Blade Lube

Knute · December 14, 2011, 08:17:55 PM

Has anyone had a problem with windshield wash staining the wood? I have noticed a little stain when the boards come off, but I am thinking it will probably be eliminated by the planer.

red oaks lumber · December 14, 2011, 10:07:21 PM

no problems with stain

Brucer · December 15, 2011, 01:14:04 AM

It may depend on the species. No staining on Douglas-Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Larch, or White Spruce.

Magicman · December 15, 2011, 07:38:13 AM

What brand/color fluid were you using and on what species?

I use this, and have not seen any stain or had any complaints.

Purging the system at the evening shutdown.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · December 15, 2011, 07:48:32 AM

I mix the blue washer fluid in my lube mixer. I only notice it when sawing oak. But after I sticker by boards, the blueish looking stain evaporates and nothings let except sawdust. Brush the saw dust off and I have a good-looking Oak board.

Peder McElroy · December 15, 2011, 11:18:41 AM

New to band mills. LT40.I cut mostly Redwood thats green and have not been using lube of any kind and don't see any problem. Do you always need to use lube?

POSTON WIDEHEAD · December 15, 2011, 12:56:51 PM

I always do. I set my sprayer on my Lubmizer to spray at different times depending on what I am cutting. However, there are different strokes for different folks. Different sawyers, different wood, depending what part of the country you saw in.

Peder, you can use the search box and find a lot of comments about lubes, different mixtures, water, diesel, cooking oil, soap, etc. I mean it goes on and on and on.

Lots of good talk about about blade lubes in search.

Good Luck and if ya can't find what your looking for, SOMEBODY will help you!

bandmiller2 · December 15, 2011, 09:09:39 PM

Peder,you don't always need lube,if your band remains reasonally clean no need.My old partner and I never used lube with his LT-70 cedar, oak and pine. Frank C.

cypresskayaksllc · December 15, 2011, 09:31:05 PM

The windshield washer fluid I use is ethanol and water I think. That shouldnt leave a stain. I cant believe yall cut pine without lube. I think my bands would melt cutting pine without lube.

mandolin · December 15, 2011, 10:43:09 PM

Well, I guess I'm just a cheap rascal. I use plain water with about 4 drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid in the tank. Works fine.

Knute · December 16, 2011, 09:06:06 AM

I have been using the blue solution and sawing oak. Thanks for all the comments.

Peder McElroy · December 16, 2011, 04:50:44 PM

Thank you Frank C , blade is clean , so I'll keep on without it untill I need it.
Peder

Full Circle · December 16, 2011, 08:31:59 PM

Besides keeping the blade clean, I also use the lube to keep the blade cool. I was milling some "seasoned" logs today (walnut and maple) and they were really quite dry. Noticed my blade tension falling off in the middle of a cut (maybe 14 inches wide), turned on the lube, and the tension increased again. I ran with lube for the rest of the logs and it seemed to help a lot. Same thing happened while milling wide, green, hard maple. I'm learning to get the feel for this, so don't take this as gospel. Just another way to think of the lube.

JD350Cmark · January 29, 2012, 11:27:37 AM

Quote from: Peder McElroy on December 15, 2011, 11:18:41 AM
New to band mills. LT40.I cut mostly Redwood thats green and have not been using lube of any kind and don't see any problem. Do you always need to use lube?

Peder,

Lube is not needed on Redwood. I use it on Fir & Pine, every time.