mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Mar 9, 2016 18:10:46 GMT -5
I have used the "Rockhound Oil" from Covington for many years. The cheapest I can get it for is about $17/gallon. Other than price, I have zero complaints about this product. I am not sure I couldn't be using a cheaper product that would perform just as well though. I see oil for sale at rock shows all the time for much cheaper, but who knows where this stuff comes from? Maybe last week this stuff was cooking french fries, or is some PCB-laced stuff from old transformers. At least with the Covington product I feel assured I am getting good stuff.
What do you folks use, how much do you pay, and where do you get it? I have a 36" saw that I estimate may take close to 40 gallons to fill, so if I can find something cheaper that would be nice.
By the way, what the heck is "mineral" oil anyway?
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Post by kap on Mar 9, 2016 19:09:25 GMT -5
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 9, 2016 20:04:01 GMT -5
If you have an oil distributor anywhere near try them. Look for tech grade or white mineral oil. Low viscosity and high flash point. Steer clear of anything vegetable based. Sounds like you need oil by the barrel.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 9, 2016 21:50:06 GMT -5
Just got mine from this Company too,even got a call back,to see if I got my order... Great Company,great oil too.... |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,993
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Post by Tommy on Mar 9, 2016 22:48:40 GMT -5
Just got mine from this Company too,even got a call back,to see if I got my order... Great Company,great oil too.... ditto. Excellent customer service - almost alarmingly good. It's like buying from some of the material suppliers I buy from on my job. |
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Post by oregon on Mar 10, 2016 1:57:33 GMT -5
Check your local distributors.... I just paid $10/gal thought that was bad because it was $7 a few months earlier.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 10, 2016 10:22:00 GMT -5
I use to buy it from a Company in Albany,OR that reconditioned Power line transformers.They would recycle the oils and use it again,taking out all the chemicals...
Got it for $20 a 5 gallon pail full...
Must have been doing it on the side,because it's no more..LOL
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 10, 2016 10:59:05 GMT -5
A friend in CO was buying 55 gallon drums for under $50. Scared me off when he didn't know what it was other than recycled transformer oil. The newer stuff is very good and on the MK/BD recommended oil list. The old stuff with PCB's is not.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 10, 2016 12:29:37 GMT -5
I have a 36" saw that I estimate may take close to 40 gallons to fill, so if I can find something cheaper that would be nice. Whoa, you only need to fill the bottom so the blade's bottom edge is about 1/4" deep. That 40 gals must fill the whole saw - you would have a really, really big mess to clean up. Exxon Valdez like. |
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tdebb
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2013
Posts: 4
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Post by tdebb on Mar 26, 2016 12:17:53 GMT -5
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 26, 2016 12:22:20 GMT -5
I got 5 gal of Mag1 ISO22 Turbine Shaft Drip Oil from Tractor Supply last Fall for $39.95. Almost water white, almost no odor and nontoxic. Works great. Anybody else have any thoughts on this oil? Can't beat that price I'd just want to be sure I wasn't overlooking something important and causing some other problem. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 26, 2016 23:12:16 GMT -5
I have never heard or tried it either..
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 26, 2016 23:42:55 GMT -5
IMO it's way too thick and the flash point is too low. I use the Stellar Lubricants oil. The base is a tech grade mineral oil used in cosmetics. The club shop has used it for about a year and I got a 55 gallon drum a few months back, works great in all my saws.
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Dr DG
fully equipped rock polisher
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,848
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Post by Dr DG on Mar 27, 2016 13:40:51 GMT -5
I get my oil for 9 a gallon, Dion and Sons..
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 27, 2016 16:45:46 GMT -5
I have a 36" saw that I estimate may take close to 40 gallons to fill, so if I can find something cheaper that would be nice. Whoa, you only need to fill the bottom so the blade's bottom edge is about 1/4" deep. That 40 gals must fill the whole saw - you would have a really, really big mess to clean up. Exxon Valdez like. My 30" saw takes 45 gallons. I am refurbishing a 36" HP and it looks like it will be about the same. Tony |
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Post by catmandewe on Mar 27, 2016 16:49:25 GMT -5
I buy from a local distributor, it is about $8 a gallon if I take my own containers. If they provide containers it adds to the price. I use technical grade mineral oil. It is the same as food grade except it is not processed in a sterile room.
Tony
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 27, 2016 17:08:27 GMT -5
My 30" saw takes 45 gallons. I am refurbishing a 36" HP and it looks like it will be about the same. Tony Wow, I had no idea. That gets really expensive fast. And the clean out must be very fun. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2016 17:39:24 GMT -5
Not far from me is a commercial lapidary. He has 2 home built 48" saws. Each holds a 55gallon drum.
He has bottom drains and does do a pillow case filter. Has to muck out every 30 cuts. That equals every two weeks. So every week he mucks a saw.
His hindsight was he wished he had made them hold 110 gallons.
My observation is he should have made the bottom drain a funnel, so every morning he could flush the rock snot from yesterday.
He slabs rainbow wood logs and polishes one face. Sends them back to the dude in Holbrook for his store.
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barclay
has rocks in the head
Lowly Padawan of rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 510
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Post by barclay on Mar 27, 2016 22:32:40 GMT -5
I got 5 gal of Mag1 ISO22 Turbine Shaft Drip Oil from Tractor Supply last Fall for $39.95. Almost water white, almost no odor and nontoxic. Works great. Anybody else have any thoughts on this oil? Can't beat that price I'd just want to be sure I wasn't overlooking something important and causing some other problem. Being a safety guy in real life the concern I have is all of the times the SDS says "normal use". Normal use for a hydraulic oil is inside of a hose or tank away from people and not being made into a mist. Next to some of the hazardous properties it says "likely". This means they have not tested it for that property. Stating that the hazardous components are not specifically listed in the OSHA list does not mean that they are safe. No data does not equal safe. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 27, 2016 23:13:35 GMT -5
barclay I agree that the safety data sheets only take into account the intended use of the product, the reason you should not use any oil intended for the inside of an engine, pump or gearbox. Anti wear additives are extremely toxic when inhaled or ingested, and accumulate in the liver over time. A straight technical or food grade mineral oil is essentially non toxic. The mist is still a valid concern, our lungs are made for air and anything else in them can be expected to be less than optimal.
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