oodles of politically correctness I have always used air in my shop and at work.

Anthony.

[oldskoolron]

(08-27-2016, 08:09 PM)ive got a 5 gallon bucket full of brass an 2x buckets of ally was going to melt the ally with a heap of Harley pistons I have .surely the brass would melt down ok I know ill get slag on top but I should get something out of a 5 gal bucket full ??? Wrote: I wouldn't waste my time collecting chips to try to melt down, they will mostly turn to dross/slag

[f350ca]

In defence of what Dave said. We were given a 5 gallon bucket of Babbit scrapings (don't know didn't ask), anyway took most of the bucket to fill the ladle as we skimmed the slag off the top.