These are rare earth magnets I added inside the headstock of my Clausing-Colchester 
13x40 lathe.  I opened the headstock to replace a bad gear and was a little alarmed at the 
small swarf found inside.  As there is no filtration for the system I took it upon myself to 
try to improve the situation a little bit. 

Photo 1 & 2, the mushroom headed filtration device where oil drains out of the headstock 
was missing and no spares were available.  I attempted to make my own using a screen 
but the screen would not flow enough oil and the headstock rapidly filled.  I made 
another brass part which dammed up 3/8” of oil before it spilled into the drain tube, 
thinking heavy particles would stay on the bottom….or….I added a rare earth magnet 
pressed into the sidewall to capture any lurkers or floaters nearby.

Photo 3, the small drilled hole in the yellow is where excess oil spills out and flows to 
either side of the yellow lube tube.  I placed rare earth magnets on both sides to catch 
errant particles.

Photo 4, the square “trough” gravity-feeds the rear spindle bearing and I placed a rare 
earth magnet where the fluid stream shoots out to catch any ferrous particles.

Photo 5, the clear tube pressure feeds the front spindle bearing and I made a brass collar 
with a rare earth magnet pressed into it to capture any particles going towards the 
precision bearing.

Matt Isserstedt
matt.isserstedt@gm.com
08 May 2005