Which kool mist for wet grinding? * pics added with DIY system instead! *

I use a 7 gallon bucket with a screw on lid.I drilled holes in the lid,fed my hoses through and then sealed the hose/holes with caulking putty.(hope this makes sense)My platten chiller is also fed from here.(lots going on in that bucket) It,s not all peaches and cream though. The platen and drive wheels have to be cleaned often(acetone works well)and right away. The compressors loud and will cycle a lot.I use kool-mist chemical and thing stay rust free( even the 10xx steels)Things stay pretty dry since it's only mist and you can grind almost non-stop. You're going to want to grind dry once bevels are roughed in.The belts that Iv'e found gum up the least are VSM's(so far) some are real bad.I wish I could post a pic of my set-up but I still can't figure that part out. Good luck Lu. p.s Mcmaster sells these buckets
 
Maelstrom78 said:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006...=kool+mist&dpPl=1&dpID=41acOa7To9L&ref=plSrch

I'm getting tired of constantly dipping my .070 paring knives.

I've got an air compressor already. For the unit linked above can I just use any old container for the coolant? Does it have to be airtight? I'm not sure if the compressor pressurizes the vessel or anything. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Any container will work as long as its clean iniside. There is no need to seal the container the spray unit you have has two lines, one is the pick up hose with a filter at the tip which goes inside the container, the other hose hooks to the air line. The spray is controlled at the nozzle end by screwing the tip in and out, the air control is at the base of the black knob. You will like this much better than dipping the pairing knives.
I purchased the 3M micron belts to use on my wet system and they work well, they have a plastic type backing and the Kool Mist adheres to the surface of the belt when in use. They come in 150 grit up to 2000 grit, Pop's knife supply carries them.

Fred
 
I use 78 it's what the they had on the shelf.It' a helluva rust inhibitor I know that much.A little goes a long way,at least for me.Never used Kahn Tools sorry. Good luck Lu.
 
Check enco and look for a coupon. I think i paid around 70 dollars for that unit.
505-1982 was the model number on their website.
 
In my experience you don't really need a cool mist to wet grind. It will wet the belt and the liquid will cling to the belt from surface tension which has a fortunate tendency to pool up at the contact point where you're grinding. Any old thing can apply that coolant to the belt. A small aquarium pump and some Loc Line with a valve to reduce flow to a fast drip or small stream works pretty well.

Rather than use a coolant that was designed for lubricity and to be sprayed onto a drill bit or endmill I have found plain water or water with a rust inhibitor in it makes less of a mess and is probably better for your skin and lungs. Water doesn't leave a sticky oily film when it dries.
 
I'm with Nathan, no need for a Koolmist system ( I used to want one too), but I found a sponge fed with water from a tube attached to a soda bottle and a cheap ball valve works really good for me. All stuff I had laying around the house. The ball valve is from the grand kids water balloon filling kit.

[video=youtube;FLB_Em9Mxjw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLB_Em9Mxjw[/video]
 
For steel like 3V that has good stain resistance I use plain water. For stuff like A2 I put in a small amount of baking soda. Some people use things like borax which is probably more effective.

If you use a water based cutting fluid (coolant) and water it down very thin it will go funky if you let it sit very long. I used to use that but I hating dealing with the funk.

There are many additives made for this purpose that you can buy but I've never found that I needed it.


edit: I've never had any problem with my hands rusting my work while I'm holding it wet (probably because of many years of accumulated cutting oil leaking back out of my skin) but it doesn't hurt to smear on a little air tool oil before you start.
 
Pics!

Just ended up with a cheap lock line with magnetic base (9 bucks from amazon) and a 9 dollar (from amazon) submersible aquarium pump. Boy you really don't need many GPH so get a small one.
w070ux.jpg

1/4 inch line with a 8 buck gas line shutoff (also from amazon) and a put in a switch as well so I don't have to plug the thing back in and out all of the time.
wjapzb.jpg

I went with a paintbrush to keep the belt spray down and it also spreads the water over the entirety of the belt, not just one place on the belt. I've put some baking soda in the 5 gallon bucket and sprayed down the metal parts on the grinder and I have not noticed any rust.

It has noticeably reduced heat buildup as well as dust. I like it! I look forward to using it with micarta and stabilized wood to keep that dust down as well.

Thanks for those that gave advice!
 
What does the baking soda do? I've just been using plane water but have noticed some surface rust on the grinder. I picked up some t-9 bioshield to help out with that though. Would the baking soda be a better option?
 
Stolen from the interwebz:

As long as the baking soda residue is on a ferrous metal surface, rust will not form. For rust to form, free moisture and an acidic condition must exist.
In most cases, free moisture combines with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to form carbonic acid. This acid releases a free metal (ferrous) ion, which combines with oxygen (oxidizes) to form rust. Baking soda buffers the acids, prevents the release of free metal ions and prevents rust.
 
That's good to know. I'll have to give that a try.

Thanks for googling that for me. 😃
 
maelstrom78, I like your set up. Seems cheap(don't take that the wrong way) but effective..Can I ask if wet grinding like that prone to spraying water everywhere? and how are you liking that esteem grinder?
 
For wet grinding, is good to have VFD to run on half speed ;) ( or grinder with shields)
 
Instead of wet grinding, anyone tried a Cold Gun? (http://www.exair.com/en-US/Primary ...ystems/Pages/Cold Gun Aircoolant Systems.aspx)

Many years ago I purchased one that was a steal at ebay, tried it and it does its magic, but at my place I cannot use it due to the lack of a decent size air compressor, so its sitting on a shelf.
Its an amazing technology, you put compressed air on its inlet and on the business side you get cold air 50F colder that the temperature of the air at the inlet, and with no moving parts!


Pablo
 
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