Coolant Filtration

Dear friends,

Let’s talk about coolant filtration and what role it plays in increasing fluid longevity and part quality. Coolants are process fluids which serve as Liquid Tools® which perform various functions in the manufacturing and production process. Coolants provide a wide range of properties and aspects in the part making process; these include lubricating and cooling of the cutting tools and parts being machined. Coolants are also expected to provide excellent corrosion protection to the machine tool and parts; good chip evacuation along with an acceptable level of health and safety. So as you can see, there are heavy demands placed upon a metalworking fluid in order for it to fulfill its critical role in the manufacturing process. During machining, metalworking fluids become heavily contaminated with micron and sub-micron metal particles, as well as tramp oils. These tramp oils can be removed by skimming the free oil from the top of the emulsion, but the metal fines must be addressed by means of filtration. Filtration can come in many different forms and can range from simple decantation tanks and filter media, to more complex high speed centrifuges. Both provide the same end result - the removal of metal fines from the process fluid.

But isn’t filtration expensive?

In the past the cost of filtration verses the cost of metalworking fluids, was prohibitive for smaller shops to financially realize. However with the rising price of metalworking fluid concentrates and the high costs for spent coolant waste disposal; more companies are becoming aware of the value that filtration can play into decreasing the overall metalworking fluid cost and extending fluid life.

So what’s in it for me?

Coolant filtration can increase productivity and tool life and is beneficial in helping reduce scrap due to poor surface finish. Filtration increases manufactured part quality; this is due in part to superior surface finishes, thus improving a company’s overall part quality and image. Nice finishes = Happy customers!

In the 2^nd addition of Coolant Filtration, by James J. Joseph it states “The size of the operation no longer qualifies the need for filtration but it establishes the degree of filtration needed to show an economic return”. So now we see that all manufacturing companies regardless of size should be incorporating some degree of filtration. So the important questions we should be asking ourselves are these… Do I filter my coolant, and if not, why? What increases in productivity and tool life do I stand to gain by doing so? How much longer could my fluids last if I did?

By not implementing filtration, you will fail to realize the full potential of your cutting tools and (if equipped) high pressure coolant system, let alone the metalworking fluid you are currently using. Re-cutting chips is not conducive to long tool life and a contaminated fluid does not produce excellent surface finishes. One more item to take into consideration; high levels of metal fines raises the probability for contact dermatitis in the shop environment, thus increasing costs, and profit loss due to employee sick leave and low morale.

So if you are still kicking the idea around about whether or not you should purchase a filtration system?  My question to you would be…       Why wait any longer?

Stay tuned for more useful coolant related tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

Formaldehyde

Dear friends,

Attention machine shop owners! You might have noticed advertisements in trade magazines from various metalworking fluid manufactures, claiming their fluids don’t contain formaldehyde (Triazine or HHT). So… your probably wondering what’s the big deal right now with formaldehyde and what does it mean for me, my company (and most importantly) the people that I employ? To start, let me give you a little background on the topic at hand. Triazine- trade name-Grotan; has been and still is a widely used broad spectrum biocide in the metal removal fluid industry. Hexahydro-1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethl)-s-Triazine or HHT, is classified as a formaldehyde releasing condensate. HHT is a very effective, low cost broad spectrum biocide for metalworking fluid formulators to use. HHT has been used in metal removal fluids for many years.

Recently formaldehyde was moved by IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) from a “Group 2A”, (Probably Carcinogenic to Humans) to a “Group 1 status”, (Carcinogenic to Humans). Along with this ruling from IARC; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program (NPT) the 12^th Report on Carcinogens (12^th RoC), has ruled formaldehyde as “Know to be a Human Carcinogen”. So as you can see this is not good news for biocide manufactures or metalworking fluid formulators. Many metalworking fluid manufactures are scrambling to reformulate their various metal removal fluids, while others are claiming that they have never used formaldehyde in any of their formulations in the first place.

So what’s the truth and what does this mean for me?

In my opinion, I would anticipate metalworking fluids to become more expensive due to the higher costs of non-formaldehyde based biocides. Metalworking fluid manufactures will have to reformulate, and by thus doing so, some products which contained Triazine may no longer be available in the future. This could lead to machine shops that use a particular fluid due to a manufacturer specific approval; i.e. aerospace and medical approvals, searching to find a new fluid which is on the approved list for use. Unfortunately for the customer the eventual ban on Triazine will mean higher cost and reduced fluid life expectancy. This is due in part to the decreased effectiveness of biocide choices made available for formulators to work with.

So… what do I do now?

My advice would be, get informed. Become educated on the issue; discuss with your current fluid supplier the chemical properties of your current fluid. Ask yourself this; what are the long term ramifications of continuing the use of a fluid which contains Triazine? Last but not least; take into consideration the health and safety aspects not only for you, but also for your employees. After all, we all want to work in a safe and healthy environment.

Stay tuned for more useful coolant related tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

Got Foam?

Dear friends,

So you have decided to go out and purchase a brand new metal removal fluid for your shop, and after filling your machine you’re expectations are high! Good cutting performance, machine cleanliness and bio-stability are all promised by the metalworking fluid manufacturer. So you go to fire up the machine and decide try out that new high pressure pump you just paid a bundle for, and presto!  Foam all over the shop floor! Great… Now what do I do? Well there are a few things you can do; first you might try adding anti-foam additives to help control the foam. You can try making up your coolant with hard water if you are lucky or unlucky enough to have it available. You might even consider reducing the pressure on that nifty new high pressure coolant system; but that tends to negate the whole purpose of having high pressure coolant doesn’t it? So what is causing the problem? Why do coolants foam? Well there are numerous reasons that can lead to metalworking fluids foaming.

1.        Air entrained into the fluid can cause the coolant pumps to cavitate and create additional foam, which leads to even more foam the longer the coolant pumps runs.

2.        Higher coolant pressures (1000psi plus), pushing fluid through small tool orifices with high RPM spindles can entrain air into the fluid (High pressure/low volume).

3.        Inadequate sump volume and/or poor sump design can lead to foam build up.

4.        High cutting fluid turn over, with inadequate dwell/rest time for the fluid to release entrained air.

5.        High fluid temperature; the more the fluids temperature increases so does its potential to foam.

6.        Excessive coolant concentration; running the coolant concentration higher than the manufacturer recommends.

So as you can see there are many potential causes for foam build up. The big question is - what can you do about it? Other than adding anti-foam additions to the sump which can be very costly; the best solution is to refer to your metalworking fluid manufacturer and purchase a coolant which is designed for high pressure coolant systems. So… got foam? Give your coolant representative a call and get the right fluid for the job.

Stay tuned for more useful coolant tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

Price vs. Cost – There is a Difference.

Dear friends,

Generally when a customer purchases a metalworking fluid, it seems they are most concerned about the upfront price of the product being considered. But I must say most don’t take into consideration of the overall cost of the fluid over its life expectancy. It’s a wonderful feeling to know you’re getting a great deal; I mean who doesn’t like a great deal right? But consider this, are you really? If your metalworking fluid goes bad every four to five months and then you have to dispose of it, incurring even more costs, are you really money ahead? When considering which metalworking fluid to use in your shop, take into consideration of the quality of the product you are about to purchase. If the upfront price of the product and the proclaimed benefits seems almost too good to be true? Well… I hate to tell you my friend, it most likely is. The old saying still rings true; you get what you pay for.

I’m a firm believer in proper coolant maintenance. Keeping your concentration within the factory recommended range, skimming your coolant of free oils, using quality water and mixing the metalworking fluid properly. These simple procedures are paramount to getting the most out of your metalworking fluid investment. High end products cost more to produce because of the quality of the ingredients used to manufacture them. Believe it or not, there is a reason why a $30.00 per gallon fluid cost more than a $15.00 per gallon fluid. If you invest in a high quality fluid and properly maintain it; you should expect to get anywhere from one to two years or more life from that product before ultimately having to dispose of it. If a customer chooses to neglect and misuse their metalworking fluid; instead of paying twenty to forty cents per gallon for mixed coolant, now you’re going to end up paying two to three dollars per gallon (depending on your geographical region) additional cost to just get rid of it! So as you can see, it pays to purchase a higher quality fluid and maintain the fluid to the specifications that the manufacturer recommends.

There’s another old saying in the sales industry when it comes to quality, you’ve might even have heard of it… either you pay me now, or pay me later, but one way or another, you’re going to pay me.

Stay tuned for more useful coolant tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

What Does Oil Really Stand For?

Dear friends,

I know what you’re thinking; this guy can’t be serious, right? I know you’re saying to yourself, I’m an intelligent person… I've been known to change the oil in my car or lawnmower from time to time, so I know what oil stands for! If I remember correctly it’s that slick black stuff that keeps things from squeaking around the house - right?

Well my friend you’re right! But the oil I want to talk to you today is about metalworking fluids; specifically mixing metalworking fluids correctly. Now you’re most likely thinking to yourself, oil and mixing metalworking fluids correctly… I don’t see the connection? Well in the metalworking fluid industry, we designate the use of the word oil as an acronym. First of all; most metalworking fluids are based on mineral oil, and secondly when it comes to mixing metalworking fluids correctly, you definitely want to mix them using the term O.I.L.

Oil

In

Last

When you mix water miscible oil based coolants you want to mix the oil into the water, not the other way around. This is an important key factor which most people are not aware of. All oil based coolants need to be mixed this way in order for the emulsion to form properly, that is oil droplets floating in a water phase, not water floating in an oil phase. Improperly mixed coolant will destroy carbide tooling due to thermal cracking; also poor surface finishes may result. Improperly mixed coolants will separate (split) over time; thus wasting your hard earned money.

So always remember - Oil In Last.

Stay tuned for more useful coolant tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

rett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

To Skim, or not to Skim?

Dear friends,

Have you ever taken a look at your sump and wonder where all that oil floating on top came from, and better yet what in the world do I do with it now? Well listen up my friends because we’re going to school!

Tramp oil, (as we call it in the industry) is a real problem for metalworking fluids in general. It doesn’t improve the cutting action of the metalworking fluid, it leads to higher mist levels in the shop and it tends to be a readily available food supply for anaerobic bacteria. Facultative Anaerobic bacteria don’t require oxygen to live, but they still require a food source. Way lubes/Hydraulic oils as well as the raw materials in metalworking fluids are excellent food sources for these anaerobic bacteria. These anaerobes excrete hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) a byproduct of metabolizing the sulfur found in most way lubes and hydraulic oils. This in turn, creates the wonderful aroma of the famous Monday morning stink that we are all so fond of. If we choose to ignore this potential problem and not remove (Skim) this tramp oil on a weekly if not daily basis, then eventually it will become part of the coolant.

Now this potential food source is readily available throughout the emulsion itself. Older and even new machines being manufactured today use Way lubes/Hydraulic oils for lubricating the box ways, linear guides and spindle bearings. Unless the lubricating system is sealed, this oil will eventually to find its way into the coolant sump. Metalworking fluid manufactures formulate their coolants to reject out these larger oil agglomerate’s to the top of the emulsion. This foreign oil is to be removed by means of skimming or coolant coalescing equipment. This is done by design, as tramp oil leads to coolant deterioration/contamination and eventual disposal. By implementing simple measures of using coolant skimmers and filtration equipment on a regular basis, a metalworking fluids sump life can be greatly prolonged thus reducing overall fluid cost.

So the answer to the question of, to skim or not to skim is… skim that sump!

Stay tuned for more useful coolant tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries

Is it Time for an Oil Change?

Dear friends,

Over the many years of being involved in the metalworking fluid industry, I’ve come across various companies, Swiss Screw and job shops alike, that when asked how long they were using their current cutting oil respond, “Forever… besides oil never goes bad”. How I wish this was true. Neat oils (cutting oils) do eventually go bad, as nothing lasts forever. The main influences that kill cutting oils and lead to their eventual disposal are as follows.

·         Contamination: Over time way lubes, bar feed/hydraulic oils, water and sub-micron metal fines contaminate the straight oil. The metal fines through proper filtration can be removed, but the cross contamination from the way lube and bar feed oil cannot. With proper filtration you can greatly prolong the life expectancy of the cutting oil.

·         Oxidation: Oxidation is a form of chemical degradation. Oxidation of the additives and also the oil occurs when heat is generated by the cutting forces produced at the spindle. Oil pumps produce additional heat which is put back into the oil. This in turn creates hydrocarbon molecules in the oil which then react with oxygen to form, you guessed it - water (H2O). Antioxidant additive packages eventually deplete out, which in turn leads to your once nice clean cutting oil turning the nasty turbid brown and in some cases black color.

As you can see all neat oils eventually go bad. The higher the quality of the oil the longer this process takes. Also this process can be extended by keeping direct water contamination out of the oil as much as possible. Implementing good filtration methods down to at least 1 micron in size is very beneficial.

This process can take a year or more to come to fruition, but it will eventually happen. When you compare tool life studies of new oil against old contaminated oil, the difference in cutter life can be up to 15-20%.

So ask yourself, is it time for an oil change?

Stay tuned for more useful coolant tips, from The Coolant Guy!

Best regards,

Brett Reynolds, CMFS

Brett Reynolds, “The Coolant Guy” works for Blaser Swisslube Inc.

If you would like more useful information regarding metalworking fluids, or would like to find out more information about Blaser metalworking fluid products,

Please contact Brett at 801-722-4095 or via

E-mail at b.reynolds@blaser.com

theoilbaronbulletin@blogspot.com

The Oil Baron Bulletin is not affiliated with Blaser Swisslube Inc. or its subsidiaries