Flood coolant project

[melsdad]

Now that I have my mill running I have been working on a few projects to upgrade my machine. I made a simple manifold block for my coolant system.
I am only using bucket for now with a quick connect coupler so I can take it in the house so it doesn't freeze. I do have a woodburner for heat, but a furnace is in my plans.

sent from my hand held hickymajig

 

[Rbeckett]

Looks good to me. What are you using for a pump and how are you filtering it before it goes back through the pump again? I have a couple of small hydroponics pumps that might just fit that bill once I add a needle valve like yours. Never thought about doing it that way and saving the money instead of a new or different GPH pump.... Good looking set up though.

Bob

 

[melsdad]

Thanks rBeckett, the pump is a little giant that I had laying around. As far as a filter there is none. I do have the pump sitting on a piece of expanded metal that is an inch off of the bottom of the bucket

sent from my hand held hickymajig

 

[melsdad]

Something else I would like to add. In the second picture, do you see the small hole in the side of the casting. There is a hole on the opposite side as well. I plan to run the return lines from the table into these holes. Once my shop is kept at temperature I plan to use the machine as a coolant tank. I calculated the inside dimensions and it will hold 4 gallons of coolant. The manifold I made is covering a lifting hole in the casting. I drilled and tapped a hole on that side also for future use for the supply line from the pump. It will make a much cleaner looking set up with everything hidden inside the machine.

sent from my hand held hickymajig

 

[Pontiac Freak]

what brand of coolant are you using? Thinking about adding the same setup as yours but dont know what coolant to try.

 

[pineyfolks]

Looks good. A wire screen strainer from the kitchen, set in a hole on top your bucket lid will catch the large chips. That's what I replaced mine with. I like the bucket setup, it lets me move it from machine to machine.

 

[melsdad]

This is what I am using. It is a water soluble micro emulsion. I believe a gallon of coolant will yield about 50 gallon of coolant depending on the ratio.


sent from my hand held hickymajig

- - - Updated - - -

This place seems to have a pretty good price on the coolant.

http://www.zorotools.com/g/00065349/k-G1666935?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kw={keyword}&gclid=CJ_Ev-a6grwCFY1QOgod0RIA_A

 

[Pontiac Freak]

Thanks! Will check them out.

 

[Thoro]

I really need to make something like this. It looks like it'll work great for you! What's the GPH and head lift on your pump? Just out of curiosity.

 

[rgray]

Anybody using that cutting fluid that has a refactometer?
Just wondering what the freezing temp is.