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Post by MrP on Jun 15, 2007 19:24:19 GMT -5
I have a 20" saw now and am wondering what kind of oil to use. I know nothing about saw oil so I need some expert advice. What do I look for in an oil?......MrP
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lastl98
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2007
Posts: 410
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Post by lastl98 on Jun 15, 2007 20:16:36 GMT -5
Picked up your saw I see! Sorry don't have any advice on slab saw oils but I'll bet you're chomping at the bit to start using that MONSTER! lol Last
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Post by deb193 on Jun 15, 2007 20:29:49 GMT -5
I think you should get viscosity 70 or lighter food grade white mineral oil. You will hear tell of kerosene, RV anti-freeze, Pella Oil, Almag oil ... but it is you who will breath the mist. Even with a hood, mist escapes, and nearby surfaces get a light shine over time. The cost is not much more, and you can strain it through a paper bag and use it for a long time. Just order a feew 5 gallon buckets. www.steoil.com/catalog.asp?productgroup=70fgfor something you will use for a few years, why skimp on a few dollars and get smelly rocks and/or lung problems. Not to mention visitors and/or pets. $.02
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fossilman
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2007
Posts: 256
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Post by fossilman on Jun 15, 2007 20:37:52 GMT -5
Almag is AWFUL SMELLING! It's hard to get off rocks too. And when you get it on your skin, you smell like it for days. Your family won't appreciate the smell either...
Personally, I use farm transmission fluid. It's easy to get off the rocks, and it doesn't stink up the garage.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jun 15, 2007 20:40:48 GMT -5
I use the Almag Oil and I don't have a problem with it. It does smell, but it works just fine, and it comes off in the shower. I soak my rocks in kitty litter and it takes the oil right out. Everyone has an opinion, and there's definitely lots of different things to use. The cost is about $50-$60 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket. Steve
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 15, 2007 21:14:25 GMT -5
This is a tough subject as everyone has preferences and availability is always a big issue. I've used almost every type over the years. First thing to remember is respiratory safety and any inhaled oil, even food grade mineral oil can cause lung problems and coat everything in your shop. ALMEG, Pella and food grade mineral oil in the proper viscosity are hard to come by around here unless you mail order it. These are my opinions so don't take them as gospel. Jut my 2 cents worth.
Pella: Really stinky in my book and fairly expensive. Think it's a Shell product. Used it for awhile and got tired of sweating it out of my pores for days.
ALMEG: Really preferred by lots of folks around here. Fairly stinky. Last time I stocked up, over $8 per gallon and hard to get. Works well though and no harder to clean off than the other oils. I still use it in my mix but will stop after I've used what I have.
Farm transmission or hydraulic fluid: I've always had viscosity problems here and it seems to pick up suspended grit more and get sticky causing blade binding. Maybe a different viscosity would work better. It was pretty darn cheap at Wal Mart.
Water-oil emulsions from mixes; Tried them, got rust. Didn't think they functioned as well either.
Anti- freeze: Some of course, are quite toxic. Don't think I'd like to breathe any of them but haven't used any yet.
Diesel: Bill's rockyard uses it. Stinky and I don't trust it as I've seen his saws smoke *L*.
My mix: ALMEG and kerosene at present. Kerosene is available at any hardware stone, under $5 a gallon, not too stinky and almost everyone I know has used at least some in their mix for years. It cools the blade wonderfully and really seems to aid the blade in the cut. It is irritating to the lungs though and I usually wear a respirator unless I wait for the vapor to settle before opening the saw. I've always been concerned with flammability and the possibility of a closed system vapor explosion but guys I know who've used it for years have had no problems including one rockshop guy who cuts constantly. If my saw was prone to sparking, I'd not use it. I keep a fire extinguisher handy all the time anyway. Way easier to clean the rocks with kerosene, way easier to clean yourself, and to me at least, not too irritating. I'm not advising it except as a use at your own risk thing but it seems to work swell and is really easy to obtain any time.
Overall, you have to see what you like and what works best in your saw by trial and error. Just always be careful cause cutting rocks isn't worth sacrificing your good health....mel
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Post by parfive on Jun 15, 2007 21:31:41 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 15, 2007 22:07:37 GMT -5
You know Rich, that oil sounds pretty good and even thogh lots of my buddies swear by it, the kerosene has always worried me more than a little. Is this stuff stinky like Pella and Almag and do you still have to thin it with some kerosene anyway or do you run it straight? Also, any oother problems you've had with it?....mel
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jun 15, 2007 22:59:32 GMT -5
We are using a product from Northland oil Company called (Norpar S4 ). It has absolutely no odor and you use it straight with no mixing. it is close to $50.00 for 5 gal. Through our rock club here it's closer to $35.00. I was told by the lab man at Northland that it is formulated for rock saws but hav'nt a clue what the viscosity is, it seems slightly heavier than 30 wt. motor oil. Its clear like cooking oil with no color at all.
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 15, 2007 23:09:22 GMT -5
mineral oil, food grade if possible something that won't degrade or cause someone to have an allergic reaction (like peanut oil)
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Post by parfive on Jun 15, 2007 23:44:19 GMT -5
Mel - No problems at all with the Covington oil. No smell at all, and no need to thin it. I think it's excellent.
And they're in California, so shipping to you should be reasonable. I ordered it online, using the zip code shipping calculator (I forget the cost) and they invoiced me with a LOWER, corrected price.
Rich
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Post by sandsman1 on Jun 16, 2007 0:07:46 GMT -5
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Post by MrP on Jun 16, 2007 5:12:22 GMT -5
Thanx everyone. I think I will use a mineral oil, not sure what brand yet but will have to figure that out. I thought tumbling cost a lot until I checked out the cost of oil and blade replacement, when that time comes. Speaking of blades, What kind and Where does everyone buy theirs?.....MrP
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yogibear
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 100
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Post by yogibear on Jun 16, 2007 8:00:49 GMT -5
I went to the standard oil distributer and talked with them about oils for rock saws when I got mine. They recommended Shingle Oil at about $50.00 per 5 gallons. It has worked great for me.
yogibear
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jun 16, 2007 9:29:10 GMT -5
Rich: Thanks so much for the info. I'm definitely gonna order a couple of five gallon cans of that stuff. I'm so tired of stinky oils!......mel
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Post by deb193 on Jun 16, 2007 10:08:23 GMT -5
I wish I knew the viscosity of the Covington so I could compare to the STE-70 and just know once and for all.
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Post by parfive on Jun 16, 2007 22:04:26 GMT -5
Daniel - Other than motor oil, most oils are not rated like 10W, etc.
Try making sense out of this:
5.8-7.8cSt @ 100 degrees C or @100 F it is 41-53cSt
By the way, that was two different replies from the same company. Go figure.
Rich
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Post by catmandewe on Jun 16, 2007 22:48:46 GMT -5
I went down to my local United Oil distributor and got technical grade mineral oil for $4.90/gallon, they use it here to spray on dirt roads to keep the dust down, I put 25 gallons of it in my 30" saw and it works just dandy.
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Post by stoner on Jun 17, 2007 0:42:58 GMT -5
I'm with Rich on this one.When I first got my saw, the guy had about 3 gals of Almag that he threw in with the saw. I used it until it was gone and then ordered a 5gal pail from Covington. This stuff is completely odorless, it seems to make the saw cut through agates smoother and quieter, and the blade seems to run cooler. So when I run out again, I'll order another 5gals from Covington. I told Randy about it and he seemed to like it too.
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Post by connrock on Jun 17, 2007 8:06:23 GMT -5
We went through this subject a while back and John Sands suggested the mineral oil he uses. It's a thin mineral oil almost no mist at all and no odor. It keeps my hands soft,the blade/rocks cool and is reasonably priced. I'm no authority on oils by a long shot but I don't think Covington is into oil refining and just puts their label on a thin mineral oil and sells it as Covington Slab Saw Oil? ? Thin mineral oil is also used for horse enemas so you can get it at equine supplies but it's more expensive,,,,,same oil but it costs more! Everyone has their own gimmick!! connrock
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