In preparation for switching coolant from Kool-Mist 77 to Qualichem Xtreme cut 251C I cleaned out the old system and installed some upgrades while it was out.

Here is 1yr. of accumulated chips in the tank that made it past my screens. I think the pump is sucking up these chips and spitting them at my endmills causing them to be recut and chipping the flutes.
Attachment 259002

I have been using the Kroger flour sifter to great effect but there are still fine chips that make it through. I drove some self-tapping screws into the circumference of the sifters frame to hold some even finer mesh paint screen bags. I pulled the elastic off of the nearest screw to see it better. I also installed an aluminum cross beam to serve as a handle but also to better center and secure the sifter under the chip drain. This should also help keep the pinholes in the chip tray from clogging although I haven't had any problems with that after I started using the sifter.
Attachment 259004

I installed both a drain valve to empty the tank through the 1/4" ID tubing going off to the left and a remote coolant level sight gauge going off the the right. It turns out that the little dome shaped replacement faucet screens fit perfectly right over a 1/4 nut due to the big rubber ring around it. This should help keep chips out of the line. I drilled a 1/2" hole near the bottom right corner of the tan, ran my fittings though with washers, and silicone sealed it. I did that after unsuccessfully trying to compress a rubber gasket in there (it would just squish and pop out from under the washer.
Attachment 259006

Here is a better view of the coolant level sight gauge calibrated and marked from 1gal to the maximum 6gal. in 1/2gal. increments. This can be easily viewed right inside the front left door. I also ran an in-line whole house filter with 50 micron filters to keep the coolant sprayed at the tool clean and chip free. I'm just waiting on the before and after pressure gauges to get here so I can install them and finish it.
Attachment 259008