Floor notes
Dust Wipes
A practical floor note on wiping down machines so buyers can inspect slides, guards and wear points properly.
Dust hides wear, covers markings and makes a machine look better or worse than it really is. Dust Wipes is our note on cleaning key inspection points before photos, viewings and loading.
Dust Wipes is a quick clean before inspection, not a full refurbish. We focus on the places a buyer studies first on a lathe, boring machine or valve grinder, then note what the wipe-down reveals under the grime. Inspection points differ per machine, so tell us which lathe, mill or grinder you are cleaning.
Slides and guards worth wiping
- Bedways cleared for wear marks
- Chuck area photographed after dust-off
- Loose covers removed from key views
- Oil tags and maker plates readable
A dirty machine can hide both good and bad news. Once the slides, guards and handwheel areas are wiped, casting cracks, missing screws, wiped-off scales and obvious scoring are easier to spot in photos and during a walk-around. That matters when stock is being checked from Crown Mines before a trip is arranged.
What dust hides on machines
Dust Wipes covers the basic clean-up that helps a buyer inspect a machine properly. Wiping down slides, guards and known wear points makes it easier to judge condition on a lathe, boring machine or valve grinder before the next step.
Highveld dust settles into oil, swarf and old coolant, especially on machines that have stood a while. On a lathe, start at the bed, saddle and leadscrew cover, then move to the chuck guard and tailstock. For boring equipment and valve grinders, wipe the table edges, feed handles and nameplates so condition can be judged without guessing.
A wipe-down should not polish away evidence. Leave staining, wear lines and chipped paint visible, but remove the layer that blocks serial plates, graduation marks and scraped surfaces. Buyers usually want to see what the machine is, how it was kept, and where use shows most clearly.
Cloths, degreaser, and dry passes
Use lint-free cloths, a light degreaser and a final dry wipe on inspection points. Heavy solvent on painted panels can smear old labels, while an oily rag only moves grime from one surface to the next. On valve grinding equipment, small controls and holders need a gentler clean so markings stay legible.
Before loading or sending more images, do one last check for loose tooling, wiped-off labels and dirt left in corners around the base. A machine can look cleaner in a wide shot while the important contact surfaces are still hidden. Through the contact form, give the machine type and how often it is wiped down now.
- Cross slide edges free of grime
- Wear points shown in close photos
- Known missing parts listed separately
Johannesburg dust and viewing prep
In Johannesburg workshop conditions, fine dust settles quickly on idle stock, especially around bases, trays and exposed screws. A short wipe before photos makes the machine easier to assess without hiding its working life. At Crown Mines, that often means cleaning only the surfaces tied directly to inspection, not dressing the whole machine for appearance.
Coastal stock can show surface rust where inland machines mostly show dry dust and compacted grime. Power interruptions also matter because a machine may be viewed static, so the visual check becomes more important around slides, guards and feed points. Clear wiped areas help separate cosmetic dirt from actual wear when the spindle is not running.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Dust Wipes inspection sequence
A practical floor note on wiping down machines so buyers can inspect slides, guards and wear points properly.
Start with the broad photo, then wipe the bed, working surfaces, hand controls and machine plate in that order. Follow with close images of any scraped area, scoring, broken guard, rust patch or missing handle found during the clean. This note works best when kept with the machine record so the same points are checked at viewing and before loading.