ATF or...?

[4x4American]

What do you WM'ers use, ATF or something else for putting on your mill?


Also, where do you put the ATF?  And about how many hours do you ATF it?  Do you squirt it on, paint it, wipe it, etc..


Friend of my with 40 super saws about 3 days/week and says he uses about a quart /month of ATF.


About how much do you use?  I really like fluid film and am considering it for use on the mill.  Just want to run it through the R+R department..

[WV Sawmiller]

4X,

    I use ATF. Spray it on my chain and all chrome pistons for my hydraulics. I wipe the mast with it per maintenance instructions for periodic service. I spray or wipe it on the chains. I soak the felt pad with it to keep the runners lubed as the head travels during cutting. My tech told me when I got the mill to spray it on all moving parts. Seems to resist sawdust better than grease or heavier oils. Since I spilled some not sure exactly how much I use but I'd guess about a quart every 50 operating hours.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I buy it 2 gallons at a time if that tells you anything. 

[4x4American]

Thanks, I have never thought to put it on the hydraulic rods.  Can't hurt!

[Peter Drouin]

I put it all over the mill. :D :D
Every day, the mast gets it 2 times a day. ;D

[YellowHammer]

Put it on everything that moves.  It not only acts as a lubricant, but also as a cleaner; it irrigates the sawdust off the parts.  Don't skimp, I use a spray bottle and hose it down. 

[Delawhere Jack]

Our goat friend taught me a neat way to put ATF of the masts. Use a spray bottle set to "stream". Squirt a shot above and below each of the head guide pads as needed, then move the head up and down a couple inches to lube the pads. Sure beats using a rag to apply it.

[Peter Drouin]

I use a 2" brush.


 

[4x4American]

By the sounds of it I'll just get a 55 gal drum of atf and put a pump in it to a garden hose and douse the mill every day  :D

[Peter Drouin]

By the sounds of it I'll just get a 55 gal drum of atf and put a pump in it to a garden hose and douse the mill every day  :D

:D :D :D

[Peter Drouin]

I gotta go have a bunch of customers coming sat. 

[YellowHammer]

By the sounds of it I'll just get a 55 gal drum of atf and put a pump in it to a garden hose and douse the mill every day  :D

Maybe don't use quite this much, but you get the idea. :D :D

[4x4American]

I was thinking more along the lines of:

[4x4American]

What's that old saying...a little dab ull do ya  :D

[4x4American]

I buy it 2 gallons at a time if that tells you anything. 

Might be cheaper to just get a 5 gal bucket..that's what I do.  I've went through some trucks that use ATF and I ended up just getting a 5gal pail still have some left.  I pour it into an old washer fluid bottle.

[redprospector]

What's that old saying...a little dab ull do ya  :D

I guess that would qualify as an old saying. It was the slogan for Dipidy do, a hair styling gell that came after Fop, and Dapper Dan.  :D

Hmm, now that I think about that stuff, if you could still find Dipidy do, you might try it on your moving parts on the mill.  :D

[beenthere]

And that "little dab'll do ya" of that Brylcreem will prolly be greasy enough too..   ;D 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6F4GtyRfto

Sorry Red...  ;)

[redprospector]

And that "little dab'll do ya" of that Brylcreem will prolly be greasy enough too..   ;D 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6F4GtyRfto

Sorry Red...  ;)

Hahaha.
Well, it seemed right at the time.  :D
I guess my rememberer ain't as good as I remembered it being.  :D

[willmyers0169]

when you say you put it on your piston rods, you mean at the valve body or the actual cylinder. I ask because if you're applying it to the cylinder rods then that's just a waste, as the wiper seal merely wipes it off the first time retract the cylinder. Just my .02

[gimpy]

I use squeeze bottles. Like squeezable honey bottles.

[Chuck White]

I apply ATF on all moving parts that don't have zerk fittings.

[4x4American]

Does anyone coat the top rail or just let the wiper do that?  And what about the bottom rail?  I don't do nothing with the bottom rail because it has that ground there, but I wonder if fluid film would be okay for it, as I put fluid film on my truck batteries to protect from corrosion.

[MartyParsons]

Hello,
The manual says top and bottom rail every 8 hours. Yes the bottom rail is more important because it does not have the wiper. The top rail gets exposed to more sawdust that is why it has the wiper. The wiper on the top will also adsorb water so when the mill is not used and the wiper has not been serviced the felt will stick to the top rail. Then when you move the head the felt pulls off the cover.
I have found 1/8" rivets are the best way to reinstall the felt back on. I have not been successful reinstalling like the factory did.
Has anyone else figured out how to get the original clips to hold? The covers are not real expensive and you can purchase the felt for a few $.
Hope this helps .

Marty   

[justallan1]

when you say you put it on your piston rods, you mean at the valve body or the actual cylinder. I ask because if you're applying it to the cylinder rods then that's just a waste, as the wiper seal merely wipes it off the first time retract the cylinder. Just my .02

I don't know anything about hydraulic mills, but I've used hydraulic cylinders for years in all kinds of applications and would think that is one place I'd make real sure got some if you are leaving them extended and especially if you are not using the mill daily.
Life happens and you'll have scratches or dings in the plating (depends on make of cylinder) and I'd sure think a shot of anything to stop rust is just cheap insurance.

[4x4American]

Thanks Marty. 


I agree, justallan.  I wouldn't worry about it unless it was sitting.  Little dings cuts or scraches will lead to rust on the cylinder, and noone likes rust!

[shakebone]

I just bore a hole right in top the bottle of atf and douche away ! BTW wal mart around here has a good price in it ! In the mornin when I start I run the head to other end squirt the gravy on the chain and rail wipe the bottom with soaked cloth and when u back it up it'll spread it around same with mast also blade roller makes them quiet

[YellowHammer]

Has anyone else figured out how to get the original clips to hold? The covers are not real expensive and you can purchase the felt for a few $.
Hope this helps .

Marty

I have had good success reattaching the felt with the original clips. Take the felt pad off, and use a pair of pliers and straighten the barb out where it sticks up perpendicular to the cover.  Then use a small file and sharpen the tips of the barbs to help it cut a new hole in the felt, which is surprisingly strong stuff.  Reattach the felt to the cover, punching each barb through the felt, but watch your fingers or you'll get bit.  Once the felt is on and then take the pliers and put a little curve in the barb while bending it back down flat, burying the barb deep in the felt so it won't rub on the rail.  I did mine this way a couple years ago, and have never had another problem.   
YH

[Dave Shepard]

I have a little oil can with the thumb pumper on it. I do the mast contact points, the outer band wheel guide rods, the turner claw pivot, and the drive and up/down chain. I do not lube hydraulic cylinders rods. Ever. It would take me all day to count the hydraulic cylinders on this farm, and not one of them has ever been lubed, nor has one failed from lack of lube.

[barbender]

For 90% of WM questions, the answer is "ATF" ;D I cut mine with a bit of diesel so it sprays better, and I use a regular spray bottle.

[hackberry jake]

I dont own a wm, but I agree that spraying hydraulic rods is a waste of time. Maybe if they are cheap hydraulics? I came up with a massive hydraulic rod from a track hoe and I used it as a corner post about 10 years ago. It has been in the elements the whole time and it will still almost blind you on sunny days. They use pretty good chrome on those rods. Ever seen those old 50s model cars sitting abandoned on old farms? The chrome still looks like the day it rolled off the showroom floor. It amazes me really.

[Magicman]

I have a spray bottle and a squirt bottle and both get used every day.  Be sure to lube both of the rods on the log clamp plus everything else that moves.

[Cypress Man]

I've been using hydraulic oil for a long time now. I find it works just as good as atf and is much cheaper than atf.

[scully]

I find that I put ATF on my mast and drive chain much more often I use an industrial squirt bottle . But I do indeed apply a shot to anything that has a crevace or moves I.E. back supports and rollers . I also remove covers and do the hym. joints on all links and the slider link on my auto clutch etc. etc. My mills previous owner lived next to a 4 lane highway and the mill was exposed to mist etc from the road durring winter ,that really did not help things . I pretymuch have an ongoing lube and touch-up scheduall .