johnd
starting to shine!
Member since May 2015
Posts: 26 
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Post by johnd on Jan 24, 2020 20:37:42 GMT -5
I have an 8" saw and wondering if food grade mineral oil would be acceptable as a cutting oil- I don't have any lapidary supply stores within many miles and looking to find something non toxic, non flammable that doesn't smell that I could get at Walmart or Auto supply store
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Post by victor1941 on Jan 24, 2020 21:53:30 GMT -5
Johnd, I have used food grade mineral oil in my trim saw with no problem. I have noticed that greater viscosity in colder weather is noticeable and seems to gunk up faster than lighter commercial oil with heavier cutting. I wear a mask but have no fear of toxicity. Porous material does soak in this oil and is hard to remove.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 25, 2020 8:31:36 GMT -5
Its been said many times but warrants repeating since new folk come along all the time.
1. You want mineral oil, not vegetable oil. Vegetable oil will go rancid and stink.
Mineral oil can be filtered and reused again and again.
2. Walmart's human laxative comes in handy pint bottles and is pretty close to as cheap as mineral oil gets. Its a bit thicker than horse laxatives. I find baby oils to be thinner than either and the scent a bit heavy and undesirable for my shop.
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Post by knave on Jan 25, 2020 8:36:23 GMT -5
I’m gonna try the used vacuum pump oil from work. Nice constant source.
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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 Jan 25, 2020 8:47:31 GMT -5
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Post by knave on Jan 25, 2020 8:49:30 GMT -5
Dr DG thank you. Some pink stuff (Tool Cool) came with the saw so I’ve been using that. Hopefully its ok stuff.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 25, 2020 9:28:15 GMT -5
Any evidence of rust with either of these "water" additives? Or do you drain daily?
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Post by woodman on Jan 25, 2020 10:24:33 GMT -5
Any evidence of rust with either of these "water" additives? Or do you drain daily? SKU: 345021 Lube Cool is a water soluble lubricant that is 100% biodegradable. It is the most advanced 100% synthetic coolant on the market today. Use with all types of lapidary blades and diamond coated burs. 1 gal. For Cutting applications: Mix 10 to 1 with water. For Grinding applications: Mix 20 to 1 with water. Lube Cool is the perfect water-soluble coolant. Excellent lubricating properties, and rust inhibitors, plus added skin conditioners. Does not contain any nitrosamines, phenols, nitrates, sulfur, chlorine, phosphates or oil After I posted this I talked to a friend that tried water solvable lubes and he found that on his 36 in saw, it did NOT work at all. maybe on trim saws. |
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Post by knave on Jan 26, 2020 12:54:23 GMT -5
Any evidence of rust with either of these "water" additives? Or do you drain daily? I haven’t seen any rust yet. With daily use I leave the water in but if it was going to sit at all I would drain. I may start using waste high grade vacuum pump oil from my job. |
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petrifried
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2015
Posts: 100
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Post by petrifried on Jan 26, 2020 13:22:07 GMT -5
I was using mineral oil from a local vet supply in my 12" slab saw and liked everything but the price. $22 gal I did the math and found that the buying the pints of mineral oil at walmart was cheaper than the vet supply. The stuff from walmart is much thicker and sludges up fast and does not work well for me. I recently found out about Ultracruz Mineral Oil from reading some posts on here, and will try that next!
I also just acquired a 10" trim saw and am planning on putting a MK 225 on it and using it as a hand slabber for odd shaped rocks ect... I like the sound of Lube Cool for this saw, but my question is: will it work close to as good as mineral oil for slabing with a trim saw or is it mainly for those that just trim slabs?
Yes, rust would also be a concern. I use pure water on a little 7" saw i built for rough cutting/grinding for tumbling and it rusts up the blade pretty much overnight, which is ok because the blade is only $10 and i'm to lazy to take it off when not in use=)
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Post by woodman on Jan 27, 2020 10:23:46 GMT -5
I used water when I first started using my drag saw. Softer material it would cut but had to dress the segments way to often. Would not work at all on agate materials. Switched over to using diesel and it cuts any material like a champ. I use Diesel in my 30 inch saw, was using mineral oil in the 18 and 24 but it gums up way to fast. I am using ATF in them now, that ought to get people screaming!! WILL GO to DIESEL next clean out.
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