Mr. Bailey I've used your Suburban tools for many years. They have always been far and above everything else available. Now I see why. You have great enthusiasm and seem like the kind of person that everyone would want to work for. Thanks for offering your products to our profession. Al Owner, Accurate Design and Fabrication
Thanks Don for an informative video on cleaning a surface plate. I have just discovered your channel, and appreciate your knowledge and the humour you display while sharing your knowledge with us. That cylindrical square would sure stop the door from slamming closed in all but the wildest weather;-) Rob
I prefer the waterless cleaners. Granite will swell with moisture from water-based cleaners (including ammonia). It only makes a difference if you're splitting tenths all day. Alcohol doesn't clean very well and doesn't go with PB&J :). If you want to save some money over Starret waterless cleaner, try Kresto Kreme hand cleaner. Great job on these videos Don. I worked with a couple grinder hands at Koppy back in 70s-80s that were at Suburban.
SuburbanTool Inc Just happy to help. Keep these videos up, I am a youngish man that has always been fascinated with accurate work. From watch making to gunsmithing and on to tool making. Your videos gave me the bit of confidence and education to snowball towards my own projects. I look forward to using what you have been kind enough to share and applying those practices to everything I can. Keep up the great work. -A Newly Inspired Machinist.
No. At a $1.49 a half gallon, that's what household ammonia costs in the US where this video was made. Household ammonia is around 5% ammonia give or take a few percent and the rest is water. Pure ammonia would have smelled so bad nobody could have stayed around.
What do you guys think about Isopropyl Alcohol or Mineral Spirits vs Ammonia for surface plate cleaning? Purely in terms of final cleanliness, ignoring the cost...
I use 91% isopropyl to clean mine. It doesn't do such a great job if your plate needs a really thorough cleaning, but if you just need to remove dust and oil, it's just fine.
SuburbanTool Inc SORRY, but this is a BAD idea for several reasons. The first two - household ammonia contains water (use a waterless cleaner), Ammonia is a refrigerant. As it evaporates it chills the surface plate, which means you MUST allow the plate to normalize (1 TO 2 hours dependent on plate size).
Wow... that was great! Ok, how do I true a lapping plate? I don't think I can do anything with a surface plate... but I see in the aftermarket some used lapping plates I could afford. Do I just start lapping a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" plate until it shines??? ( Figure 8, of course.... ) Thanks again for sharing your incredibly valuable experience! Mark
Scrubbing with white bread to see if it stayed white might have been a better test. :-) When you decide to throw out that 8ft angle plate decoration let me know, I would love to have it for my HBM! :-)
I put a comment about this a while back and he erased it because I don't agree with him. I said any good cleaner will work. All your looking for is to have your tools slide smoothly.
I'm sorry that your comment was deleted. I can assure you that if your comment was not offensive, it was not intentionally deleted because of a difference in opinion; it must have been by mistake. We are always open to opinions and constructive conversation as long as all parties involved stay respectful to each other.
I saw this video the other week and have been trying to get ammonia to clean my surface plate with, unfortunately seems it is a banned product in the UK now? I phoned round many places and have been told it is not available, so decided to do more research on surface plate cleaning. So I found this thread www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/what-best-way-clean-my-new-surface-plate-142066/index2.html#post719048 It seems to say that ammonia would be a bad idea as a strong base it can etch and attack minerals in granite??????? Is this video a joke, is it wrong, has anyone made any scientific tests on the best way to clean a granite surface plate? I would really like to know as I have been trying to clean a plate I got on ebay, using isopropyl alcohol and it seems there is some almost indissolvable gum on the plate that remains after very hard scrubbing and I can still feel the 'tack' with my fingers in patches on the plate.
Thanks for reply, I should say I have now watched a few more of your videos and they seem excellent, so must thank you for your brilliant work in giving some useful instruction and entertainment on youtube. I still have not found a conclusive answer about ammonia, but I did not read to the end of the thread I posted link to as it seemed to degrade into sillyness (mentions of human production of ammonia lol) Anyways my guess (as a novice in model engineering I doubt my guess is worth much) is that probably ammonia will not dramatically etch granite (I would guess a thousand washes maybe etch off a micro inch??) I have found how to get ammonia but only mail order and the shipping costs make it an expensive choice rather than a cheap option, so I am going to experiment with window cleaners. Anyways I suppose there is always differing opinions about everything, and no one is ever right in every situation, if I find any proof about what effect ammonia may have on granite I will post my findings. Thanks again for your excellent youtube channel keep up the good work.
Sir, I had no intention to judge you. The idea of my comment was just to let your esteemed viewers know that if they start tossing paper balls they will themselves be tossed off. When you reach and if you reach a level of Don Bailey, you have your lab and your youtube channel, then it might be OK...Thak you for your great videos as always!
Mr. Bailey I've used your Suburban tools for many years. They have always been far and above everything else available. Now I see why. You have great enthusiasm and seem like the kind of person that everyone would want to work for.
Thanks for offering your products to our profession.
Al
Owner, Accurate Design and Fabrication
Iv'e always used isopropyl alcohol. It cleans it without the hint of "smelling salts". And it can be used to clean cuts when they show up.
I have eaten off of much more questionable surfaces but good vid
No kidding, drops chip on floor. Uses air hose to blow shavings off, then eats, haha
Great video guys! Entertaining and a great tip worth remembering!
Thanks Don for an informative video on cleaning a surface plate. I have just discovered your channel, and appreciate your knowledge and the humour you display while sharing your knowledge with us. That cylindrical square would sure stop the door from slamming closed in all but the wildest weather;-)
Rob
More good stuff Don. Thanks for taking the time to video your tips.
I prefer the waterless cleaners. Granite will swell with moisture from water-based cleaners (including ammonia). It only makes a difference if you're splitting tenths all day. Alcohol doesn't clean very well and doesn't go with PB&J :).
If you want to save some money over Starret waterless cleaner, try Kresto Kreme hand cleaner.
Great job on these videos Don. I worked with a couple grinder hands at Koppy back in 70s-80s that were at Suburban.
and THAT folks is how you yoink your coworkers lunch without him realizing what you're doing.
+sideswipe147 Glenn got his sandwich back. What's the issue?
+SuburbanTool Inc I was just making a joke. no offence intended.
+sideswipe147 Lol yeah, I thought Don Bailey looked kinda hungry!
Good tip though.
Nothing to say but "Thank You "
This really works great. Thanks for sharing.
I was a medic and I can confirm that plastic knife was properly sanitized.
Thank you for your certification, it's much appreciated ;) As always, thanks again for watching!
SuburbanTool Inc Just happy to help. Keep these videos up, I am a youngish man that has always been fascinated with accurate work. From watch making to gunsmithing and on to tool making. Your videos gave me the bit of confidence and education to snowball towards my own projects. I look forward to using what you have been kind enough to share and applying those practices to everything I can. Keep up the great work. -A Newly Inspired Machinist.
Wow, I'm glad that you have been able to find a new passion. Good luck on future projects!
I use dawn dish soap on pretty much anything I want to clean including my hands when I'm done working on oily things.
Use Starrett Granite Surface Plate Cleaner - It does not smell strong and it is made for it.
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
Was that pure ammonia (99%) ?
No. At a $1.49 a half gallon, that's what household ammonia costs in the US where this video was made. Household ammonia is around 5% ammonia give or take a few percent and the rest is water. Pure ammonia would have smelled so bad nobody could have stayed around.
Thanks Don, Great video!!!!!!! M.K.S.
What do you guys think about Isopropyl Alcohol or Mineral Spirits vs Ammonia for surface plate cleaning? Purely in terms of final cleanliness, ignoring the cost...
I use 91% isopropyl to clean mine. It doesn't do such a great job if your plate needs a really thorough cleaning, but if you just need to remove dust and oil, it's just fine.
SuburbanTool Inc
SORRY, but this is a BAD idea for several reasons. The first two - household ammonia contains water (use a waterless cleaner), Ammonia is a refrigerant. As it evaporates it chills the surface plate, which means you MUST allow the plate to normalize (1 TO 2 hours dependent on plate size).
Very good
Thanks!
Wow... that was great!
Ok, how do I true a lapping plate? I don't think I can do anything with a surface plate... but I see in the aftermarket some used lapping plates I could afford.
Do I just start lapping a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" plate until it shines??? ( Figure 8, of course.... )
Thanks again for sharing your incredibly valuable experience!
Mark
Mark Richardson They are surface ground.
Scrubbing with white bread to see if it stayed white might have been a better test. :-) When you decide to throw out that 8ft angle plate decoration let me know, I would love to have it for my HBM! :-)
dont ever ever eat off a plate. i dont care how you think it is, ammonia aint to be consumed like that. nice vid. lates
Thank you, and thanks again for watching!
Sharing the sandwich was funny. I thought you would say alcohol was best.
..How about using Acetone? I know it's more costly, but works well on aluminum to be TIG welded...?
I put a comment about this a while back and he erased it because I don't agree with him. I said any good cleaner will work. All your looking for is to have your tools slide smoothly.
I'm sorry that your comment was deleted. I can assure you that if your comment was not offensive, it was not intentionally deleted because of a difference in opinion; it must have been by mistake. We are always open to opinions and constructive conversation as long as all parties involved stay respectful to each other.
I saw this video the other week and have been trying to get ammonia to clean my surface plate with, unfortunately seems it is a banned product in the UK now?
I phoned round many places and have been told it is not available, so decided to do more research on surface plate cleaning.
So I found this thread www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/what-best-way-clean-my-new-surface-plate-142066/index2.html#post719048
It seems to say that ammonia would be a bad idea as a strong base it can etch and attack minerals in granite???????
Is this video a joke, is it wrong, has anyone made any scientific tests on the best way to clean a granite surface plate?
I would really like to know as I have been trying to clean a plate I got on ebay, using isopropyl alcohol and it seems there is some almost indissolvable gum on the plate that remains after very hard scrubbing and I can still feel the 'tack' with my fingers in patches on the plate.
Hmm, interesting. Thanks for sharing that information, I'm sure many will find it useful. And as always, thanks again for watching!
Thanks for reply, I should say I have now watched a few more of your videos and they seem excellent, so must thank you for your brilliant work in giving some useful instruction and entertainment on youtube.
I still have not found a conclusive answer about ammonia, but I did not read to the end of the thread I posted link to as it seemed to degrade into sillyness (mentions of human production of ammonia lol)
Anyways my guess (as a novice in model engineering I doubt my guess is worth much) is that probably ammonia will not dramatically etch granite (I would guess a thousand washes maybe etch off a micro inch??)
I have found how to get ammonia but only mail order and the shipping costs make it an expensive choice rather than a cheap option, so I am going to experiment with window cleaners.
Anyways I suppose there is always differing opinions about everything, and no one is ever right in every situation, if I find any proof about what effect ammonia may have on granite I will post my findings.
Thanks again for your excellent youtube channel keep up the good work.
one more suggestion keep dustbin near you...
Good tip, thanks for sharing!
Sir, I had no intention to judge you. The idea of my comment was just to let your esteemed viewers know that if they start tossing paper balls they will themselves be tossed off.
When you reach and if you reach a level of Don Bailey, you have your lab and your youtube channel, then it might be OK...Thak you for your great videos as always!
I took it with no disrespect, you're 100% right. In our case, we're in a controlled environment when filming these and have a little more wiggle room.
Just eating off it doesn't technically prove that it's clean..
merry me! ;>