Water for cutting fluid

[niget2002]

I've been using distilled water in my mill with cutting oil for the coolant.

I realized yesterday that I have a RO/DI unit from my reef keeping days.

Can I use RO/DI water in the cutting fluid instead of distilled?

 

[Walkers]

I would see no reason it would be any different than what you are currently using.

 

[no704]

 

[no704]

Get one of these.

 

[Firebrick43]

...

 

[PCustoms]

Pretty sure most machining centers just use tap water....

 

[larry_g]

I've been using distilled water in my mill with cutting oil for the coolant.

I realized yesterday that I have a RO/DI unit from my reef keeping days.

Can I use RO/DI water in the cutting fluid instead of distilled?

The very lack of ions also makes this coolant unusually corrosive. Called the "universal solvent," DI water is one of the most aggressive solvents known. In fact, to a varying degree, it will dissolve everything to which it is exposed. Therefore, all materials in the cooling loop must be corrosion-resistant.

Di water is corrosive. Removing ions from water leaves it unbalanced and the water is now looking to return to an ionic neutral state and will remove ions from what it comes in contact with.

Google "DI water corrosive" for more understanding.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[seber]

I worked with machine shops my whole career. I never heard of using distilled water in coolant. What would be the advantage?

 

[niget2002]

I worked with machine shops my whole career. I never heard of using distilled water in coolant. What would be the advantage?

My understanding is that tap water has too much 'unknown stuff' in it.

This is the fluid I'm using:

TRIM MicroSol 585XT: Product Description - Master Fluid Solutions

TRIM MicroSol 585XT is a high-lubricity, semisynthetic, microemulsion coolant that delivers better sump life, foam control, cooling and lubricity.

www.masterfluidsolutions.com

Their mixing page says to use mineral free liquid

TRIM MicroSol 585XT: Mixing Instructions & Dilutions - Master Fluid Solutions

TRIM MicroSol 585XT: Recommended usage concentration and helpful mixing instructions to ensure the best possible working solution.

www.masterfluidsolutions.com

Di water is corrosive. Removing ions from water leaves it unbalanced and the water is now looking to return to an ionic neutral state and will remove ions from what it comes in contact with.

Google "DI water corrosive" for more understanding.

lg
no neat sig line

Interesting. I didn't think about that. I could remove the DI cartridge from the unit and just use the RO water. Based on the mixing guide, RO water should be mineral free.

Not really sure if it's worth the trouble. The distilled water is barely $1/gallon and I don't burn through it very quick. I lose most of the water through evaporation. I usually keep a few gallons on hand and thought of this while driving to pick up a few more.

 

[mike93lx]

Have a dehumidifier around? Capture that for replacement water

 

[seber]

Or rainwater.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Mixing distilled with coolant is probably best practice as long as you got your mix right. I either use distilled or RO water when I service my vehicles. There's a specific mix of additives and chemicals in your coolant..the MFG cannot account for all variables of water quality so using the most pure water available solves that part.

Tap water and the like has plenty of dissolved minerals and contaminants that can and will cause issues with metals, especially when recirculated, heated and cooled etc.


By the time you put pretty much anything into DI water the corrosive problems go away. It's really the production, storage and transport of DI/ High Purity water that can be problematic.

That being said RO water is just as well for this application. As others said tap water will work too but if you have access to RO water why not use it instead.

 

[Firebrick43]

I am not of a fan of RO/DI water for its corrosive like attributes, but caterpillar and the company I work for now use RO water for make up in the water based coolant.

Tony is right, once you mix in the water soluble oils into the water, its lack of ionic bonds are satisfied and it corrosive type action is eliminated.