SuperGrind 2000 Shaft

[glh17]

I have the older non-stainless shaft, which is developing a little rust.  I'd planned replacing it with the new stainless shaft but recently read on another forum that a periodic application of a light coat of wheel bearing grease would prevent rust.  I'm hesitate to do this until I hear from you guys.  I happy with my existing set up and my only concern its with the rust.  Will something bad happen if I use the wheel bearing grease?

[ionut]

Very occasionally, maybe once a year I use to thoroughly clean my machines, I also used lithium grease to apply a light coat of it on the shafts for less friction, and everything is fine. When I first time disassembled my machine the shaft had a light coat of grease on it so I don't think you have any reason to worry. Maybe Jeff has more information regarding the safety of different brands of grease when in contact with plastic bearings. In my case I never say a problem, not only with Tormek.

Ionut

[glh17]

ionut,
Thanks for the response.  I couldn't remember if the shaft had anything on it or not.  I wasn't a heavy user and probably went about 2 years without doing any maintenance.  Now, I follow the maintenance procedure Jeff describes in his video twice a year.  I do this when I can change my smoke detector batteries and reset my clocks for daylight savings time.  I'll go real light with the grease and see what happens.
Gary

[ionut]

Hi Gary,

What is weird is the fact that my second machine is a 2000 as well, I may be wrong but when I got it the Tormek dealer said the shaft is stainless. In all this time I didn't see any rust on it even though there is a lot of humidity in the air where I live.

Ionut

[Jeff Farris]

Hi Gary,

What is weird is the fact that my second machine is a 2000 as well, I may be wrong but when I got it the Tormek dealer said the shaft is stainless. ...

Ionut

The last couple years of production of the Model 2000 (roughly 2005 - mid-2006) the shaft was stainless. Several other improvements were made to the system, but no model designation change was made. When a new base coating and painting process was chosen, it was decided that enough changes had been made over the previous few years to warrant a complete model designation change.

[tooljunkie]

Ionut

I'm not sure what you mean by your comment "even though there is a lot of humidity in the air where I live"

You make it sound like we live in wet environment like a coastal rain Forrest, Oh that's rite we do!  

Boy are you rite.

[ionut]

Thanks Jeff, I was suspecting it is stainless as I didn't have any rusting issues with it and the only difference between the 2000 I have and T7 as far as I can see is the paint color and probably the straight jig which, I believe, it was the old model.

Yes Dan you know what I am talking about, sometimes is like a rainforest here

Ionut