Actually, water is a lousy coolant. It flashes into steam at the point of contact with the diamond and the shock can crack the crystal. After which there is a bubble of steam isolating the point of contact. Oil will absorb the heat without vaporizing and carry it away. Even when water is used for machining, it must be mixed with an inhibitor to prevent vaporization. Unfortunately, all of the coolant addititves I have looked at are hazardous to your health except borax. Borax makes water wetter just like detergent, but is not easily vapirized. The water still goes away, but it does help in a trim saw. Rust inhibitors are not that difficult. Try sodium nitrite, or sodium nitrate. Oil still gives a much longer life to the blade. I use biodiesel. It is made by removing the solids from soybean oil. No odor, no hazard, cheap. It does have a small amount of lye that is not fully removed during the floculation process. Not enough to bother most people's skin, but it will eventually remove the paint from your saw. Be careful It must never be used in an open saw as it is flammable. In a closed saw, the flash will cosume oxygen and extinguish any flame instantly.

From Steve - November 16, 2009 at 07:56:17

Message: 68545