Zebra Muscle, Skimerator, Keller Pump, etc.

[Machining]

Anybody using one of these? I want a better solution to tramp oil then a standard oil skimmer provides.

[Geof]

I bought a Keller Model 315 about three years ago as a trial. It worked so well we finished up buying fifteen of the Model TKO-10 to outfit most of our machines.

They are very efficient at separating tramp oil. Almost too efficient, if you leave them running constantly for several months they will actually separate the coolant from the water. We make a point of only cycling them for a few hours a day.

[Machining]

What type of coolant are you using? Also, I believe you need to run these off compressed air, correct? I don't want to leave the compressor on.

[Geof]

The coolant we use is Shell Dromus B.

Yes the Keller units use compressed air. They do not use very much, you probably would not even notice a compressor cycling more. We don't leave our air on overnight, like I mentioned in my other post if you run these units full time they are too effective.

[Shane123]

we dont have much an issue with tramp oil, but it can sneak up on us if i dont keep an eye on it. so i built my own filtration tank out of a 55 gallon drum left over from coolant. i cut a hold about 6 inches from the bottom and welded on a petcock, and have a strainer up top with a replaceable filter that i cut from the roll. so every so often i add coolant from the machine to the barrel, and let it sit & separate. any shavings will fall to the bottom under the petcock, and all the plastic floaties as well as tramp oil floats to the top. i let it sit for a week and then get a 5 gallon bucket and take coolant out thru the petcock till i start seeing coolant color changes (layers of tramp oil). most of the time i dont need to use the bucket as it sits next to the machine i use it on mainly, and add an extension to my petcock to pour back into the machine. keep in mind you will want to keep an eye on your mixture % because it does dehydrate some water in the barrel as well.....

[Geof]

Shane123's idea is a good one but not for a forgetful old fart like me.

With the petcock 6" above the bottom you have about 40 gallons of coolant/tramp oil above it. When you get distracted while draining coolant off and leave the petcock open you get one h*** of a mess. In my separator tank I only had about 10 gallons and that was bad enough. I cringe at the thought of forty gallons swilling about the floor.

[Shane123]

lol geof, usually the extension is on and it sits above the hurco coolant tank, and that easily holds 75 gallons.... but yes, i know of those days when you get distracted and walk away. i have made it a personal effort of only handling coolant and never try to do anything else when its time to mess with it. another plus of my petcock is that its only 1/2" pipe, so it would take awhile to drain all that coolant out of the barrel, lol.