There are many factors involved in selecting the fluids for your metalworking application. The right chemistry of the fluid, water quality, tooling, delivery pressure of the fluid, the alloy you are machining are just a few. Whether you choose Synthetic, Semi-Synthetic or Soluble Oil, concentration is the key.
After making your product selection and run successful trials, don’t waste that effort and investment. The simple use of a refractometer to check concentration levels is essential to continued success and saving money.
The single most common thread to performance problems is coolant concentration. Old-timers tell you they can tell from feel or look. Many operators add water to a low sump, or straight concentrate while they may be well-intended solutions to a low sump condition, they are not the correct method.
Training operators or maintenance teams to use a refractometer correctly & often will result in consistent coolant quality. Handheld Refractometers range in price from under $100 (Manual) to approx. $400 (Digital). Both of which can be found here on zebraskimmers.com.
Steps to determine correct % concentration:
- Take Brix Reading with Refractometer
- Click on BRIX Calculator (This will take you over to Monroe Fluid Technology website)
- Choose product
- Enter Brix #
- Results as a percentage pop up.
This blog was reposted with permission from our friends at Monroe Fluid Technology.
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About Zebra Skimmers:
Our mission has always been simple. It is to provide the metal working industry with the oil skimmers and metalworking fluid management systems they need to complete jobs quickly and efficiently. Innovative and affordable solutions have gained us many accolades. Our continued growth is due in no small part to our excellent customer service… Not to mention our satisfaction guarantees and the performance of our tools.
Among our diverse options of oil skimmers and metal working fluid management systems, you can expect to find:
- Coolant management equipment, which includes coolant mixers, proportioning pumps, and also coolant automation systems to mix and deliver fluid solutions at the desired concentrations.
- Industrial oil skimmers, including tramp oil belt skimmers, disk skimmers, tube oil skimmers, and individual sump coalescers as well for the removal of surface and tramp oils from fluids.
- Aeration or circulation equipment and sump odor control tablets to control fluid odor and overall machine shop smell
- Industrial fluid monitoring equipment, including brix refractometers to verify fluid solution concentrations, pH test strips and also water hardness testing sticks.