Band saw cutting fluid recomendations???

[JN4310]

I use dry lube sticks (Castrol or LPS). They're about the size of a grease cartridge. You just hold it against the blade occasionally during the cut. It's a soft, waxy consistency that leaves very little residue on the piece being cut. It seems to be a good cutting lubricant, but doesn't do much for cooling. I use bi-metal blades and have never had an issue with it. The blades last a long time. It's also good for drilling and tapping.

 

[3RRL]

I use good old fashioned Val Cool VMT 650 by Valenite for all my industrial soluble cutting oil applications. Saws, mills, lathes, surface grinders, CNC's etc. I also use modeling clay to make little dams to keep the cutting fluid from dripping off the chip tray.

 

[toy]

BX24 -

Try the Syn-Kool from Enco it's water based - will not get rancid so it never stinks. I've been using it for over a year now and have only had to top it off every now and then. The longer life you get from the blade is well worth what little mess it makes. Just set the coolant flow valve to a slow rate so the mess is less and loss of coolant is small. Mine never goes on the floor.

Which saw did you get?

Here are some action shots of my 7X12 saw using the Syn-Kool coolant, notice the coolant is not going on the floor? The steel is 12" wide (max cut) X 3/4" thick.





CLICK HERE -> Syn Kool



Larry

When you use the coolant spray or mister and the coolant is caught in the drip pan does your spray pump suck up the coolant out of the chip tray and reuse it, if so is there a strainer on the suction line to strain out the metal chips. I have seen pictures of the sprayer pointing to the cut but I haven't saw the pump hooked on the machine and the suction line, or read how this is accomplished.

 

[3RRL]

When you use the coolant spray or mister and the coolant is caught in the drip pan does your spray pump suck up the coolant out of the chip tray and reuse it, if so is there a strainer on the suction line to strain out the metal chips. I have seen pictures of the sprayer pointing to the cut but I haven't saw the pump hooked on the machine and the suction line, or read how this is accomplished.

I'm not Larry, but generally a coolant sprayer or mister is used in conjunction with air like this Kool Mist System.
Kool Mist System
The coolant is in a rather small container and there is an air connector in or at the nozzle. When it sprays or mists, there is very little remaining of the coolant after it hits the tool. I use those kind for milling machines or drilling. There is a little drip left over, but not like what a coolant pump on like a saw would create.

Most saws have a chip tray that has a hole in it with a screen over it. The coolant strains through the screen and returns to the coolant reservoir where the pump is. It is then used over and over again.

 

[toy]

When you use the coolant spray or mister and the coolant is caught in the drip pan does your spray pump suck up the coolant out of the chip tray and reuse it, if so is there a strainer on the suction line to strain out the metal chips. I have seen pictures of the sprayer pointing to the cut but I haven't saw the pump hooked on the machine and the suction line, or read how this is accomplished.

I'm not Larry, but generally a coolant sprayer or mister is used in conjunction with air like this Kool Mist System.
Kool Mist System
The coolant is in a rather small container and there is an air connector in or at the nozzle. When it sprays or mists, there is very little remaining of the coolant after it hits the tool. I use those kind for milling machines or drilling. There is a little drip left over, but not like what a coolant pump on like a saw would create.

Most saws have a chip tray that has a hole in it with a screen over it. The coolant strains through the screen and returns to the coolant reservoir where the pump is. It is then used over and over again.

Thanks for responding, I bought a used smithy bz239g lathe and a bx288 milling machine. It came with a little giant pump it has a small tank[about a quart] out of the tank there is a hose that comes out of the top of the tank. The hose has a nozzel on the end of it that has threads on it and what looks like a cut off valve it has a magnetic base with two sprayers coming out of it and a barb going into it. How does that nozzel on the pump hook up to the barb and how does the air hook into it? The pump looks like it has never been used and the man that I bought it from said that he had never hooked it up. There may be some parts missing from it. Thanks for any information you maybe able to give.

 

[3RRL]

Can you post a picture(s) of it?
Most of the mist sprayers like the one I linked do not have pumps. The connection of the air line creates like a Venturi effect and sucks the fluid along with the air to create a mist.

The hose has a nozzel on the end of it that has threads on it and what looks like a cut off valve it has a magnetic base with two sprayers coming out of it and a barb going into it. How does that nozzel on the pump hook up to the barb and how does the air hook into it?

I'm guessing in your case, it sounds like the pump is there to pump fluid, and mist or spray. I would like to see a couple pictures of it. From what you describe (If I'm reading it right) you would put an air line over that barb to create the mist spray feature on it? So when you run the pump and turn on the air (use a small petcock for the air going in) you could adjust the air for fine mist with a lot of air and a heavier spray with just a little air, or just fluid with no air at all. I would plug it in and add the air line with a valve and test it out. But again, I can't say for sure.
Perhaps there is a name on the unit or model you can look up on line?

If you use just the fluid cooling, you should have some way to return the coolant to the small tank or you will definitely have a small mess ... one quart's worth. On my saw the pump just sits in a covered "pan" that catches the returning fluid. You could put your pump in a "pan" like that deep enough to submerge it (If it's submersible). Mount it underneath your chip tray so it collects the coolant again.
Your lathe should have a chip tray probably with a plug in it. You can remove that plug and put a hose in there that returns to you reservoir. On you milling machine, you see the "T" slots end at each end of the table. There should be a hole on each end where you can screw in an adapter to add a hose that returns to your reservoir. Most of those small machine tools are set up for dry cutting, but using your coolant attachment is a lot better.
When you set it up and try it, please post pictures.

 

[toy]

Can you post a picture(s) of it?
Most of the mist sprayers like the one I linked do not have pumps. The connection of the air line creates like a Venturi effect and sucks the fluid along with the air to create a mist.

The hose has a nozzel on the end of it that has threads on it and what looks like a cut off valve it has a magnetic base with two sprayers coming out of it and a barb going into it. How does that nozzel on the pump hook up to the barb and how does the air hook into it?

I'm guessing in your case, it sounds like the pump is there to pump fluid, and mist or spray. I would like to see a couple pictures of it. From what you describe (If I'm reading it right) you would put an air line over that barb to create the mist spray feature on it? So when you run the pump and turn on the air (use a small petcock for the air going in) you could adjust the air for fine mist with a lot of air and a heavier spray with just a little air, or just fluid with no air at all. I would plug it in and add the air line with a valve and test it out. But again, I can't say for sure.
Perhaps there is a name on the unit or model you can look up on line?

If you use just the fluid cooling, you should have some way to return the coolant to the small tank or you will definitely have a small mess ... one quart's worth. On my saw the pump just sits in a covered "pan" that catches the returning fluid. You could put your pump in a "pan" like that deep enough to submerge it (If it's submersible). Mount it underneath your chip tray so it collects the coolant again.
Your lathe should have a chip tray probably with a plug in it. You can remove that plug and put a hose in there that returns to you reservoir. On you milling machine, you see the "T" slots end at each end of the table. There should be a hole on each end where you can screw in an adapter to add a hose that returns to your reservoir. Most of those small machine tools are set up for dry cutting, but using your coolant attachment is a lot better.
When you set it up and try it, please post pictures.

I don't know too much about computers maybe one of these days I'll learn how to do pictures. If you ever see a post form me that has a picture that don't have nothing about any thing you'll know I'm learning. The pump system is from smithy and I looked at the picture of it in their sale and it looks like it is all there. There is only one barb on the magnetic block that has the adjustable spray tubes that would spray on the cutting tool. I guess I'll have to hook it up with fluid in the tank and see what that does and then maybe I might be able to figure out how the rest of it hooks up. The fluid that came with the machine is called cool mist. There was also thread cutting fluid that came with the machine but I don't think that goes with the pump but I might be wrong. Since I got the machines in June seems like I have had someone in the family in the hospital or bad sick ever since[Im' not complaining about that though because that is just part of life and family needs always come first.] Thanks for the replys.

 

[3RRL]

Oh,
I thought there was a tube coming out of the reservoir that hooked onto the threaded end and then there was a barb for the air. If there's only one connection to the sprayer, it's for the cool mist coolant. The threading oil is usually put on by an acid brush. I put some in the hole and also some on the tap.

 

[Raspy]

I'm just about to get one of the Harbor Freight 7" X 12" band saws with the coolant system. They are on sale and seem OK for the money. I have been wanting one like this for years and have many many hours on my hand bandsaw.

So I'm wondering what you guys do with the coolant when the saw only gets used occasionally? Do you drain it, or cover it somehow to prevent evaportion? I think water based fluid is a better coolant than oil, but maybe oil would be better considering limited use and evaporation. Something like transmission fluid that is relatively thin. Comments?

 

[sal64]

it all depens on how many cuts u are making if u cut a few pieces just buy a gal of cutting oil any brand from msc ind and brush it on while it cutts if your cutting repetative 100 off pieces then u need pump. get a good lenex blade .