How to treat a Diamond Tip Lathe tool?

[Chrislong]

Looking for some advice.

Got a lathe with diamond tool, had a few practises with it on old motors and got it spot on first time.

I know I should be careful of catching it on the end of the comm, I haven't got a bump stop but its easy anyway.

What should I do to keep it perfect? motorspray it? oil it with what? etc..

Chris

[marcoski]

I just give mine, and the lathe it lives in the once over with the compressed air line.

[PDW]

Agree with Marcus about the once-over, but not the air-line.

Compressed air blows swarf into all sorts of places you don't want it - bearings, motors, screwthreads, slideways, etc. For little comm lathes, a paintbrush to remove the swarf is enough - make sure you hold the lathe over a bin though, otherwise it is a copper shower for the bench!! ;D ;D

As for the tool, no maintenance is necessary. However, it does help to have a hard plastic cover over the tool when not in use. This cover means that if you accidentally knock the tool when fitting the arm, it won't chip the diamond. Some diamond tools come with such a cover, or a wax covering, which is worth saving for this use.