Thread: What Durometer Hardness for Neoprene Way Wipers?

I need to buy some neoprene to make some way wipers for a machine. McMaster-Carr seems to have what I need. They list neoprene with 3 Durometer hardnesses: 50A is medium, 60A is medium hard and 70A is hard. What would be the best hardness for my application? Thanks. Gary R.

Just what type of wipers are you trying to make I may have some real way wiper material, if you look in McMaster-Carr under machine wipers I have 3 lengths of the 5/8 size minus 2" on one piece and an 8" piece of the larger size. PM me if interested.

I have a HES(France) lathe from the late '70s. There is a guy in New Jersey who still has some parts for these. He was kind enough to send me a free instruction and parts manual. To show my gratitude I asked him to sell me a complete set of way wipers. His response was "Why?" He'd never seen any that were worn out. The wipers are thick-.200 approximately and very soft and pliable. That's all I can tell you about them other than they do an excellent job.

While looking to see if CR (Chicago Rawhide) listed the durometer of their way wipers I stumbled on this site. It seems to have several designs as stock lengths.

Way Wipers, rubber wipers, slideways, way wiper

Buying all three isn't going to break the bank and you'll see first hand what is best.

Tom

Originally Posted by gjrepesh

I need to buy some neoprene to make some way wipers for a machine.

Get urethane instead. Neoprene gets hard in a few years.

Neil

Tom and Neil have presented ideas I will consider. Thanks for the input. Gary R.

Gortite is a way wiper OEM: Stock Way Wipers | Stock Protective Covers | Gortite | A&A Family

Pontification mode ON:

Wipers have several functions: retain lubricant, prevent debris from entering the way bearing, and to prevent coolant and tramp liquids from flushing away lubricant and wicking into sumps.

Way wipers are a great investment. While you're making one set make three to have extras on hand. When you need them you need them now.

I know people take way wipers for granted but an annual check for adjustment, condition, and fit is a Good Thing.

Ideally a way wiper system features triple protection. A stiff brass overlying protector protects against chips pile-ups. It should be backed by a thinner brass inner scraper tensioned against the way at an angle to push debris ahead something like a putty knife. The inner scraper should be flexible enough to allow trapped debris to roll underneath with the axis element is going away from the wiper. Backing the scraper and the protector is the molded rubber wiper which is lightly tensioned against the way. Backing THAT up is a felt wiper designed to spread lubricant and to catch any fines the wiper misses.

Needless to say way wipers need to be an engineered system not something scabbed on at the last minute. A little tension against the way is necessary for them to work properly but not too much. Trying to tension worn or scored molded rubber wipers may do more harm than good. Wipers are subject to the worst operating conditions can throw at them. They do wear and become ineffective. Having replacement way wipers in full sets (2 or 3 sets are sensible and maybe a few extra where conditions are severe - front left apron wing on a lathe for example. Wipers are cheaper than overhauls.

Bedways that have been heavily scraped in the mistaken notion of ensuring lubrication mat be so deeply textured way wipers may not work effectively. Debris may shelter in them and cause trouble in the linear bearing the wipers were designed to protect. In this case there is no solution but to keep the ways cleaned and where possible protected.

Forrest beat me to the A&A link. Here's another-http://www.kabelschlepp.com/wwstandard.htm I've used the A&A wipers and like them a lot. Reasonably priced, too. The Kabelschlepp look a bit more complicated but may be more suited to what you're doing.

Neil