Wood in contact with metals - any compatibility issues?

Nov 06, 2012 9 Replies
W

I've recently acquired an old lathe, with lots of tooling, and am considering my options for racking the collets, chucks, and other accessories.



Is there any guidance on what woods, if any, can be safely kept in contact with precision steel bits, that won't cause or enhance corrosion? I was considering plywood with lots of holes, and an oil finish (boiled linseed oil). That means the glue in the plywood is also a possible issue.



There will be lubricants in contact with these parts, so oil-resistance of glue in the plywood is another possible issue.


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D

whit3rd wrote in news:1cb55834-d64d-443e-b2ee- snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

Hard to go wrong with maple, beech, birch, or mahogany.

I'd stay away from oak and cherry, probably walnut too, due to tannins in the wood.

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Oakrust will disintegrate anything with which it comes into contact within several months.... or is it seconds?

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M

I knew that was coming.

Mike M

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T

I have found walnut to be very friendly to steel. I think it might be the oils in the walnut.

You can also seal any wood with shellac for a safe c> I've recently acquired an old lathe, with lots of tooling, and

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S

It was not a matter of "if", but "when", right? :-)

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M

Really should have just given him a drum roll.

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Hey, I didn't start the fire. :-p

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