Sounds worth a try, John

Only two [related] problems I can foresee

1. Because you are pumping air, the flow will vary with the pressure

2. … and fluid will continue to flow until the pressure subsides.

These may be perfectly acceptable to you. Alternatively, some sort of pressure regulator in the air-line would solve (1).

MichaelG.

Why not? Maybe use a tyre pump to force air into the top of a sealed vessel containing suds, to act as a low-pressure reservoir so the flow doesn't stop when you lift your foot ready for the next push.

Your idea reminds me of an advert in a prewar Army and Navy Store catalogue: a portable shower for explorers etc to take into the jungle. It comprised a footpump with a long rubber hose leading to a ring of rubber tubing with holes in it. You stood in a bowl of water with the ring round your neck and pumped away, no doubt wearing your solar topee for the further amusement of the local tribesmen. Best to wash your face in the water first, I suppose.

Andy

John,

My misunderstanding … When you said "like the sort used to pump up airbeds" I presumed that you meant the rubberised fabric "bellows" pump.

Now that I understand your intention, I would agree with Mike regarding the Windscreen Washer pump.

I do have some reservations about life expectancy [ of the pump components ] because of contact with chemicals that are outside its design specification … but hopefully all should be well.

MichaelG.

Hi There,

As a child we used to have a caravan that was fitted with a foot operated pump for the sink unit in the kitchen area – I think it was a diaphram pump probably made by whale and was quite effective – was self priming from the water barrel outside and with gentle pumping you could carefully control the water flow.

This could be a simple alternative if they are still available and if you wanted to look into it. I used a windscreen washer pump for a number of years on my power hacksaw with the original car reservoir fitted under the saw frame for recirculating the coolant – worked ok for years until it sat dry for a while and gummed up – but it was obtained from a breakers yard anyway so easily replaced.

Neil

I just dip an old toothbrush in cutting oil and hold its bristles to the work with my left hand.

Neil

The benefits of using a windscreen washer pump are twofold. Firstly with any sort of drip system then sooner or later the drip tray or catch container becomes full of coolant that has to be removed and cleaned up. This is not always easy and a pump enables the fluid to be recirculated. The second benefit is that the feedrate is readily adjusted by varying the motor voltage. This is not always easy using the sort of pinch vales used on plastic tubes.

Mike

Hi Paul,

I had two windscreen wash pumps in my scrap box. One was marked SEIM and was made in France. It was a gear pump with plastic gears. The other one was marked Linwood and it had a rubber impeller. I was not sure of the compatability of rubber with oil based coolants so I opted for the SEIM pump.

The SEIM pump has been in contact with neat mineral oil for over 4 years and it still works well.

I avoid the use of aqueous coolants whereever possible because of the rust problem (and staining of metal surfaces that slide together). I generally use a 50/50 mixture of engine oil and white spirite as coolant.

Mike

I have been using a windscreen washer pump on my mill for the last 6 months and has been great. Power is from a small 12V battery via a variable resistor to adjust the speed and an old plugpack charger to top up the battery. Got the pump from a car parts supplier for about $10, an old 4 litre plastic bottle as a tank and a plastic water strainer from the local hardware.

Hi all,with a car washer pump ,run a pipe from tank through pump back to tank ,in the loop put "T" piece ,run pipe from here to where you want the suds ,put a small clamp on pipe to control flow,works OK.. Put the drain from lathe back to the resevoir through a filter. Dont forget switch for motor

happy turning Maurice

Bending the topic slightly –

Should the aim be lubrication, cooling, or swarf removal?

In my view it can't get at the cutting point to lubricate anyway, only production rates should need cooling, but swarf removal helps, at least for milling. I know small quantities can seem to improve cutting but I feel that is probably just compensating for poor tool design.

Tried a Noga mister last year when coolant went down on me for second time. Ok for general light turning, anything else boring, threading and milling no match for a proper coolant system. Its also messier as chips are not washed away rather just builds up on the job or in in it. Cant turn pressure up, it then becomes airborne and harmfull.

Needless to say its relegated and unused.