Are you turning up the RDO lubricator when the drill is running too hot?
When hard drilling and the drill is running very hot, often miners turn up the lubricator to make the drill run cooler. Does it work? Obviously it does, or miners wouldn’t do it! However, if we think about why the drill is running hot, we realize that the rock drill oil is being negatively affected by excessive heat generated by hard drilling, and is losing lubricity. By turning the lubricator up, the drill can bog down, resulting in backfiring and flames. Backfiring puts excessive strain on the drill, not to mention the fact that oil smoke is a by-product of overheated operation. This creates a respiration hazard for the miner. As our previous posts have noted, in thin film applications typical to percussive drills, mineral oil RDOs begin to break down at temperatures in excess of 390F, and as they break down, friction and heat generation rapidly increase, resulting in wear and oil fog / smoke. The synthetic esters in PolairDrill are temperature tolerant to 600F, and maintain excellent lubricity when regular rock drill oils fail. Therefore, using PolairDrill allows the operator to drill hard without worrying about excessive heat buildup and drill wear. There is no need to turn the lubricator up. Equipment lasts longer and the work environment is cleaner.
Miners often ask how a small thing like a rock drill oil can make a difference in their work productivity
The lubricating film in synthetic esters in PolairDrill is much more durable than basic mineral oil films. This is not a marketing statement – it is fact. Lab tests have proven that PolairDrill can support loads of more than twice as much as mineral oil. When combined with extreme pressure and anti-wear additives, PolairDrill provides synergistic protection against heat build up and wear. As temperatures increase in drills, regular rock drill oils rapidly lose lubricity. As lubricity decreases, friction increases, and heat builds up. As heat increases, lubricity continues to decrease until regular rock drill oils fail and form carbon and varnish, promoting increased wear. PolairDrill has been engineered to withstand temperatures up to 200F. (>90C) higher than regular rock drill oils, providing wear protection long after other rock drill oils. Why don’t other rock drill oil manufacturers use synthetic esters? Most lubricants are part of an overall package of various oils and fuels (hydraulic, gear, transmission). Buying decisions typically are made based on price. Synthetic esters are expensive, often costing 5 times as much as basic mineral oils. Just adding a small amount of ester into a formulation will only make a marginal difference in lubricant performance. PolairDrill formulations are based on lab wear tests to determine the optimum ratios to provide excellent protection at justifiable costs. When actual use cost is taken into account, PolairDrill can cost less than $1 per hour more to use than regular rock drill oil. The benefits of more reliable drill performance and the ability to break rock without worrying about drill breakdown end up making PolairDrill a wise buying choice.