Machine Oil Cups

[ctwo]

Just curious why the oil cups on my grinder are tapped ~1/3 down from the top, so only 1/3 of the oil can flow out of it?

[Russ Hanscom]

so you have to buy more oil?

[GlennW]

So if any grit gets in the cup it will settle and not flow out with the oil.

[ctwo]

That makes sense.

[Bill Shields]

No felt wicks/strainers?

[ctwo]

The internet didn't seem to have any images of these cups. This one is on the left side of the saddle, under the table, about 1/2" diameter. It does have a wick. It seems too far away to oil the right side saddle way.

The same cup is on the right side of the spindle housing, and it does not have a wick. The spindle of course takes a different oil. Do we need a wick here?

There is another cup, about 3/8" diameter, on the front of the table. It's tapped like an elbow, and seems too small and far away to oil the table ways. That's all I could find, but there is a hole on the back side of the table about the same location as the cup on the front.

Pouring out of the quart jug is getting frustrating when it only takes a squirt to fill it.

[Bill Shields]

Interesting

[Harold_V]

No felt wicks/strainers?

When I rebuilt my #2 Cincinnati cutter grinder (which is circa mid 50's) I installed felt filters in each of the oil cups. I didn't like the idea that grit could easily get into the bearings. They seem to do what I hoped for them to do.

H

[neanderman]

So if any grit gets in the cup it will settle and not flow out wit the oil.

Brilliant!

[Bill Shields]

Grit does not float in oil?

Guess it depends on size of grit and oil viscosity.

Either way, is a good idea.. but I follow Harold's school of thought....very little gets through felt.

Thought...

Could the 'well' have been intended to be a place for the outside end of a felt wick to reside?

[TLutman]

Could the well catch water condensation as well?