Etching stains on metal after cleaning agent

[lestat]

Etching stains on lathe bed from cleaning agent/degreaser - is it permanent?

I bought a lathe with toffee-like gunk all over the bed and was very hard to come off, even with cleaning agent (something similar to Simple Green. I must have been taking my time with it and little matte spots started to appear all over the bed.

Is there a cure for it? I have to fix something while fecking up something else in the process.

 

[zkling]

Got a pic? What "Some type of cleaning agent" did you use? I tend to use acetone to clean/wipe down precision surfaces like ways and the like.

Simple green can actually be some pretty nasty stuff.

 

[PCO6]

... Is there a cure for it?

Naval Jelly?

 

[Outlawmws]

Try Mothers Aluminum Polish I have a really good Solingen steel hunting knife and it had dark stains from citrus acid at a guess (I bought it used in that shape), I was polishing the aluminum bits and for the hell of it decided to do the blade. It came out Spotless!

 

[Outlawmws]

ps: Next time read the ingredients or look up the MSDS on it to see what it really is before using...

 

[lestat]

Got a pic? What "Some type of cleaning agent" did you use? I tend to use acetone to clean/wipe down precision surfaces like ways and the like.

Simple green can actually be some pretty nasty stuff.

Pic here.



The product is called Restore Degreaser from Shield Technology (found in the UK). They also have a product similar to Metal Rescue called Restore Rust Remover. The lathe came from a school and is practically brand new, but it was all underneath a 23 years old dried up 'transit' preservative. You're supposed to take that gunk off as soon as you take ownership.

 

[PCO6]

lestat - I've used Permatex Rust Dissolver Gel (Naval Jelly) on stains like that and have had good results.

http://www.shopthedude.com/prd.cl/PRM81756

 

[lestat]

Naval Jelly?

I've already used rust remover as there was a small patch of rust where the tailstock was sitting. All that's left now is staining.

Try Mothers Aluminum Polish I have a really good Solingen steel hunting knife and it had dark stains from citrus acid at a guess (I bought it used in that shape), I was polishing the aluminum bits and for the hell of it decided to do the blade. It came out Spotless!

I could certainly try that.

 

[PCO6]

I use Scotch Brite discs for cylinder heads and similar machined surfaces. That might work.

https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/AG...balProductDetailDisplay.do?item_code=MMM07516

 

[A_Pmech]

I have no idea what it is, but leave it be. The etching won't harm anything.

 

[zkling]

That almost looks like water spots. I'd just try a quick wipe with acetone. If it still doesn't come off, then just leave it be and use it. Going to a scotch bright or abrasive, such as polish is going to do more harm than good to the precision surfaces. It's a lathe, not a display trophy.

Wipe them good with acetone and then make sure you put some good way oil on them to prevent rust.

 

[lestat]

Good news: surface is coming back with metal polish

Bad news: it looks like etching.

Anyway, no real harm done. Will metal polish leave abrasive residue on the ways?

 

[Outlawmws]

Is it Mothers? or something else? Mothers is strictly a chemical reaction.

 

[lestat]

No, it's Peek. Can't make up what it says on back, it was only a little blob left in the tube and tried it at the far end of the tailstock. Definitely works. Will get the Mothers tomorrow.

 

[lestat]

Yeah, it contains fine abrasive so it's a no go.

 

[zkling]

Is it Mothers? or something else? Mothers is strictly a chemical reaction.

Actually mothers M&A polish is very slightly abrasive. I had a long, somewhat heated, talk with one of the guys at Mothers one day about it. I forget exactly what is in it (I want to say very fine AO), but it is suspended in a solution of sodium hydroxide and kerosene (IIRC). Which was actually the reason why I called them in the first place. Definitely not something I would use on a precision machine surface such as lathe ways.

Heads up, they are dang proud of that product and don't like to be questioned on it.

 

[zkling]

Yeah, it contains fine abrasive so it's a no go.

Just wipe it down with acetone, oil, then start using the machine. If you get polish (abrasive) trapped between the carriage and ways, you will be effectively lapping the machine every time to transverse the bed. What machine is it? Looks like a south bend bed or the like.

 

[lestat]

Just wipe it down with acetone, oil, then start using the machine. If you get polish (abrasive) trapped between the carriage and ways, you will be effectively lapping the machine every time to transverse the bed. What machine is it? Looks like a south bend bed or the like.

It's a Harrison M250 from 1990. It's sold as a Clausing in the US.

 

[PCO6]

That almost looks like water spots. I'd just try a quick wipe with acetone. If it still doesn't come off, then just leave it be and use it. Going to a scotch bright or abrasive, such as polish is going to do more harm than good to the precision surfaces. It's a lathe, not a display trophy.

Wipe them good with acetone and then make sure you put some good way oil on them to prevent rust.

I've used 3M scotch brite products on all kinds of metal surfaces and have never damaged them. They're non-metallic - pick the right one and it should be fine. Whether or not they'll solve the OP's problem, I don't know but I wouldn't worry about damaging the metal.

 

[CWP1616L]

What you have is caustic cleaner corrosion. Chemicals like Simple Green are highly corrosive. I'll even remove the black oxide coating from tools if left on there too long.

http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/__da...S0094_-_Cleaning_-_Using_caustic_cleaners.pdf

 

[zkling]

pick the right one and it should be fine. .

Yea, and that is the issue right there. There are many, of which most are abrasive, including the ones you linked above. Typically more harm is done to machine tools, especially lathes, by improper maintenance and cleaning then just using the machine.

 

[CWP1616L]

Abrasives aren't going to work in this case because the corrosion is subsurface.

 

[lestat]

Couldn't resist and got the mothers mag and alu polish. Outlaw you were right, it did came out spotless. That stuff is very good indeed.

I'll post some picts of the whole lathe when the job is done. Still have to clean the sliding parts and and wire in the vfd.

 

[Outlawmws]

Make sure you clean the residue off, and then oil the ways.

 

[lestat]

Make sure you clean the residue off, and then oil the ways.

Of course. I used a white microfiber cloth for final polishing so I can see when I'm done.