Air Tool Oil

[billford]

Just want to know what others are using for air tool oil.

Some guys in the shop use light engine oil or transmission fluid. I don't think that's a good idea because you would be breathing in that oil mist from the tools exhaust.

And some bottles of specific air tool oil say not to inhale, so I'm assuming that its toxic also.

What oil is safe to use?

 

[L.Cheapo]

I bought a bottle of "Air Tool Oil" many years ago at Sears, of all places. It's still 90% full. Tools still work.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I got the Marvel air tool oil currently. Works fine and the bottle is nice.

Anything is better than nothing, or the wrong stuff in this case.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I don't think there are any inhalation safe oils. I use Senco air tool oil, and have never experienced an oil caused air tool failure. The bottle seems to last a very long time.

 

[Bcom]

I use Blaster air tool conditioner. This stuff is amazing. It can turn old crusty air tool working like new. It works so well our local tire shop sells it and uses it religiously.

 

[md21722]

I think the concoction depends on whether the air is dry and clean. Some guys have to deal with so much water and scale they are using rust penetrant in the mix.

I have good clean air and just use NAPA air tool oil or Snap On synthetic air tool oil in an aerosol can.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Kimball Midwest Ultra or something like that. It is red colored.

 

[volaredon]

I just use ATF..... heard many years ago that this is the ""red stuff" that so many companies repackage.....

 

[6PTsocket]

I got the Marvel air tool oil currently. Works fine and the bottle is nice.

Anything is better than nothing, or the wrong stuff in this case.

Marvel is very popular but on the subject of the fumes, take a look at the SDS (formerly MSDS). Just Google it. Look what"s in that stuff. Most air tool oil is mineral oil with a rust inhibitor but MMO also has some potent solvents in there that free up the most gunked up tool. It contains p-dichlorobenzene. The sheet lists it as a known human carcinogen. The sheet also says it cannot be shipped in bulk.

I got the Marvel air tool oil currently. Works fine and the bottle is nice.

Anything is better than nothing, or the wrong stuff in this case.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[The Cobbler]

got a gallon of Bostitch tossed in to the deal when I bought my first nail gun in the 80's. still working on that

 

[CrashmanS]

Atf. There are a lot more things to worry about in my body shop than two drops of Atf in an air tool.

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[The Tool Tyrant]

Another vote for Marvel Air Tool Oil, We've used it for years and our air tools get a lot of use...never had a lubrication issue.

 

[rlitman]

I don't think there are any inhalation safe oils...

+1 Oil is not safe in your lungs. Even olive oil is dangerous to inhale.

Google "Pulmonary oil embolism", and you'll see why even stuff like petroleum jelly (which is non-toxic to eat) should not be put in your nose.

 

[rlitman]

I think the concoction depends on whether the air is dry and clean. Some guys have to deal with so much water and scale they are using rust penetrant in the mix.

I have good clean air and just use NAPA air tool oil or Snap On synthetic air tool oil in an aerosol can.

Air tools can handle water in the lines just fine. They won't corrode internally. In fact, many air tools are designed to use this water to help keep them lubricated. Now scale flaking off rusting lines and getting into the tools is another story. That's abrasive.

Atf. There are a lot more things to worry about in my body shop than two drops of Atf in an air tool.

I'm sure there are many more things to worry about. However, keep in mind that ATF is designed for long-term protection of a sealed gearbox. Air tools do not recirculate their oil, and have little need for long lasting oils. That, and the fact that I don't care for the smell of ATF or gear oils is why I don't use it in air tools.

 

[houdel]

Lucas Air Tool Oil from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FW62B4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Larryjones]

I usually use 3in1 or if it's out I will used regular drug store mineral oil.

 

[Mr_B]

I use couple drops atf daily, may not be best choice but had no issues with it in about 25yrs of use, just don't overlube the tools and be sure have filter in air supply and keep air tools stored sensibly (not chucked on floor getting dirt kicked up connector )

 

[K-Dog]

two or three drops is all you need. Not much to breath with that small of an amount.

 

[Ditch]

I just use ATF..... heard many years ago that this is the ""red stuff" that so many companies repackage.....

 

[warweapon762]

Atf. There are a lot more things to worry about in my body shop than two drops of Atf in an air tool.

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This

I have used ATF in my air tools for about 15 years now. The vapor in the air is negligible as well.

 

[CrashmanS]

This

I have used ATF in my air tools for about 15 years now. The vapor in the air is negligible as well.

And I'm not aiming to air outlet at my face!

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[CobraRed]

Air tools can handle water in the lines just fine. They won't corrode internally.

There's a fair amount of steel parts in an air tool

Corrosion inside an air tool is not rare

 

[Marctrees]

Just a little life experience - I have air tools, a few that I rarely use.

Before I knew better, I would always use whatever lube was handy, including WD40.

The story below was 5 yrs ago, so to best of memory.....


So I get down my Porter Cable narrow crown stapler for a job.

Works for a few staples, then quits shooting.

Dig into it, end up opening it.

A whole bunch of little broken totally crumbling plastic pieces in the cylinder.

WTF?

So I find out looking at drawings, it's somekinda internal bump stop.

Order the part, clean everything good, and install.

Still doesn't work.

Not as simple to assemble proper , minimal repair info available, only drawings that can be misinterpreted.

Anyway, sent unit in for rebuild, about $90.

Repair tech sez- Plastic piece destroyed by incorrect lube that attacked it.

So I learned from that.

Marc

 

[anndel]

Just a little life experience - I have air tools, a few that I rarely use.

Before I knew better, I would always use whatever lube was handy, including WD40.

The story below was 5 yrs ago, so to best of memory.....


So I get down my Porter Cable narrow crown stapler for a job.

Works for a few staples, then quits shooting.

Dig into it, end up opening it.

A whole bunch of little broken totally crumbling plastic pieces in the cylinder.

WTF?

So I find out looking at drawings, it's somekinda internal bump stop.

Order the part, clean everything good, and install.

Still doesn't work.

Not as simple to assemble proper , minimal repair info available, only drawings that can be misinterpreted.

Anyway, sent unit in for rebuild, about $90.

Repair tech sez- Plastic piece destroyed by incorrect lube that attacked it.

So I learned from that.

Marc

Thanks for the tip. I use Lucas Air Tool lube as that's all they had at NAPA when I needed it.

 

[mbshop]

Used atf for a very long time. No issues. Then one day saw air tool oil in the tool truck so I started using that. No issues. So basically it's more important to oil the tool than what you use though I wouldn't consider wd40 an oil. Also many tools need to be greased so check on that.

 

[rlitman]

There's a fair amount of steel parts in an air tool

Corrosion inside an air tool is not rare

Look more closely at your picture. In front of the rotor is a plate with a bearing and seal. Everything in front of that in your impact wrench example lives in a sealed oil bath, or is greased (in the case of an IR), and none of those steel parts are exposed to the air stream.

Behind that seal, the only steel part I see is the locating pin, and that is buried in aluminum too. Nope, NOTHING there that will corrode from wet air.

 

[American Locomotive]

Look more closely at your picture. In front of the rotor is a plate with a bearing and seal. Everything in front of that in your impact wrench example lives in a sealed oil bath, or is greased (in the case of an IR), and none of those steel parts are exposed to the air stream.

Behind that seal, the only steel part I see is the locating pin, and that is buried in aluminum too. Nope, NOTHING there that will corrode from wet air.

So what do you think the rotor, rotor bearings and rotor housing are made out of? Do you think aluminum doesn't corrode either?

I've opened up a lot air tools and have found rust spots on the rotors, rust spots on the rotor housing and corroded aluminum end plates & covers (especially since the aluminum is in direct contact with dissimilar metals).

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Behind that seal, the only steel part I see is the locating pin, and that is buried in aluminum too. Nope, NOTHING there that will corrode from wet air.

my techs get back air tools for repair that are so corroded/rusted inside that they are seized solid. Especially from developing countries like India where they don't filter anything.

I'll have to tell them when I see them at lunch that they complain too much, it's not even possible

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Just want to know what others are using for air tool oil.

Some guys in the shop use light engine oil or transmission fluid. I don't think that's a good idea because you would be breathing in that oil mist from the tools exhaust.

And some bottles of specific air tool oil say not to inhale, so I'm assuming that its toxic also.

What oil is safe to use?

I use ATF. How much oil are you putting in the tool? A couple of drops is all you need. It is not likely to kill you...

 

[6PTsocket]

I use ATF. How much oil are you putting in the tool? A couple of drops is all you need. It is not likely to kill you...

Most air tool oils and ATF and jack oil, etc. are mineral oil based with rust inhibitors. The popular Marvel Mystery air tool oil is another story. It frees up stuck tools because it contains ortho and para hydro chloroBENZENE. Benzene, besides being a powerful solvent, is a well known carcinogen. In vapor form it is at it's most dangerous. That is a risk I wouldn't take.

I use ATF. How much oil are you putting in the tool? A couple of drops is all you need. It is not likely to kill you...

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[rlitman]

Most air tool oils and ATF and jack oil, etc. are mineral oil based with rust inhibitors. The popular Marvel Mystery air tool oil is another story. It frees up stuck tools because it contains ortho and para hydro chloroBENZENE. Benzene, besides being a powerful solvent, is a well known carcinogen. In vapor form it is at it's most dangerous. That is a risk I wouldn't take...

Benzene is a carcinogen, but that does not imply that the dichlorobenzene family is. To the best of my knowledge o-DCB is not known to be, while p-DCB is considered to POSSIBLY be carcinogenic. It is still sold in the form of moth balls though, and that is at 100% concentration, rather than the small amount found in MMO.

In any case, you'll be far more exposed to aerosolized p-DCB by peeing on a urinal cake than you will by using MMO in a pneumatic tool.

 

[TracField]

Used all sorts I had on hand,but an upgrade in general would be the higher grade,synthetic 2 stroke motor oil.Its made to only need half the amount in the burn mix,and then my clothes did not reek after only 15 minutes running a saw or weed eater.
Better than ATF.They also sell an organic chain saw bar lube that sticks to the chain,and is better for the enviroment.(Baileys)Used the thin air tool oil as well,but I guess the chain oil will stay in the tool longer.You can always cut the old oil out every few weeks with the thin oil.Any oil mist inhaled can suffocate you.See 3m respirators/osha for rules concerning spray mists containing oil.Have seen oil spray wetting things down from impact gun.

 

[K-Dog]

So what do you think the rotor, rotor bearings and rotor housing are made out of? Do you think aluminum doesn't corrode either?

I've opened up a lot air tools and have found rust spots on the rotors, rust spots on the rotor housing and corroded aluminum end plates & covers (especially since the aluminum is in direct contact with dissimilar metals).

If he doesn't want to oil his **** then so be it.
People like that rarely seem to learn.
Meanwhile people like us air tools just as powerful as day one after daily use for twenty years.

Two or three drops a day. Not that expensive, not that time consuming.
I can't fathom any reason not to other than lazy and/or cheap.

 

[jimtim]

I use a couple drops of 3 in one. I don't use air tools every day though

 

[6PTsocket]

Benzene is a carcinogen, but that does not imply that the dichlorobenzene family is. To the best of my knowledge o-DCB is not known to be, while p-DCB is considered to POSSIBLY be carcinogenic. It is still sold in the form of moth balls though, and that is at 100% concentration, rather than the small amount found in MMO.

In any case, you'll be far more exposed to aerosolized p-DCB by peeing on a urinal cake than you will by using MMO in a pneumatic tool.

The Marvel SDS says that p- dichlorobenzene is a carcinogen. Thanks for the urinal info. From now on I will pee in the toilet or behind the building. LOL !!. I still suspect that in spray form it it is dispersed in the most dangerous way. I have a bottle of Coilhose brand that was obviously by someone else. At a few drops at a time it will outlast me. I did notice that Marvel is lower viscosity than many others, whatever that means.

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[cheechi]

I have a big *** bottle of MMO air tool oil and a bottle that I poured all the small bottles that came packaged with tools all together, it must be 10+ oz still left in that and it's more or less lasted me a decade. I'll never need more oil again, and that's with pretty religious oiling for everything.

 

[Kenskip1]

I have a 12 ounce black plastic bottle with a red flip to that gets used every time a air tool is connected to the air supply except my blow gun.
The external or outside gets a hosing of Water Displacement "WD" 40 for slower members of the group.I despise dirty tools.

 

[skruft]

I use anything labeled air tool oil.

Many people use Marvel Mystery Oil, which is probably the same as Marvel air tool oil, or just any light oil.