Posts Tagged heat

Power Tool Care – Cutting Fluids

Posted on October 22, 2011 | Automotive Repair.

The Industrial Revolution brought with it many changes. One of those changes was the way that metals are worked. Instead of relying on a man’s strength to shape metal, there were now machines that were able to cut and shape the metal for you. But with the new technology came new problems, like how to cool and lubricate the cutting tool, extend its life and improve surface finish. The answer to this problem was, of course, to use cutting fluids including cutting oils.

Cutting Fluids serve as a combination of coolant and lubricant and were created specifically to be used for machine work and metalworking. Cutting fluids usually fall into one of the following categories; oils, pastes, gels, oil-water emulsions and mist and are made out of plant oils, animal fats or petroleum derivatives.

The process of cutting and working metal by machine produces a great deal of heat; metal on metal, and one of a cutting fluid’s main objectives is to keep the piece being worked on at a consistent temperature. Besides serving as coolants they also prolong the life of the cutting tool by reducing friction and help to reduce any safety risks to the person handling the machine and material and reducing rust on the machine parts.

When cutting fluids first started being used water was the most logical choice, for with the heat and friction caused by metalworking the first instinct was to cool it off with water. It was quickly found, however, that water made the metal machine parts rust fairly quickly. Soda water was the next step, and helped with the rust problem though it didn’t do much for lubrication. When someone actually figured that putting grease on the machine parts would help, lard became the lubricant of choice. There are references as well to red and white lead being mixed into lard oil to make it more malleable, but that practice was discontinued due to the discovered toxicity of lead.

Today cutting oils fall into four basic categories;

  1. Straight oils, which are used for machines that run at a slower speed and need more lubrication than cooling.
  2. Soluble oils, which have additives that allow them to be mixed with water. These not only provide lubrication but some cooling.
  3. Semi-synthetic oils, which are similar to soluble oils but contain less petroleum, making them cleaner and more effective as coolants
  4. Synthetic oils, which contain no petroleum based oils and are the best for performance, cooling and rust prevention.

All four of these categories are applied in any number of ways, including dripping; spraying, misting, brushing, whatever suits the purpose at hand, though direct contact with any cutting oil should be avoided due to the fact that many have been linked to skin rashes, esophagitis, lung disease and even cancer.

The Benefits of Engine Block Heaters

Posted on August 2, 2011 | Automotive Repair.

There are some people who are completely content with the way that their heater works in cold weather. The cold weather that they deal with my not be too bad, or they may simply be patient enough to wait for the heater to finally get moving. These are simply the individuals who are worried about keeping themselves warm in their vehicle.

There are others who are more concerned with the way that their engine operates in cold weather. They want to make sure that they keep their engine healthy and efficient, and are afraid that the cold weather will keep it from doing that. These individuals are going to want to look to engine block heaters for their vehicles during the winter months.

Easy on the Engine

Engine block heaters are going to make it easier for your engine to run. The engine has a difficult time starting up in cold weather, and while the weather may not generally keep the car from starting, it will have an adverse effect on your engine. The engine is going to have to work harder and is not going to be able to function properly right out of the gate. It needs time to warm up and needs time to get going before it can get to a normal heat and normal operational level.

Less Pollution

When people think about the operation of their engine they think about how it affects the operation of their vehicle. They fail to think about the effect that it can have on their surroundings. Those who use engine block heaters will find that they are putting fewer pollutants in the air. The engine block heaters helps to heat the oil and to increase heat circulation. This will cause the fuel in the engine to evaporate. The stronger the vaporization, the fewer pollutants in the air.

The Heater

The engine is what is going to control how well the heater in your vehicle works. Engine block heaters are going to help to keep your vehicle warm and keep these parts warm. When you start your vehicle, the engine block heater has already gone to work on the engine. Your heater is going to be able to heat up faster, which is going to help you to get warmer faster.

Engine block heaters can only do so much, and are only going to be able to be run for a certain amount of time. There are many who are surprised to find that the heaters do not need to be plugged in for more than four hours, as the extra time does nothing for the engine.

Engine Block Heaters are not for everyone – while some will find that they need it, others will find that their climate is not bad enough to warrant one. You simply need to think about your location and think about the difficulties that your engine may be going through. Those who take the time to think about their location and their engine will be sure that they make the right choice in terms of engine block heaters.