Thread: Lathe Way Wipers

Removal of the way wipers on my lathe for cleanup resulted in a crumbled / brittle mess, a message to 600 group on replacements resulted in a response "your lathe is so old" (mid 70's) no parts available. So a scrounge around Perth for some Pollyurathane 80 duro scored a piece 50mm round bar, this stuff turns, cuts, grinds much like MDF but requires sharp tools, so cut some 1/4" slices in the lathe and use a chisel to rough out the profile and then the belt sander to refine, holes made with wad punch. Overall pleased with the end result. Alan.

Looks like there's a spring in the top of the holder...should the holes be elongated so it can keep the wiper in contact as it wears?

Yes, you are correct, just waiting to sharpen a small half round chisel to relieve a bit on the hole, but for now there is plenty of surface contact.

I recently made a full set (Flat and Vee) from a hard black self lubricating plastic similar to Vesconite, they seem to be working well.

Attachment 392302Attachment 392303Attachment 392301

Another option is to 3D print them.

Originally Posted by .RC.

Another option is to 3D print them.

Beat me to it, I had a quick look and there are a few people doing just that and selling them on ebay for $40-60 per set which seems pretty reasonable to me.

My idea
(totally original, unpatented)

is for the wipers to be angled, so that the swarf is pushed down and off the Vs when the carriage moves:
lathe wipers.jpg

In theory Felt will absorb some oil and lubricate the ways but felt will also hold fine particles of swarth which we don't want.

Originally Posted by morrisman

In theory Felt will absorb some oil and lubricate the ways but felt will also hold fine particles of swarth which we don't want.

Indeed. Hercus has felt Vs. When I was rebuilding it, after a week I took the brand new felts out, and they were black.

And that was before I was turning any cast iron!



Maybe plastic wipers, then felts between them and the saddle?