[mike sr1]

I'm thinking about changing my cooling fluid from water soluble oil to regular oil. I've been using Rustlik w/o problems, no rancidity even after one year (I have an air supply bubbling through it 24/7). I'm just tired of having to wipe everything down at the end of the day, getting it all dry, then having to coat the table and vice with regular oil. I get very little time in the shop and the clean up takes a good portion of that time. Also, I sometimes have the vice mounted for extended periods and on removing it there will be a lot of surface rust to deal with.

So I figure if I switch to regular cooling oil, rust and corrosion shouldn't be a problem and I'll save a lot of time. I know water soluble is cheaper but that's not an issue. My greatest concern is safety. I remember years ago running kerosene for some Al work. It worked great, beautiful surface finish, but produced a mist of kerosene that so much looked like a fuel-air bomb. This time I'm not planning on kero, but would be using cutting fluid formulated for the task. Am I worrying about a nonexistent problem?

Thanks

I have been thinking along the same lines John, I was thinking about Stoddard solvent - (no stink kerosene) with some sort of oil mixed with it, the only drawback i see is that it wont take the heat out as quickly as water based coolant, and would probably eat up the shower hose oil line to the flood system.

I dont like the staining or the rust either, and the rust under the vise. On my lathe I ran Ridgid cutting oil in the sump on it for 30 plus years and it worked fine, I used to cut it with Stoddard solvent to thin it out a bit. I ran 90 percent stainless steel though on it.

It would eliminate the tramp oil problem as it would all mix well, I dont know about evaporation being a problem though, at work we had a solvent tank parts washer and evaporation wasnt ever a problem with it that I can recall. I was going to run it thru the flood system so "misting" shouldnt be a problem.

Just thinking out loud here, glad to see someone considering the same alternative......

Our resident machinist at the plant would consider breaking your arm if you tried to put a water based coolant in his machines, he just didnt like it period, I guess because it was water based.

I do small text engraving with kerosene/ wd 40 mix in a spray bottle, and it seems to work fine for that.


edit: I did get a lot of smoke at times on the lathe hogging stainless steel though. I guess there is one way to find out if it works- try it ha!