Secret Recipes for Blade Lube

YellowHammer · February 05, 2012, 10:28:41 PM

What about running Diesel on Woodmizers? The manual says it'll cause damage so I haven't used it. Does anybody do this and what are the results?
Thanks
YH

Kansas · February 06, 2012, 07:12:21 AM

We have done it for years, first on the LT 30 manual, then the LT40 Super, now the LT 70. No problems.

I suppose on a gas or diesel, if one were to catch on fire, it would make it harder to contain the fire possibly. I never have noticed staining. It is a little bit nastier for the off bearer.

thecfarm · February 06, 2012, 07:30:18 AM

It's only a drip every few seconds,not a steady stream. I don't saw a lot,so it does not make a mess. But even when I saw for a week off and on,I don't notice a built up. But as said,if sawing good hard wood for furniture the diesel may not be a good idea. I've never seen it get on the belts or really on anything else. I use half chain saw oil and half diesel.

taw6243 · February 06, 2012, 08:16:50 AM

Zeco -20 Windshield Washer

$1.19
List Price: $1.59

You Save: $0.40

Sale Price Good Through 02-12-2012

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/auto/maintenance-fluids/zeco-20-windshield-washer/p-1679727-c-10098.htm

Tim

Brad_S. · February 06, 2012, 08:22:34 AM

I have never had a problem with diesel staining premium hardwoods. If it doesn't dissapate in the drying (air or kiln), it gets planed off anyhow. Then too, even water borne finishes have petroleum distillates in their base so even if some would manage to get to the finished state, it would not severly effect the finish.
The only time I have an issue with diesel buildup becoming a (remotely) possible fire issue is when I walk away and forget to turn the valve off. Otherwise, it gets carried away in such small amounts in the sawdust that the dust poses a fire hazard much more than any diesel saturation.

Chuck White · February 06, 2012, 09:12:53 AM

Two years ago, I used "used cooking oil" from deep fryers, soap and water.

That recipe was ½ gallon of cooking oil, 4½ gallons of water and 3 or 4 table spoons of Dawn dish soap.

The soap would allow the oil and water to immulsify (mix :

), which worked very well until the weather started to cool off, then the oil would start to solidify and float on top of the mix! :-\

So, now I just use water with a little soap, which works for me.

I don't saw in the Winter. ;D

jason.weir · February 06, 2012, 01:15:02 PM

wow - so many different recipes...

I've never used any water or water based lube.. Always been some kind of petroleum product..

75-25 gasoline and bar & chain oil really keeps the pine pitch down.

The manual mill I use doesn't have an automatic lube system.. I keep the stuff in a squirt bottle - spray a little on the blade and guide wheels every couple logs keeps things looking good and running smooth..

Jason

buildthisfixthat · February 06, 2012, 02:14:48 PM

used motor oil its cheap and easy

thecfarm · February 06, 2012, 06:31:07 PM

I tried the used oil once. That was it. Even at a drip I could see it on the lumber.
jason I have a special plug that goes into a gas can,but could use any hard plastic container and it has 2 valves on it. All gravity feed. One valve is for the adjustment,just a drip,don't use this valve much and the other is the one that I open and close.

customsawyer · February 06, 2012, 06:49:01 PM

Jason I would highly recommend that you switch to something other than gasoline. One spark from hitting a small piece of dirt and your mill is likely to go up in smoke.

jason.weir · February 06, 2012, 09:25:45 PM

Quote from: customsawyer on February 06, 2012, 06:49:01 PM
Jason I would highly recommend that you switch to something other than gasoline. One spark from hitting a small piece of dirt and your mill is likely to go up in smoke.

Good advice... and can't argue with you one bit.. Although it's not like the thing is dripping wet and the oil changes the volatility significantly - not as good as diesel but much better than straight gas... With all the sawing I've done I guarantee plenty of sparks from dirt\rocks\metal.. Have I been lucky, maybe but I'll keep the fire extinguisher close by anyways..

-J

beenthere · February 06, 2012, 09:52:02 PM

Quotemaybe but I'll keep the fire extinguisher close by anyways..

Hide it under your cap, as that might be where you need it. ;)

Bandmill Bandit · February 06, 2012, 09:59:04 PM

Weeeeelllllllllllll!!

Still experimenting! But

1 gallon (5 litres) wind shield washer concentrate ($32.00 for 25 Litre Pail including $6.00 pail deposit)
4 gallons (20 litres) water.
1/2 gallon (2 litres) original Pine-sol ($2.89 per liter on sale. bulk price is 49 cents a litre)
1 pint (1/2 litre) super bug eraser ($13.00 for a 5 litre jug. 25 litre pail price is $38.99)

This mix is good to minus 10 F or -23C

I will adjust the concentrate level to match temps that it has to work in.

I am on the first 6 gallon batch and cut first logs today with this mix. I have been able to reduce the flow required by about 25% to 30% over regular wind shield antifreeze with cascade, based on the first day of sawing.

This 6 gallon mix costs me $12.27 Canadian or about $2.04 a gallon. so far working great. I had to correct the numbers. I got mixed up calculating for litres and gallons. sorry. somebody check my numbers i think i got right now. :

Used diesel once and didn't like the stink. Performance was good and I would say from one day of sawing that this mix is just as good so far.

Will be sawing only pine and spruce next week so will post update when a day of that is done.

If this works like it appears it will, I will be buying the concentrate in either 45 gallon drums or 200 gal skid tanks as I can get it without the blue die and reduce the cost by about 10 or 15 cents a gallon of finished mix.
Also will be buying pine-sol bulk as well which will cut the cost of that component by about 80%.

This recipe rises out of a lab result that I had a chemical engineer friend of mine run about 2 months ago.

Bibbyman · February 07, 2012, 09:04:50 AM

The temperatures this winter has been mild. So I usually flush the system with straight windshield washer fluid at the end of the day and bring the tank in. If it's still freezing in the morning I just mix some windshield washer fluid in with soap and water to keep it from freezing. It's been warming up to the low 60s so I don't mix but maybe 1/4 tank. When that runs out, I top off with water and soap to finish the day. So. We've only used about two gallons of windshield washer fluid so far this winter.

We were at Wal-Mart yesterday getting "stuff" and I noted they had -20 mix on sale for $1.89. I was smart and bought 6 bottles. We were later in Tractor Supply and they had it for $1.50. So. "Save money, live bitter." Didn't pay out this time. I should have "Shopped more and saved more."

Chuck White · February 07, 2012, 09:41:38 AM

Bibby, you should have got some more at Tractor Supply. ;)

Look at the $$$$ you'd be saving! ;D

Never fails though! :

Bandmill Bandit · February 07, 2012, 09:56:15 AM

Bibby

How much does the murphy oil soap cost? Not sure we can get it here in Canada but I am going to look for it now.

May be it will work better than the the Pine Sol and may be I could use less.

Bibbyman · February 07, 2012, 12:26:38 PM

Cost is about the same as name brand dish soap.

Bandmill Bandit · February 07, 2012, 09:28:47 PM

THanks Bibby

Same price (ish) as pine sol up here. $2.49 a litre. Next batch I mix will get a pint of it in stead of the pine sol.

Local Hardware store is checking to see if they can still get in a 5 gallon pail.

TGS · February 11, 2012, 01:38:21 PM

Are any of you diesel users operating with belted wheels?

For the wick systems - are you only getting lube on the top of the blade like on drip systems? I've been contemplating a homemade wick system for my B20.

Thanks
Martin

thecfarm · February 11, 2012, 01:47:38 PM

Yep,belted wheels,but ONLY a slow drip. I see more oil on my chain saw than my mill. I don't use my alot,but when I do it get used for a day or so off and on,and no slinging off the "recipe" is noticed. ;D

Dave VH · February 11, 2012, 01:52:43 PM

I just used diesel for a day on cherry, about a drip a second, the blade stayed lubed and pitch free. 5 days later, I can still see spots on the wood. I did about 700bft. I think that I'm going to try something else next time.

tyb525 · February 11, 2012, 01:56:33 PM

Dave, most likely those spots will be planed off, but diesel won't evaporate off the wood without planing. I think you might try using less, a drip a second is a lot when it comes to diesel. Cherry doesn't need much at all to keep the blade clean, most hardwoods don't (although a few do). Softwoods are what will really gunk up a blade.

Then again, using soap and water mix, I still get spots on the wood from whatever, but they've always planed off.

jacksaws · February 11, 2012, 06:09:07 PM

Hi all this is my first post . Just wanted to say i use half chain oil & diesel. i use a wick on the top of the blade. I have a large pump oil can mounted to the side of my LM2000 with a small hose slid over the end of the spout an to the wick. Just a couple of pumps every couple of boards and your good to go. works great for me.

Magicman · February 11, 2012, 07:29:49 PM

Welcome to the Forestry Forum jacksaws.

How about an intro and telling us more about yourself and your sawing interest?

jacksaws · February 11, 2012, 09:29:42 PM

thanks Magicman I live in NW ark. I have had a circle mill for about 40 years then got to wanting a bandmill. I have had it for about 2 years. I am not to much on a computer. I can turn one on then I am in trouble.I have been about a year to my first post. I found out it is not impossible.thanks again.