Answer: Football lubricators inject RDO by venturi (suction type) action. See our bulletin about how to adjust the football style lubricator. It is not possible to completely shut off the RDO flow in a football lubricator, but by turning the adjustment screw to 90 degrees against the compressed air flow, the minimum amount of RDO will be injected. In addition to lubricator adjustment, reduction of RDO consumption can be accomplished by selecting a viscosity grade higher than the one you are using presently. For example, if you are using a 150 cSt grade, you could consider a 220 cSt viscosity. However, it is important to verify that air motors on equipment such as Long Tom (small pneumatic jumbo) drills can operate effectively with the higher viscosity.

Regular rock drill oils are made up primarily of mineral oils. Mineral oils do not have a polar (electrostatic type) charge, but rely on tackifiers to provide adhesion to drill parts. Also, regular RDOs have a temperature failure point of around 400 F., beyond which temperature they form carbon and varnish deposits that can accelerate wear. Besides accelerated wear, the loss of lubricity results in heat buildup that causes oil fog and oil smoke.

PolairDrill uses engineered synthetic esters in their formulation that are chosen based on their heat tolerance (around 600 F.) and film strength. Polar esters have a complex molecular structure that creates a lattice like structure between parts surfaces, that resists parts contact, scuffing and wear. Additionally, our polar esters have a strong negative charge that causes them to adhere tenaciously to steel parts, which are positively charged. Ultimately, PolairDrill esters resist displacement by turbulent compressed air and provide a much more consistent lubricating film than regular RDOs, and provide lubricity long after regular RDOs have been displaced.

Oil fog and oil smoke are primarily caused by two factors: lack of adhesion and cohesion in the regular RDO lubricating film, and degradation of the RDO by heat build up, which reduces RDO viscosity. As the viscosity of the RDO is reduced, the film becomes more susceptible to high heat, especially when it approaches the limit of the tolerance point of close to 400 F. Beyond this point rapid heat build up takes place, accelerating oil fog and oil smoke generation.

PolairDrill can reduce the formation of oil smoke and oil fog by two mechanisms: 

1. the polar esters can tolerate temperatures up to 600 F, providing lubricity that maintains a cool drill. Cool running drills exhaust less oil fog and oil smoke, and minimizes wear.

2. The polar film adheres tenaciously to steel surfaces and resists blow out. The polar film also tends to form large droplets as it exits the cold area around the muffler.

Our cold weather grades of PolairDrill are formulated with specialized raw materials that are safe to use, and are proven to flow to -45C. We do not use PAOs or glycols to achieve our low pour points, but rely on specially engineered base stocks that provide excellent lubricity at both cold and hot temperatures. If you are drilling in conditions colder than -45C, we can formulate an ester based RDO that has a pour point of -57C.

Question: “We operate large bore DTH drills that are susceptible to heat damage while drilling in hard substrates. Do you offer high viscosity products for this application?”

Answer: We do offer PolairDrill products for large bore drills. Remember that regardless of the initial viscosity of the RDO, once heat exceeds 400F., regular RDOs will begin to fail. The most important property of the RDO is the temperature tolerance of the base stocks. Our synthetic esters resist breakdown to much higher temperatures than regular RDO, and this is what makes the difference in wear protection in hard drilling / high heat conditions.

We do offer PolairDrill products for large bore drills. Remember that regardless of the initial viscosity of the RDO, once heat exceeds 400F., regular RDOs will begin to fail. The most important property of the RDO is the temperature tolerance of the base stocks. Our synthetic esters resist breakdown to much higher temperatures than regular RDO, and this is what makes the difference in wear protection in hard drilling / high heat conditions.

No! The PolairDrill formulations are complete reformulations of our previous RDOs, utilizing new raw materials, and have been subjected to lab testing to verify their properties.

PolairDrill RDOs are completely compatible with virtually all regular mineral oil based RDOs. 

We offer a discount program for distributors who are willing to stock the product locally for you.