Ammonia to clean a surface plate

S

SirRage

Aluminum

Joined

Sep 18, 2016

• Jun 12, 2017

• #1

Don Bailey from Suburban Tool had an interesting youtube video showing how to clean a surface plate using ammonia. Now, I know a lot of people would say don't do this so I'm a bit confused about it myself. I wanted to see what others think about this. I mean, he's been in this business for a while so I'm included to think this is good advice.

Here is the video.
How To Clean (Cleaning) A Surface Plate - YouTube

 

sfriedberg

Diamond

Joined

Oct 14, 2010

Location

Oregon, USA

• Jun 12, 2017

• #2

A granite surface plate is a chunk of stone, close to fully dense. Any cleaner that doesn't leave a residue, and which tends to remove existing oil (including skin oil and fingerprints), grease and resin residues, will work just fine.

It's not clear what, precisely, what motivates your question. You want a survey of how many people think Don is a slob? You want a headcount of people who swear ammonia is the exact and only Holy Unguent for cleaning surface plates? I don't fall in either camp. It works. Lots of other things work, too.

 

Spencer in NH

Stainless

Joined

Jan 22, 2007

Location

Southern New Hampshire

• Jun 12, 2017

• #3

Windex works. Isopropyl works.

 

L

Larry Dickman

Titanium

Joined

Jan 30, 2014

Location

Temecula, Ca

• Jun 12, 2017

• #4

Spencer in NH said:

Windex works. Isopropyl works.

Click to expand...

And so does, wait, wait, are you ready? Surface plate cleaner

 

Spencer in NH

Stainless

Joined

Jan 22, 2007

Location

Southern New Hampshire

• Jun 12, 2017

• #5

Larry Dickman said:

And so does, wait, wait, are you ready? Surface plate cleaner

Click to expand...

Yep. That, too. My personal recipe is Starrett Surface Plate Cleaner with paper towels followed by isopropyl with a microfiber cloth.

Whatever floats your boat.

 

C

cmccull166

Hot Rolled

Joined

Mar 29, 2013

Location

NW Pa

• Jun 12, 2017

• #6

I have a large plate next to a VMC its been neglected for MANY years mostly it was used for an extra work bench,
Nothing I tried would do the job so finally I used the same caustic crap I use when aluminum loads the flutes on a carbide endmill.
Did a really nice job

 

S

SirRage

Aluminum

Joined

Sep 18, 2016

• Jun 12, 2017

• #7

sfriedberg said:

...It's not clear what, precisely, what motivates your question...

Click to expand...

I've read time and again don't use ammonia, so I was a bit surprised by the recommendation. I suppose I just wanted to see what others thought about it.

 

R

Red James

Stainless

Joined

Jan 26, 2013

Location

Plainfield, Indiana, USA

• Jun 12, 2017

• #8

SirRage said:

I've read time and again don't use ammonia, so I was a bit surprised by the recommendation. I suppose I just wanted to see what others thought about it.

Click to expand...

?

Really? Where have you read that?

 

E

ewlsey

Diamond

Joined

Jul 14, 2009

Location

Peoria, IL

• Jun 12, 2017

• #9

The manual for the Brown and Sharpe CMM machine we had at my last job recommended isopropyl alcohol to clean the granite air bearing surfaces.

 

S

split tenth

Hot Rolled

Joined

Sep 19, 2007

Location

mesa arizona

• Jun 12, 2017

• #10

50/50 409 and water.Not simple green.

 

D

DMF_TomB

Diamond

Joined

Dec 13, 2008

Location

Rochester, NY, USA

• Jun 13, 2017

• #11

Starrett surface plate cleaner. works good on surface plates and cleaning parts going on surface plate.
.
no residue cleaner that will not cause problems with granite. inspection people have asked i only use it too for final cleaning parts off before sending to them. they prefer it over Windex