[Rockhounds] used cooking oil for a slab saw oil?

Sat Feb 7 11:25:46 PST 2009

The reason I am still using cooking oil mixed with Pella is that I got 
the cooking oil for free from Craigslist. They told me it was rock saw 
oil. {:-(  I would not recommend antifreeze either. The toxic variety is 
poisonous and the more benign versions are also just too thin to use as 
a lubricant. Mineral oil is OK for smaller saws with smaller (read 
cheaper) blades. I would agree with Tim for the larger slab saws with 
expensive blades where it is not worth taking any  chances in shortening 
blade life. I do have friends that use only mineral oil in their large 
slab saw, but that is a choice they made because they are quite health 
conscious and leery of petroleum products. Water with additive can be 
used in trim saws or for sawing material such as turquoise. I usually 
drain the water after using to prevent the blades for rusting away. 

Tim wrote:
> Mineral oil is a terrible lubricant, bad for your blades in the long run,
> way too thin, so I wouldn't recommend using it in a slab saw. Pella is
> formulated for metal cutting with diamond blades, as any distributor will
> know. There really isn't a difference between metal and rock cutting other
> than you want the lubricant even thicker for rocks. I add mist killer to
> thicken mine and, obviously, stop the misting, or STP when I run out of it.
> You would have to cut the mineral close to 1:1 with mist killer to get it to
> where it is an acceptable lubricant for slabbing hard rock. 
>
> If you are looking for odorless lubricating oil, Standard Oil has a
> relatively thick food grade lubricant (I still would add mist killer) that,
> while more expensive than Pella, is completely odorless, doesn't gel or
> leave any residue, and you can drink it (although this might lubricate you a
> little too much LOL). Finally, although prices have gone through the roof on
> all petroleum based oils and the days of cheap lubricants are gone (forever
> is my bet), Pella can be cheaper than baby oil or roughly the same cost, and
> is nowhere near $17 a gallon if you buy a 5 gal. bucket. It was $29/5 gal.
> last time I bought any about 18 months ago. I am willing to bet it is at
> least $10 higher now. Food grade mineral oil runs about $10 higher or more
> for 5 gal. (not for a gallon, the prices you see online are hugely inflated,
> i.e. Kingsley North, and I wouldn't pay $17 for a gallon of anything except
> moonshine). 
>
> Tim Fisher 
> Ore-ROCK-On! 
> Email address at http://OreRockOn.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
> [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Lapidry at aol.com
> Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2009 10:35 AM
> To: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] used cooking oil for a slab saw oil?
>
> All:
>  
> How about a suggestion from this list a couple years ago? Mineral oil, as
> in 
> baby oil. If you watch places like Walgreens, they'll have buy one, get one
>
> free on their brand of baby oil so that it works out to $10-12 a gallon.  
> Cooking oil isn't much cheaper. Name brand is way too high. WalMart and
> KMart 
> used to have a cheap price, $1.38 for 20 ounces around here, on the
> in-store 
> brand that worked out to about that price range. They've been working  their
> way 
> up in price though, trying to match the rise in gas prices I  guess - not
> sure 
> why. I don't think they've come down with gas. I've gotten  lucky and
> managed 
> to get quite a bit for $1 a 20 ounce bottle at a few of the  dollar stores 
> but many times they have 14 ounce instead.
>  
> Advanges of baby oil (mineral oil): Perfumed scent to begin with but that  
> disappears with use fairly quickly, then there's practically no odor. High
> flash 
>  point. Safe to have come in contact with your skin - after all, it's baby 
> oil.  Straight mineral oil is used as a laxative, so it's safe to ingest.
> You  
> just have to worry about whatever minerals get in it from what you are
> sawing.  
> As it gets older, as in used a lot, it will start thickening. It still lets 
> you  drain it through a paper sack and the stuff that strains out is thin.
> The 
> stuff  doesn't go rancid with age either. I switched away from Pella and the
>
> like  because my wife hated the odor when I ran the saws a fair amount, plus
>
> the odor  on me. Pella and the like are all $17+ a gallon around here - when
> you 
> can find  them - so it has a price advantage too. Easpecially if you can
> find 
> 20  ounce ones at the dollar store and it equates out to less than $7 a  
> gallon.
>  
> Hope this helps....
>  
> Dan
>  
>  
> In a message dated 2/7/2009 11:25:21 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
> jaybates at rcn.com writes:
>
> I have  tried it and it congeals after awhile. To get rid of it you need 
> to heat  it up. I have some in my saw now that is mixed with Pella. Not 
> worth the  trouble as it still congeals somewhat but not as bad as 
> straight cooking  oil.
> Wes Lingerfelt wrote:
>   
>> In addition to Tim's comments (which are  right on) the oil will not 
>> settle
>> out and becomes like jello  in a short time. Not a good choice for saws.
>> Wes
>> -----  Original Message ----- From: "Tim" <nospam at orerockon.com>
>> To:  "'Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem 
>>  collectors'" <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>> Sent: Friday,  February 06, 2009 2:32 PM
>> Subject: RE: [Rockhounds] used cooking oil  for a slab saw oil?
>>
>>
>>     
>>> In short, no. Sell it for  biodiesel.
>>>
>>> Longer explanation: It goes rancid. Then it  stinks worse than you could
>>> imagine (mush worse than Pella), and  therefore your slabs will stink. It
>>> also leaves a nasty coating on  everything inside your saw once it 
>>> heats up,
>>> that  can't be removed by any means other than sanding or sandblasting
>>>       
> it
>   
>>> off. It has a low flashpoint, so there is a chance it could  combust 
>>> if your
>>> saw gets hot enough (although this is  highly unlikely).
>>>
>>>
>>> Tim Fisher
>>>  Ore-ROCK-On!
>>> Email address at  http://OreRockOn.com
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original  Message-----
>>> From:  rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
>>>  [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of 
>>>  hugheslapidary
>>> Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 1:39 PM
>>>  To: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
>>> Subject: [Rockhounds] used  cooking oil for a slab saw oil?
>>>
>>> I have access to used  cooking oil.
>>>
>>> The cooking oil I have heard can be used  as a coolant for slab saws. 
>>> I am
>>> trying to get away  from the smell and the nasty oil on me. I can and do
>>> spend a lot  of time cutting rock.
>>>
>>> Can I filter it through say a  cheese cloth and use it in my slab saws.
>>> Can I use just it  alone?
>>> Or do I mix it say half and half with pella and almag oil  the two oils I
>>> currently use?
>>>
>>> Thank you  very much
>>> Brian
>>>
>>>
>>>
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