Bandsaw Fliud/Coolant?

I've got a Jet bandsaw and I use it in an unheated shop.

The manual recommends to use a water soluable coolant.

I've been using RV (Propolyne Glycol) straight, and getting good cutting results but a black crusty reside has built up on the table over time and the guide bearings have frozen up.

The metal and chips in the tray don't seem to rust, so, I'm not sure what the black crust is. Any suggestions on homemade fluids?

The store bought stuff is over priced in my opinion and is probably something cheap cut with water anyway.

Jet wanted $14 each for the ten guide roller bearings. The hardware store had 'em for $13 and they can be had online for less than fifty cents. I think there's a little mark up there.

 

I use Dexron in my valve grinder for coolant. Seems to work fine in an unheated shop.

 

Problem with those water soluable fluids is they turn bad. They're also very bad if you get any in a cut, as they're full of bad bacterias as they get old. Been more than one machinist who got blood poisoning from the crud in old cutting fluid.

 

or use a stick of saw lube.Its like a wax and works pretty good.

 

I have an old power hacksaw in my shop and I also use automatic transmission fluid.It works great for me. No bacteria to deal with either.

 

We have probably the same Jet you do and in the 8 years we have had it we have never hooked up the fluid tank. We just cut everything dry and feel it keeps the oily mess from happening. Blades last forever and stuff we cut gets done just fine, so I reallly don't see any advantage.

Don

 

I also personally ditched using all water soluable in the saw and in my spray mist,,for the very same reason mentioned above,,,,, I use WD 40 in a spray, on the saw and now just use the spray mist to blow chips.

 

I agree. Cut dry. If you cut a lot of aluminum keep a stick of bees wax or commercial wax cutting lube to rub on the blade once in a while.

 

I've never hooked up the tank in my Jet band saw either (but the pump that came with it made a good replacement pump for my parts washer). I use wd40 or equvalent when cutting thick pieces of steel, or aluminum. Paraffin wax works good also.

 

I do not use anything on the horizontal or vertical saws, maybe WD40 on thick aluminum. Also at work we used to use wax on the DoAll bandsaw for aluminum. Also at work we had the same issues with water soluble coolant and smell/ mold/ crud.

 

Ellis doesn't recommend any coolant or lubes on their horizontal band saws and I've always followed their advice with good results.

 

Like Burl said, the stick stuff is best for a band saw. Also works great for drilling and tapping and doesn't make a mess.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#sawing-lubricants/=exqr03

http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/NNSRI...re=ItemDetail-_-ResultListing-_-SearchResults

 

i dont recall what product i use,its water soluable,i would consider diluting it with rv antifreeze instead of water.
its been in the saw for two years and dont stink.it does evaporate/drip off,mist doesent make it back,so it needs to be topped up regularily.
when i started there two years ago,there was some kind of home brew that was about as bad as rotten fish.i wouldnt have any part of that B/S and made them buy the good stuff.