Lathe Coolant system

[akpilot]

Looks like there are a few people with lathes here on the forum, so I thought I would post a inexpensive coolant system that I built for mine.

Mine came with a chip pan so that made that part easy, I drilled a hole in the chip pan then recessed the area around it better drainage, installed a fitting and hose into a bucket. In the bucket there is a second jug that the drain line goes into that has holes 6-8" above the bottom this acts as a settling pond for any chip that make it past the screen on top of the chip pan.

I used a cheap submersible decorative pond type pump (Lowes) that pumps the clean fluid back up to a magnetic based coolant hose, which can be set on the carriage to travel with the cutting tool.

The one pic shows the switch that I installed, it's a three position switch, ON (when chuck is turning) - OFF - ON (all the time) It's nice when the chuck is turned off for a measurement the fluid stops, when the chuck is turned back on the fluid starts again. I got the wiring info from Steve Bedair (see his website) of course the wiring diagram wouldn't be the same, unless you have one like ours.

I used Primrose cutting fluid, which is mixed 15 to 1 with water. H8257 is Grizzly's part number.

Overall it's easy to do and works great!!

 

[roamrdb]

thanks very much for the info. i have been thinkin about doin something along the same line, helps to see your ideas. very nice system you came up with.

 

[kennyd]

Have you been peeking in my workshop? I built almost the exact same thing a few years ago but use air with it.

 

[MJPetersen]

Very nicely done Mark! That looks absolutely great. I have been thinking of adding some coolant, but have not done it yet. you did a very nice job of it.

What are you making in the last pic?

Mike

 

[SkunkWerX]

Very nice set up!!

 

[akpilot]

What are you making in the last pic?

I'm building a Panograph machine from Torchmate plans, that piece is part of the main hinge.

 

[MJPetersen]

How far have you gotten in that? It looks super neat to be able to follow a pattern to cut out an object especially an intricate one. You will need ot show the pictures of it when you get it done.

Mike

 

[jmc]

akpilot,

Nice looking lathe!

Do you know about the rust and fungus problems with water soluable coolant, especially if it sits awhile between uses? Maybe they're improved it over the last ten years or so but I won't use it on my equipment, which is just used intermittently. It forms a smelly scum in the tank, and the coolant that wicks between the ground surfaces corrodes them eventually. For short jobs it seems faster to just run slower than to clean up the machine each time.

John

 

[westcliffe01]

Try synthetic. Costs more but will last a very long time in a home shop setting. Synthetic Coolant Shines In Shop-Wide Applications : ProductionMachining.com

Do you know about the rust and fungus problems with water soluable coolant, especially if it sits awhile between uses? John

 

[akpilot]

Do you know about the rust and fungus problems John

I'm aware of the these problems, as of now I have not experienced any of them. A machinist I know said this is a very good product. Here is a link to the product info.Primrose Oil - (800) 275-2772 - 225 Primrose Plus Water Soluble Cutting Oil If I experience any problems I'll let everyone know.

 

[actionaj]

Nice job, I have thought about using one of them pumps also but didn't know how it would hold up using it with cutting fluid. I have a pressurized set up but it has no way to drain back while you are using it. I have to manually pour the fluid back in. Thus I hardly ever use it. Let us know how well the pump holds up.

 

[relaqbr]

I used a cheap submersible decorative pond type pump (Lowes) that pumps the clean fluid back up to a magnetic based coolant hose, which can be set on the carriage to travel with the cutting tool.

I am not the safety police! But is the fluid flammable? I work on ponds and water features and those small pumps (mostly) now have their innards encased in epoxy, but over time some will short. And some old pumps have oil not epoxy and if they leak they short. You might want it plugged into a GFI? Also, if the pump flow slows down check it for metal in the rotor cavity. The magnetic hose will help, but some of those little pumps have pretty strong magnets on the impellers and it might collect enough fine particles to slow it down. Actually you have TWO magnetic collectors. Great setup! Enjoy!

Bob