coolant choices

[tjd10684]

I just got my new nm-145 and i am wondering what kind of coolant you would recommend using. Now i know their are other threads about coolant issues but so far i have not even turned it on because i dont know what type of coolant to get. my main concern (after the obvious) is rust prevention. secondly i am also concerned about the freezing point because the machine is in my garage and i cant run the kerosene heaters all day unattended. third i would like it if i could use the same coolant on a yet to be purchased lathe. i would be primarily cutting aluminum, sometimes steel i think i will also be using flood cooling rather than mist. i have heard mixed things about kool mist 77 are any other kinds i should be looking into?

[JoeBean]

You can use the same coolant on a lathe.

Buy a submersible preset aquarium heater to keep the coolant from freezing and put it in you reservoir. Preset ones are cheap. 100W would be overkill.

I use tricool and am very pleased. Just realize some coolants are concentrated, and thus need dilution (but are cheaper to ship) and some are used full strength.

[webgeek]

I've been using Synkool from Enco and been happy with it. It was recommended by someone else on this forum IIRC. I just finished my first gallon and am ordering more. I also second the aquarium heater thing. Additionally you need to wipe the machine down a bit if you are using it and it's below freezing. I had some rust spotting on one of my vises where the coolant had frozen. That's the only spotting I've ever had and I'm not very good about wiping down the machine typically.

-Mike

[MarineMachinist]

I am also running Tricool for flood coolant on both my Haas Mill and my Clausing Lathe and am VERY happy with it. I live and work in Okinawa Japan and everything (even stainless) rusts here and have had very little issues with rust on my machines. easy to use, concentrate. Added bonus is that the stuff smells good!

[JoeBean]

I'll second the smell comment re:tricool. I also have built up a sensitivity to many chemicals after years of careless exposure and it doesn't bother me at all. Of course YMMV.

As for the rust I haven't had any issues either, though I keep a thin coat of vaseline on literally everything (ok, not literally everything, the monitor is vaseline free, but other than that...). Great stuff.