Treating Bacteria and Fungus in Metalworking Fluids

Bacteria and fungus are two major causes of metalworking fluid failure; they impair the effectiveness of the cutting fluid and are harmful to operators. Treatment and prevention is not difficult but it does require consistent maintenance.
Some cutting fluids are more susceptible to microbial problems than others. Water-Soluble Oils typically have the most problems simply because they [...]

How to Use a Refractometer

A refractometer is an investment that pays for itself almost instantly. Properly maintained cutting fluid concentration prevents wasting coolant, protects machines and tools, reduces disposal, and produces better parts. Measuring your coolant concentration with a refractometer takes less than a minute and the payoffs are huge, make sure that your operators know how to use [...]

Winter Tip # 4

A Better Solution
For shops with minimal heating during the winter months it is possible to keep your coolant from freezing without resorting to harmful measures like adding antifreeze. You don’t have to heat your entire facility to keep cutting fluid from freezing, just the sump.
The most effective way to do this is with heat tape. [...]

Winter Tip # 3

Antifreeze: Don’t even think about it!
Every winter I run into the same question, “Is it safe to add antifreeze to my coolant?” And every year my answer is the same, “NO!” Coolant is expensive, machines are really expensive and adding antifreeze to your sump will ruin both. Don’t do it.
Ethyl glycol (EG) is the main [...]