Whoops I've put this in the wrong section, can mods move please...
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Thanks to Richard I am now the proud owner of a Denham junior lathe. I would like to rig a locost coolant system up. RDG tools do some decent
flexi-magnetic coolant nozzles, and I plan to simply mount a coolant sump (bucket!) under the drip tray. So I just need a cheap submersible pump - am
thinking £12.99 fish tank pump from ebay, but before I buy something entirely unsuitable has anyone got any tips? 
[Edited on 14/3/11 by FASTdan]
how about an old screen wash pump from a car? im sure there are a few people breaking donors on here that would have a pump kicking around
dont forget a filter on the inlet side of the pump or it will last a matter of minutes
I have used a central heating pump in the past,gives plenty of flow and a bit more swarf resistant than a fish tank pump.It can be placed outside the
coolant tank and connected with a hose and inline filter if required.
Having said this I dont have a coolant pump on my lathe at home and either just use coolant in a squeezy bottle of use neat cutting oil.
I have worked on lathes in industry and find that with a coolant tank and lots of coolant flowing it tends to spray everywhere and makes everything
smell of oil and also needs to be cleaned out on occasions.It is worth while getting some synthetic coolant rather than soluble oil as this smells
less and performs better.
Paul
Same as Paul - I don't use the lathe's own coolant pump (a) because of the mess and the cleaning up, and (b) because it's hard to get
it to work with the 3-phase converter - converters are made to suit the size of the motor you're using, and mine was bought to run the 1.5HP main
lathe motor - the converter won't convert when only the 1/8 HP coolant pump motor is running. I could change the motor to a single-phase one and
operate it directly off 1-phase, but I can't be bothered.
I use a hand sprayer (plant sprayer) to put a mist of cutting fluid over the work. If I twist the spray nozzle I can get a jet, which is useful for
getting into corners (e.g. when parting off). I usually use diluted Rocol general-purpose cutting fluid, which is synthetic and doesn't have a
significant smell (vaguely oily).
WD40 is quite useful for a quick burst of cutting fluid at short notice, useful with the long nozzle pipe, especially when turning aluminium (thanks
to 907 for that tip!).
Fair comments, maybe I'll see how I get on with just a spray - coolant feeds are kinda messy.
quote:
Originally posted by paulf
I have used a central heating pump in the past,gives plenty of flow and a bit more swarf resistant than a fish tank pump.It can be placed outside the coolant tank and connected with a hose and inline filter if required.
Having said this I dont have a coolant pump on my lathe at home and either just use coolant in a squeezy bottle of use neat cutting oil.
I have worked on lathes in industry and find that with a coolant tank and lots of coolant flowing it tends to spray everywhere and makes everything smell of oil and also needs to be cleaned out on occasions.It is worth while getting some synthetic coolant rather than soluble oil as this smells less and performs better.
Paul [/quot
Sorry to hijack the thread, Paul did you connect the pump to the bottom of the tank or did you just stick a
pipe in to the top of the tank . I assume the central heating pump wouldnt be able to syphon up unless already primed?
I need to make a system for my milling machine to keep the cutters cool.
paulf - 14/3/11 at 06:32 PMI fitted level with the bottom of the tank and fitted a pipe fitting into the bottom of the tank with a short hose, no reason why you could not have a pipe up and over the side of the tank as long as you primed it first though.
Paul
quote:
Originally posted by fazerruss
quote:
Originally posted by paulf
I have used a central heating pump in the past,gives plenty of flow and a bit more swarf resistant than a fish tank pump.It can be placed outside the coolant tank and connected with a hose and inline filter if required.
Having said this I dont have a coolant pump on my lathe at home and either just use coolant in a squeezy bottle of use neat cutting oil.
I have worked on lathes in industry and find that with a coolant tank and lots of coolant flowing it tends to spray everywhere and makes everything smell of oil and also needs to be cleaned out on occasions.It is worth while getting some synthetic coolant rather than soluble oil as this smells less and performs better.
Paul [/quot
Sorry to hijack the thread, Paul did you connect the pump to the bottom of the tank or did you just stick a
pipe in to the top of the tank . I assume the central heating pump wouldnt be able to syphon up unless already primed?
I need to make a system for my milling machine to keep the cutters cool.
RAYLEE29 - 14/3/11 at 06:34 PMhi, i used a noisy old fuel injectiom pump with a pre filter connected to a battery cost nothing as i had all the bits
coozer - 14/3/11 at 09:14 PMHijack!
Where do I get the fluid please?