FAQ

Cutting oils are available in two types: pure oil-based cutting oils and water-based cutting oils. If the product you’ve chosen is a pure oil-based cutting oil, you won’t need to add water when using it. However, if the product you’ve chosen is a water-based cutting oil, you’ll need to dilute it with water before use.
 
Water-based cutting fluid is a cutting fluid made by diluting the concentrate with water at a ratio of approximately 1:20 (the specific dilution ratio should be determined according to the manufacturer’s instructions). Water-soluble cutting fluids offer significantly better cooling and cleaning performance than pure oil-based cutting fluids.
 
Of course, it’s not fair to generalize and say that water-based cutting fluids are always better than oil-based ones. For different products, both types of cutting fluids have their own advantages. The key is to choose the cutting fluid that best suits the specific product—this is how we truly take responsibility for the product itself.
 
If you’re purchasing an oil-based cutting fluid, you should also pay attention to the following points:
 
1. Before each time you replace the fluid, you must first thoroughly clean the fluid supply system to remove chips, oil sludge, sediment, and other debris.
 
Because residual old oil, sludge, sediment, and other contaminants, when mixed with new oil, can accelerate the degradation and deterioration of the new oil.
 
2. If other types of cutting fluids are to be added during use, relevant personnel should first conduct compatibility tests between the two cutting fluids as well as tests on their respective performance indicators. Mixing is permissible only if there is no significant change in the performance indicators.

Water-based cleaners are primarily distinguished from solvent-based cleaners. As the name suggests, water-based cleaners have properties similar to water—non-volatile and non-flammable, among others. These characteristics and technical features make them suitable for cleaning products made from all types of materials.
 
Solvent-based cleaners, on the other hand, have volatile odors and are toxic and flammable. That’s why water-based cleaners are also called eco-friendly cleaners.
 
The application method of water-based cleaners is essentially no different from that of solvent-based cleaners. They can be used for tank cleaning, rinsing, and scrubbing; ultrasonic cleaning yields even better results.
 
Water-based cleaners are non-toxic, harmless, and non-corrosive. However, even when using them, you still shouldn't handle them directly with your hands. This is because water-based cleaners contain surfactants that effectively remove oil stains. Just like laundry detergent, prolonged contact with these cleaners can cause your hands to peel and turn pale.
 
Main ingredients of the cleaning agent:
 
Active agents, surfactants, water-soluble surfactants, cleaning agent formulations, cleaning-active agents, detergent surfactants, chemical surfactants, cleaning surfactants, interfacial surfactants, industrial surfactants, degreasing additives, highly effective detergents, and other surfactants.
 
Main ingredients of industrial cleaning agents:
 
Degreasing aids, oil-removing aids, oil- and dirt-removing surfactants, oil-removing additives, degreasing activators, surfactants, oil-removing activators, and so forth.

The flash point, also known as the flash ignition temperature, is the lowest temperature at which a mixture of a material or product and air ignites upon contact with a flame and immediately burns. It indicates the material’s tendency to vaporize and its stability when heated. The flash point is an important safety indicator for the storage, transportation, and use of materials and products. Materials or products with high flash points are less likely to ignite and cause fires; those with low flash points require special attention to safety during storage and transport. When determining the flash point of heavy oil products such as lubricating oils, a sudden drop in the flash point can indicate that light fuel oil has been inadvertently mixed in. The flash point of asphalt is defined as the lowest temperature at which, when heated in a specified flash-point tester, a brief flash occurs and immediately extinguishes. The most commonly used methods include the Pensky-Martens open-cup flash point, the Cleveland open-cup flash point, and the Tagliabue closed-cup flash point. China’s current standards adopt the Pensky-Martens open-cup flash point. From a fire safety perspective, the flash point of a liquid represents the lowest temperature at which it can potentially ignite and cause a fire. The lower the flash point, the greater the risk of fire.
 
The flash point is an indicator of the fire hazard associated with petroleum products. The hazard classification of oil products is based on their flash points: products with a flash point below 45°C are classified as flammable, while those with a flash point above 45°C are classified as combustible. During the storage and transportation of oil products, it is strictly prohibited to heat them up to their flash point temperature.
 
Lubricating oils generally consist of two components: base oil and additives.
 
The flash point of lubricating oil is a safety indicator that reflects the oil's volatility.
 
The flash point of a lubricating oil is the lowest temperature at which, under specified conditions, the vapor given off by the heated oil mixed with air ignites momentarily upon contact with a flame.
 
The lighter the distillation fraction of an oil product, the greater its volatility and the lower its flash point. Conversely, the heavier the distillation fraction of an oil product, the lower its volatility and the higher its flash point.
 
Depending on the type of apparatus used to determine the flash point of lubricating oil, it can be classified into closed-cup flash point and open-cup flash point.
 
Under the same viscosity, the higher the flash point, the better. Therefore, when selecting lubricating oils, users should take into account the operating temperature and working conditions of the lubricant. As a general guideline, it is considered safe to use a lubricant whose flash point is 20 to 30°C higher than the operating temperature.
 
From a fire safety perspective, we hope that the oil has a higher flash point and ignition point, with a larger difference between the two. However, from a combustion perspective, we prefer a lower flash point and ignition point, and aim for the smallest possible difference between the two.

Cutting fluids can be categorized according to their functions as follows:
 
Lubrication: Cutting oil, semi-synthetic cutting fluid, fully synthetic cutting fluid
 
Cooling Performance: Fully Synthetic Cutting Fluid, Semi-Synthetic Cutting Fluid, Cutting Oil
 
Rust Resistance: Cutting Oils—Water-Based Cutting Fluids (Emulsions, Semi-Synthetic Cutting Fluids, Fully Synthetic)
 
Cleanliness: Water-based cutting fluids (emulsions, semi-synthetic cutting fluids, fully synthetic cutting oils)
 
Precautions for the Use of Cutting Fluids
 
To achieve the intended effects of the cutting fluid, you must also pay attention to the following points when using it:
 
1. Pay attention to cleaning up metal chips and dust from various parts of the production line, as well as mold slime, decomposition products of the cutting fluid itself, grinding wheel dust, and other debris during the production process.
 
2. Control the temperature of the cutting fluid and the ambient environment. Pay special attention to bacteriostatic treatment of the cutting fluid. In high-temperature environments, bacteria tend to multiply, causing the cutting fluid to emit an unpleasant, pungent odor. Over time, this can also impair the effectiveness of the cutting fluid; therefore, it’s crucial to maintain strict control over bacteriostatic measures.
 
Regularly use a refractometer to test the concentration parameters of the cutting fluid. If the concentration is too high, the cutting fluid can easily cause skin allergies in operators. If the concentration is too low, it may lead to extensive bacterial corrosion.
 
3. Regularly test the pH value of the cutting fluid. The ideal pH range is between 8.3 and 9.2. A pH that is too high or too low can impair the effectiveness of the cutting fluid or create an environment conducive to bacterial growth. Therefore, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the pH of the cutting fluid and conduct regular tests.
 
4. The cutting fluid is producing bubbles, which disrupt normal production, contaminate the machining environment, and, if leaked onto the machine tool, can also reduce the cutting fluid’s cleaning performance. When such issues arise during production, you can appropriately add some defoaming agents to minimize bubble formation.
 
5. The oil-in-water emulsion must be diluted with water before use.
 
6. When machining with cemented carbide tools, if a cutting fluid is used, it must be continuously and adequately supplied from the very beginning; otherwise, the cemented carbide blade may crack due to quenching.
 
7. The cutting fluid flow rate should be sufficient and maintained at a certain pressure. The cutting fluid must be injected into the cutting area.
 
8. The cutting fluid should be kept clean, with the impurity content in the cutting fluid minimized as much as possible. Deteriorated cutting fluid should be replaced promptly.