Handy swarf pick up tool.
This is one of my most used tools. It is a magnetic pick up for swarf. It can reach into small crevices. It will pick up large pieces of swarf just be bringing it close. Once the swarf is picked up then it is released by sliding the small screw along the slot. I use it for keeping the lathe bed and mill table clean during machining. It is particulary useful when slotting on the mill. During slot milling the slot fills up with swarf and lubricant. At the end of each pass, if the head of the tool is passed along the slot then all the swarf is picked up from the slot leaving the cutting lubricant behind.
The tool is made from a length of 13mm diameter rigid (unplasticised) PVC tubing. The first step is to seal the end witha thin (0.5mm) membrane of PVC. This is easily accomplished by friction welding. To do this take a piece of 0.5mm transparent PVC sheet about 20 x 25 mm. This is commonly used for making blister and bubble packs of household items. Chuck the PVC tube in the lathe and face of the end square. Run the lathe at high speed and bring up the small piece of PVC sheet, supported on a small block of wood, and press this against the end of the rotating tube. The sheet must be prevented from rotating at the start of this operation. The friction between the tube end and the sheet will cause the tube and sheet to soften. It is easy to see when this happens. As soon as the soft stage is reached let go of the piece of sheet and pull the block of wood away. The sheet will spin on the end of the tube. Stop the lathe and remove the tube and the plastic sheet will be firmly welded to the end of the tube. Trim round with scissors and return to the lathe and chamfer the end. The photo shows the sealed end of the tube. The larger round black object is a collar of rubber or plastic that is set back from the end of the tube.
The tube has a slot cut in the side, about 30 mm long, as shown in the header photo.
The tube has a slot cut in the side, about 30 mm long, as shown in the header photo.
Inside the tool is a steel rod 10mm diameter that slides freely inside the tube. On the end is a neodymiun rare earth magnet (shown on the right in the photo). This is 8 mm diameter and 5 mm thick. It is not stuck but just held by magnetic attraction. Note the small M3 tapped hole about 1/3 the may along the bar. This is for the retainer/operating screw.
Above the rod is a small plastic cap that is used to close the other end of the tube. These caps are used to hide screw holes in melamine plas furniture panels.
Above the rod is a small plastic cap that is used to close the other end of the tube. These caps are used to hide screw holes in melamine plas furniture panels.
This photo shows the other side of the plastic cap and the rare earth magnet.
Assembly is straightforward. The rod with the magnet slides in the closed PVC tube and the screw is then screwed into the hole in the rod. The cap is then used to close the open end of the tube to keep dirt out. The final step is to push a rubber or plastic collar onto the tube as shown in the header photo.
The collar is to stop the swarf following the magnet up the outside of the tube when the rod is retracted up the tube. Once it gets to the collar a small tap is all that is necessary to detach the swarf.
The only problem with this tool is that it only works for iron and steel swarf but since most of my machining is on these materials it is still very useful.
The collar is to stop the swarf following the magnet up the outside of the tube when the rod is retracted up the tube. Once it gets to the collar a small tap is all that is necessary to detach the swarf.
The only problem with this tool is that it only works for iron and steel swarf but since most of my machining is on these materials it is still very useful.
