Aside from waxing the bed ways, what are people using to protect the ways from the effects of oak? Thanks.
Aside from waxing the bed ways, what are people using to protect the ways from the effects of oak? Thanks.
I just put a piece of plastic sheeting on the ways. I also do this when using a finish that might drip on them.
The hurrier I goes, the behinder I gets.
Nothing. I don't protect my ways from oak, cherry, or wet, green wood. I just wipe it down as best as I can. Both lathes I have owned seem to have developed enough patina that they become resistant to rust and staining naturally. This has happened to some Hock knives I own also. They flash rusted when I first owned them. That no longer happens provided I wipe down relatively quickly after washing.
This is a "finish" gun nuts all love. Called slow rusting--it was the thing used on pensylvanisa? rifles. Shallow rust rubbed down with oil and years.
I spray it with WD-40 and wipe it down. Then do it again really frequently during the day. At the end of the day if I seen any rust starting I use 4/0 steel wool along with the WD-40.
Yep browning a gun barrel is barely enough oxidation to turn the steel brown. When wiped regularly with oil or wax it looks as shiny and is as durable as blueing a gun barrel.
I have tried almost everything. I am currently using a spray product called WD-40 Drylube. You polish up the ways and then spray on the protectant. Seems to work ok. I'll probably get a can of something else to try when this runs out. Still searching for the holy grail...
I turn a lot of oak, both dry and wet. While I had lathes with cast iron ways, I simply wiped things off. I had no problem with rust. Slight darkening -- patina -- protected the surface from further effects. Why do the ways have to shine? The ways on my current lathe do shine, but they are stainless steel.
After my first experience I decided the best protection was not turning wet oak at all. I'm lucky that I have and am given sooo much wood that I can pick and choose!
Pete
* It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep for life - Sister Elizabeth Kenny *
I think this equates nicely to wood turning as well . . . . .