Secret Recipes for Blade Lube

[Bandmill Bandit]

Bibby

How much does the murphy oil soap cost? Not sure we can get it here in Canada but I am going to look for it now.

May be it will work better than the the Pine Sol and may be I could use less.

[Bibbyman]

Cost is about the same as name brand dish soap.

[Bandmill Bandit]

THanks Bibby

Same price (ish) as pine sol up here. $2.49 a litre. Next batch I mix will get a pint of it in stead of the pine sol.

Local Hardware  store is checking to see if they can still get in a 5 gallon pail.

[TGS]

Are any of you diesel users operating with belted wheels?

For the wick systems - are you only getting lube on the top of the blade like on drip systems? I've been contemplating a homemade wick system for my B20.

Thanks
Martin

[thecfarm]

Yep,belted wheels,but ONLY a slow drip. I see more oil on my chain saw than my mill. I don't use my alot,but when I do it get used for a day or so off and on,and no slinging off the "recipe" is noticed. 

[Dave VH]

I just used diesel for a day on cherry, about a drip a second, the blade stayed lubed and pitch free.  5 days later, I can still see spots on the wood.  I did about 700bft.  I think that I'm going to try something else next time.

[tyb525]

Dave, most likely those spots will be planed off, but diesel won't evaporate off the wood without planing. I think you might try using less, a drip a second is a lot when it comes to diesel. Cherry doesn't need much at all to keep the blade clean, most hardwoods don't (although a few do). Softwoods are what will really gunk up a blade.

Then again, using soap and water mix, I still get spots on the wood from whatever, but they've always planed off.

[jacksaws]

Hi all this is my first post . Just wanted to say i use half chain oil & diesel. i use a wick on the top of the blade. I have a large pump oil can mounted to the side of my LM2000 with a small hose slid over the end of the spout an to the wick. Just a couple of pumps every couple of boards and your good to go. works great for me.

[Magicman]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum jacksaws.      How about an intro and telling us more about yourself and your sawing interest?

[jacksaws]

thanks Magicman I live in NW ark. I have had a circle mill for about 40 years then got to wanting a bandmill. I have had it for about  2 years. I am not to much on a computer. I can turn one on then I am in trouble.I have been about a year to my first post. I found out it is not impossible.thanks again.

[jacksaws]

thanks Magicman I live in NW ark. I have had a circle mill for about 40 years then got to wanting a bandmill. I have had it for about  2 years. I am not to much on a computer. I can turn one on then I am in trouble.I have been about a year to my first post. I found out it is not impossible.thanks again.

[Magicman]

I noticed that you had been a "silent" member for quite a while.  You have several active FF members close to you in Arkansas as well as in Oklahoma.

[Dave VH]

when you guys say "wick", what kind of material do you use as a wick?  I can easily incorporate one the way that I designed my lube system, I'm just curious as to what to use.

[jacksaws]

sorry I said I did not know what I was doing. I will get better if youall dont throw me off of the Forum.

[jacksaws]

Dave what I used was a piece of felt. I used a felt air filer from an old air compsessor .It works good.

[eastberkshirecustoms]

when you guys say "wick", what kind of material do you use as a wick?  I can easily incorporate one the way that I designed my lube system, I'm just curious as to what to use.

Dave, not any ol' felt will work. It should have some 'body' so the blade rotation won't fold it over, over time. I used extra firm F1 felt, 3/4" thick x 2" wide to build my wick systems (infeed and outfeed) and bought it here: http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/118/3504/=g7lx9l. It is pricey, but a 30" length will make many wick pads. What I did was make holders out of 1"x2" rect. tubing, capped off on the top, then installed a spring inside to give it a slight down pressure and to automatically adjust for wear. There is a hose fitting at the top to supply the lube onto the felt.
The felt will soak up and hold an amazing amount of liquid. Printing presses use them on the sides of the cylinders to lube and clean the bearers. Simple but effective.

[eastberkshirecustoms]

Question- has anyone tried to use tire bead compound as a blade lube? I can buy it it in bulk for cheap. It is a biodegradable, soap based product with a rust inhibitor. It comes in a tub as a thick paste, then a very small amount is mixed into a gallon of water. The stuff I buy doesn't contain silicone, the rust inhibitor would be good for the bands, and it definitely wouldn't hurt the bandwheel rubber. It will freeze up though. Any thoughts?

[Magicman]

If it is non-staining then give it a try.   

[sdunston]

Do you guys that saw frozen still use blade lube?, Last winter I sawed maple w/o blade lube,When you pulled off the board just sawn it had a layer of ice/frost on both cant and off loaded board. Blade stayed cool,cuts were straight, blade seemed to stay sharp so is it safe to say that no lube is needed when sawing frozen logs . BTW the outside temp was around 10 deg f.

Thanks Sam

[terrifictimbersllc]

Frozen will help with heat but not with buildup of residue on the blade.  Will depend on wood.  In my area maple, hickory, ash, and of course sticky softwoods need a lube to keep the blade clean.