Lubrication For Leather Skiving Machine

[Lil Doodler]

Howdy!

May I ask, how do you lubricate your leather skiving machine?

I recently bought a bottom feed skiving machine. There was very little in the way of information about where to lubricate, how often, and what kind of oil, etc should be used.

I found an old manual for another brand, discontinued, but very much the same mechanicals.

This old manual suggested taking out the main bracket, taking off the feed stone, filling the hollow feed stone pin (shaft) with oil once a week, as well as adjusting the end play of the feed stone when reassembling.

Also, there was a reference to the type of lubrication for the worm gear driving the feed stone, it should be a type of gear case lubricant (oil?),

and that using grease can lead to breakdown.

I checked the gear box on my machine and it was filled with grease.

Given, the grease today might have different formulas than 15 years ago, or how ever long ago this manufacturer wrote this manual,

I can't help but wonder what other people's experiences might be.

For my particular machine, a couple of the oil holes for lubricating shafts are not there,

but in the cover, and carrier assembly that holds the feed stone,

there is an oil hole for dropping oil into the hollow feed stone shaft without having disassemble anything.

A lot of the other adjustments and procedures in the manual look very helpful,

from how to properly adjust and sharpen the knife,

to suggestions on adjusting the depth, angle, and type of presser foot.

The title of the manual is "list of spareparts", but there is a lot of information about setting and running too

aoi.ou.edu/images/Leather%20Skiver%20Model%2010A.pdf

So, which oil do you use on the feed stone? How often? In the gear box? Is it grease? Have you ever had a problem with breakdown?

Thanks for your help,

Lil Doodler

[DDahl]

sunstar-swf.eu/pdf/km-76.pdf

This manual has some lubrication and some good adjustment information

Dave

[Lil Doodler]

Hi Dave,

Wow, That manual has a lot of great information!

I especially like the trouble shooting chart at the end.

Thanks a lot Dave.

It's strange though, that the feed roll lubrication isn't mentioned in that manual.

There must be some friction on the feed roll

On my machine, there are oiling "ports"

On a couple of the parts lists, it looks like there is a "wick" or bit of cotton

inside the feed roller shaft (pin), presumably to hold oil.

I've attached some pictures of my Feed Roll Shaft :

But I'm curious, does anyone lube their feed roll shaft?

Have any problems with it?

Am I needlessly worrying about something I shouldn't?

Thanks in advance for your help

Lil Doodler

[DDahl]

The feed system moves very slowly. Only the bell knife really rotates fast. I would look around under your unit and place a drop of oil anywhere there appears to be a bearing surface.

Unless you make heavy use of the skiver, I think an oiling like that every 2 weeks would be fine.

Dave

[Wizcrafts]

Oil all moving parts and oil holes. The roll itself doesn't need oiling, but the bearings on the sides of its axle do. I used to have two skivers and used 20 weight oil on them.

[Anne Bonnys Locker]

Golden rule with any sort of machinery: If there is metal to metal contact - oil it!

[Lil Doodler]

Thanks for the input everyone!!

Lil Doodler

[Trox]

Thank you both for those manuals, they where very useful to me. Especial the the adjusting with the papir strip part. I used to mutch leather adjusting my machine. No I have set my machine to a "zero position" by using papir strips. Keeping the knife sharp and free of burr, using the grinder and the hand stone at the same time; it works perfect every time.

Thanks

Trox