Cleaner for Removing Cast Iron Chips From Equipment

A hammer and chisel work best. Not realy, cleaning up after each run works the best, but after it's packed in and rusted, you need the hammer and chisel, a dull chisel.

What is you normal cutting / coolant? A water based soluble oil? If so the water is causing oxidation of the iron particles and causing conglomerates.

You could try a good penetrating oil. Do NOT use WD-40 as it will tend to make bad matters worse.

Experience is what you have gained after you needed it.

i use a semi-synthetic coolant

All the advice given using coolant to cut cast iron is given by a younger generation .The old fashion way is the best, cut it dry, with the right speed and feed you get coarse chips , easy to brush of and shovel out, use a vacuum cleaner for the dust also use it if you have to make really fine cuts.

Excuse me,

The thread is about removing cast iron particles that are stubbornly resisting cleaning efforts.

Being in the in between generation and having significant experience machining cast iron I suggest using compressed air instead of coolant for cutting.

Read the entire thread again...

28.2.08

Very Common Interest problem. We all would like to get educated alongwith you. Tried talking to Blaser or Shell, the coolant people? If I hit on solution, will keep you posted.

thanks for keeping me updated, i will post anything that seems like it might work.

I have a 3 HP, 10" lathe and I found that I experience the same problem with cast nodular steel. By accident, I found that the rust inhibitors sold at local automotive supply stores for turning rusted metal into new, work very well for this problem.

I put a full bottle of rust inhibitor into a spray bottle and applied it sparingly to the affected area. Using a wire brush, the clump of cast steel separated very easily and clean up was a snap.

This inhibitor is more expensive then the water based coolants so I only use it in this situation.

Good Luck

UFG

thanks uncle, i'll certainly give it a try.

A very liberal application of soluble oil mixed with 5 parts water can emulsify the rust and float the debris.

Oil of wintergreen works great and smells wonderful to boot.

Either application requires minimal scraping, wire brushing etc..