Saw to cut thundereggs, recommendations

[Aussie Sapphire]

I checked out the oil we are using at Waterloo Bay LC.  It is an oil used for lubricating food equipment where food may come into contact with the lubricant.

http://www.masterolfoods.com.au/products/lubricating-oils/arbell-mineral-white-oil

We are using the most viscous oil, Arbell 68.  It costs $4 to $5 a litre in a 20 liter container.

Regards
Flash

Yes - that kind of food safe oil is the right stuff.  Although the lower viscosity version is usually fine.

cheers
Leah

[FlashGP]

Thanks Leah.  I was wondering if a lower viscosity oil would be better.  Say a 30.

Regards
Gordon

[Aussie Sapphire]

Thanks Leah.  I was wondering if a lower viscosity oil would be better.  Say a 30.

Regards
Gordon

That number is more like the rockhound oil.

cheers
Leah

[mangoat]

so essentially oil and water would give the same cut quality (probably poor knowing my power tool proess....), will oil cut better than water or does it not really matter?

[MakkyBrown]

Thunder eggs are messy to cut, well the Agate Crk ones anyway, just like petrified wood. They turn your oil into brown muck pretty quick. I cut them with water unless they look real hard.

[Aussie Sapphire]

They turn your oil into brown muck pretty quick. I cut them with water unless they look real hard.

If your saw is small enough that water cools effectively, that is certainly the simplest and least messy way to do it.  But if your oil is getting sludgy, then you can clean it up by running it through a few strong paper bags in a bucket - a bit fiddly but recycling can save you some money if you want to bother giving it a go.

cheers
Leah

[Rusted]

A T shirt or pillow case stretched over a 20l plastic bucket will do a good job too.  Hold it in place with an occy strap or a few clothes pegs. Its surprising how little of the rock sludge gets through. Certainly clean enough to cut more rocks.

[FlashGP]

Here is one from left field.

I know a retired engineer who is looking to build an oil centrafuge by cutting the top off the torque converter from a small car.

Apparently he used to use something similar to clean the diesel soot from the oil of the big engines used in the power station in a remote mining township.

He recons it will work for rock sludge as well.

[Aussie Sapphire]

For those who do a lot of cutting in large saws and/or have multiple saws, you might want to consider an oil recycling system.


We know some clubs who have built their own or we can supply a unit.  This off the shelf unit is expensive but if you are using a lot of oil, it can pay for itself in reducing cost of oil and extending the life of your blades.


https://www.aussiesapphire.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86_263&products_id=3651