Mini-mill placement, usage and cleanup/upkeep...

[D-train]

Hi,

So her is my situation... I have a three car attached garage with stairs directly into my house basement. I have my automotive (metal working) stuff in the garage, and the woodworking stuff in my basement. I have a drill press in the basement and I have a mini-mill coming. I plan to put that (mill) in the garage. My garage is currently unheated, but will be heated NEXT winter.

So her is my question(s)... 1.) Since I have kids running around... They stay out of the woodworking area, and stay away from the side of the garage where the mill will be. Even I run the risk of bringing in metal shavings on shoes and clothes. (three year olds and metal shavings don't mix well) So I want to keep the mill in the garage. Any suggestions on how to contain said mess/shavings? 2.)I realize that the mill in the garage will be prone to surface rusting. I had my drill press out there for about 8 months and saw that. Any suggestions on how to prevent that? I assume that WD-40'ing all bare metal surfaces... I even thought about coming up with a rust preventative shroud or cabinet to keep over the mill. I do have a magnetic nail pickup to use also.

Thanks for all suggestions!

Mark

 

[GeoBruin]

I think you'll find the mill won't throw chips too much further than the table/chip tray. I keep one of these in the shop for general grinding and cutting and supplement with a good old broom for aluminum.

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You'll get a million recommendations for things to keep your mill from rusting from WD-40 to Fluid Film to ATF etc. My only additional recommendation is make or buy something to cover the table when you've got your vise mounted. You likely won't need the t slots accessible and it will keep you from getting chips down in the slots which is one of the most annoying things to clean. It can also double to prevent getting rust on your table.

I also have a dedicated air drop right by my mill I use to blast chips out of the vise, table and way cover. I then chase with the magnetic sweeper or broom. Finally, I keep a small cordless shop vac nearby for small messes.

I also have a 3 year old and a 9 month old and I find I'm the biggest culpret when it comes to tracking metal bits into the house. As such, I wear slip on boots when I'm working in the shop and I'm strict about taking them off when I go in the house. That probably helps more than anything.

Good luck.

 

[Firebrick43]

Build a chip enclosure around the table. Make it semi easy to remove for special occasions parts are too large.



Fluid film/wool wax or boeshield for rust prevention, WD40 is next to worthless for rust prevention.

 

[matt_i]

A really good shop vac with a long hose makes cleanup easy. Combination of sweeping and vacuuming after every use is going to help you a lot Drilling holes is what ejects the chips at high rpms if you dont break them short on purpose by lifting a bit to "peck".

The Shroud is great until you have to bolt on a 6" milling vise, setup work, or change spot drill/pilot drill/drill/reamer or tap /countersink on a few hole patterns (lots of chuck key work if you go that route). If its a CNC setup as I think is pictured above and there's only one tool used on the workpiece then it would be perfect.

Im into LPS3 for rust prevention - the Boeshield is great but a staggering price. Its not a good way lube tho, Vactra #2 would be my choice.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

It sounds goofy, but I once saw where a guy hung a round shower curtain track from his ceiling to help contain chips. I'd think a plastic curtain would melt from the chips, so maybe fabric?

I don't have pics, but I made some covers that fit tight on either side of my vise to keep the table slots clean. This really aids in cleanup.

I have a smaller shield like the one pictured above that I will sometimes setup to help contain chips.

 

[RTM]

Shop dedicated shoes. I had a pair for working that got changed in the laundry room. Did wonders for reducing the mess. I was doing Woodworking, so no magnet eork.rd for the chips.

 

[LS1-IROC]

I have a fully enclosed CNC mill in my garage, take my shoes off before entering the house.....still find metal chips here and there. It's inevitable.

 

[D-train]

Thanks for the input. Another question. I was going to use either a leather or canvas apron. I assume that I wouldn't want an apron with pockets (to catch shavings) Or am I just over-thinking that?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[Dave455]

Mills tend to chuck stuff further than drills.

My experience has been that if your floor is halfway decent (smooth concrete and painted) you’re best just to brush down the machine with a small paintbrush, then sweep the floor with a relatively fine sweeping brush. A shop vac is a better option, which is what I use now.

As regards rust prevention, I have all the gaps in my doors blocked up (garage doors can be bad for this) and I run a dehumidifier in the winter months. With a relatively dry atmosphere a squirt of WD-40 or similar works fine.

I cover my better machines, which also helps, but I don’t bother covering my drill as I’m using it most days.

If you do get surface rust, sort it out quickly with wire wool and some light oil. There won’t be any permanent damage.

 

[Dave455]

Thanks for the input. Another question. I was going to use either a leather or canvas apron. I assume that I wouldn't want an apron with pockets (to catch shavings) Or am I just over-thinking that?

Thanks,

Mark

I hate aprons.

You’re right about the pockets, and to be honest I wouldn’t want anything flapping about in a workshop with machine tools running.

I use old clothes in the summer, same but with a close fitting sweater in the winter, or alternatively a close fitting cotton boiler suit (coveralls).

 

[GeoBruin]

I hate aprons.

You’re right about the pockets, and to be honest I wouldn’t want anything flapping about in a workshop with machine tools running.

I use old clothes in the summer, same but with a close fitting sweater in the winter, or alternatively a close fitting cotton boiler suit (coveralls).

I feel exactly the opposite. I have a lathee apron and I love it. In addition to protecting me from flying chips, grinder dust, wire wheel wires, cutting fluid, coolant, etc., it gives me multiple pockets for calipers, pencil, scribe, center punch, spindle wrench, etc. Otherwise I subconsciously set those things down in random places in the shop and I end up wandering around looking for them.

I'm a home shop guy so it's not like I just come home dirty at the end of the day and ditch my dirty clothes. I have to walk in to the house to use the restroom, eat lunch, put the baby down to sleep, and all manner of other "interruptions". Wearing slip-on boots and an apron mean I can just slip off the apron and hang it on a hook, then jsut kick off my boots outside the door and I can go in the house reasonably clean.

As for "flapping about" that is not an issue at all. My apron is relatively form fitting and if anything, it keeps my clothes tucked to my body and out of the way. There are no loose ties as all the ends buckle with brass buckles (which also makes it convenient to put on and take off).

 

[RoninB4]

Shop aprons are normal in most professional machine shops, I wore one daily for decades. The choice of material is up to the wearer but shop aprons can get rather soiled with coolant, oil, and other fluids. I always chose cotton so it could be washed every week or two and it would rip free of my body if it got caught in a machine. A leather apron might just get sucked into moving machinery, it also doesn't wash very well. They are nice for woodworking.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I wear an apron. It's convenient to keep a Sharpie, scale, and flashlight. It obviously also keeps your clothes clean of metal shavings. I highly recommend the nicer of the Park Tools (the bicycle tool company) apron offerings.

 

[Aaron_W]

It sounds goofy, but I once saw where a guy hung a round shower curtain track from his ceiling to help contain chips. I'd think a plastic curtain would melt from the chips, so maybe fabric?

I don't have pics, but I made some covers that fit tight on either side of my vise to keep the table slots clean. This really aids in cleanup.

I have a smaller shield like the one pictured above that I will sometimes setup to help contain chips.

I use a shower curtain with the lathe and mill. It helps to keep all the flingings close to the machines instead of across the basement. Only needed on the lathe occasionally for really messy stuff like cast iron, but I use it all the time for the mill.

I have a low ceiling so I just put hooks into the joists to hang the curtain from. It hangs 12-18" behind me when standing at the machine so is out of my way.
I bought a heavy weight commercial vinyl shower curtain. Rarely an extra hot chip will stick to the curtain but that is rare and easily brushed free.

I have found the shower curtain to work great, one of the best ideas I've stolen.

 

[911TES]

I face the same problem. If there is a tiny chip anywhere in the house, I get summoned by my wife to inspect and remove said chip with every dirty look possible.
Solution is separate shop shoes and garments. Levi’s are pretty good. The upper ware tends to hold chips.
Regarding the kids it’s generally keep the area clean and segregation.