Surface Grinder Coolant

[Charles L]

I have been looking at surface grinders and notice most of the manual grinders come without a coolant tank. Do most of you use a surface grinder dry and just go very slow to avoid too much heat or do most of you add a coolant tank and cool while you grind? If you add a tank, where do you find the setup? If you don't use one then I'm all set.

 

[richard j]

when i took machine trades in school we used mist coolant. it was pretty simple and didnt require much. i'll see what i can find and send you a link.

 

[Charles L]

Maybe I asked this question in the wrong forum. Should I have put it in Custom knives?
I know there are numerous people on this forum who use surface grinders. Please post and let me know if you use coolant when grinding or just go slow and grind dry. I don't know anything about a surface grinders and am trying to find out before purchasing one.
I can pick up a good manual one for a really low price but it has no coolant?

 

[GlennM]

I use valcool from the Valenite Co. in a mister.Both can be obtained from MSC.

 

[Bruce Bump]

I dont use coolant. Its is dusty that way but coolant isnt needed. I have used a surface grinder at the machine shop in college that had a coolant system that worked very well. I plan to buy a cheaper unit w/o coolant and use a "mister" if I want to keep something cool. The combination of liquid/air really work effectively.

Most of the heat build up on a part is caused from dull, incorrect or cheap wheels. I have actually softened stripes of hardened damascus that was only visible after I etched the blade. It was from the heat of a cheap wheel with the coolant running.