Is direct oiling required even with a lubricator?

[TulTrak]

Evening all,

I've just installed a lubricator in my air line, it sits on the wall beside the water filter. I assumed I'd just fill this and would be good to go with pneumatic tools. However my die grinder specifies a direct oiling to the its 1/4" connection before each use. Is this only required if an inline lubricator is not being used or do I have to do both!?

Thanks in advance

 

[brightspark]

bin the lubricator there not needed only on production lines when stuffs being used all day long. 3 or 4 drops of oil before start of day direct in to the tool is suficient and ive been using the tools for 40 years . and u dont need seperate lines

 

[TulTrak]

Thanks for your reply. Having just installed the lubricator I'm reluctant to chuck it already. Do I still need to oil tools directly? Because if not then I may as well use the lubricator now.

Thanks again

 

[steviec_lj]

Keep the lubricator, it is an expensive unnecessary accessory though.

Also worth bearing in mind that any hose attached and used in conjunction with it will be unsuitable for use with a spray gun, and if you were to use the compressor for spraying, the oiler should be disconnected.

 

[Robotstar5]

Don't forget to adjust the flowrate, about 1 drop per minute or you'll cover everything with the oil misted out of the exhaust (no good for breathing either) and empty the reservoir quickly.

 

[Bill Edwards]

And also be aware that you shouldn't use that supply for blowing up tyres, oil and rubber aren't compatible.

You are OK to just drop some oil into the inlet, but I don't think the proper oil mist is a bad thing at all. A little lubrication at all times has to be better than some at the start of the day, then running dry.
Just be mindful of the limitation of that air supply now - i.e don't use it for paint spraying or tyre inflation - and you'll be fine.

 

[dannyp]

the wall mounted oil misters i came to the conclusion that they were a waste of time.
good watertraps are far better investment. then hoses / outlets cant get mixed up. most tools i'll diretly oil the few tools that are really high speed and really want oil mist like my die grinders i have small inline oiler for

 

[TulTrak]

It's OK I'm aware of the limitations which is why I've set up like this

I tried it out yesterday and I'm having trouble reducing the oil usage to a sensible rate. A drop a minute seems impossible, it's currently getting through most the reservoir in that time! Looking at the above photo, the oil was up to the top of the glass before I spent about 30 seconds playing around with it. Anyone else had this difficulty?

Thanks

 

[Robotstar5]

Shut the oilflow off then open it in very small increments, they are difficult to set up.

 

[brightspark]

bin it christ my die grinders over 30 years old and it was robbled err i mean borrowed from cummins diesel production line and still in good nick. 3 drops per daily use and no oil splatter all over to job

 

[Wallace]

Turn the lubricator right down then bring it up while using the air tool, they can take a while to get right. Have you used compression fittings on all your compressed air install? I've used mostly Yorkshire but had one compression nut split a while back and it went with quite a bang.

 

[TulTrak]

Well not getting on well with tuning this lubricator. Had it turned down as far as it would go, yet here's what happened when testing grinding a grinding the tiny silver rectangle: oil all over the floor.

I may experiment with a smaller pick up hose in the lubricator.

Yes I have used compression fittings everywhere. Didn't trust myself to solder a safe enough joint.

 

[dannyp]

i used a mix compression fittings and solder. for the most part the compression fittings work well but a certan few allways seemed to loosen and needed a regular nip, the soldered ones are still good tho all recent add ons have been in blue water pipe

 

[Cyberprog]

Is the blue water pipe rated for air though? When I asked about what to use, I was told to avoid water pipe...

 

[TulTrak]

I've found the Sealey water filter's 1/2" threads to be very leaky which is why I paid more for a Draper Expert lubricator which doesn't leak at all, it just thinks it's an oil pump!

The blue hose in the photos is actually an air hose rated to 16 bar. It does appear a bit like water pipe though!

 

[mike k]

I've found the Sealey water filter's 1/2" threads to be very leaky which is why I paid more for a Draper Expert lubricator which doesn't leak at all, it just thinks it's an oil pump!

The blue hose in the photos is actually an air hose rated to 16 bar. It does appear a bit like water pipe though!

I had the same problem not so long back with sealey filters, they had a real bad batch with poor castings and wouldn't seal, forth time lucky tho but still not acceptable. I wish the Chinese would learn about quality control or just stick to tea, noodles and dinner sets. QA is a big cost in production which were the saving seems to be coming from.

 

[dannyp]

PCL fittings are a bit of a joke as well now. they are soposed to be a standard found some brarnds wont fit each other one way round , other leack and it gets all a bit ARGH

i've given up with sealy now, came to the conclusion it was all rebranded and heavaly marked up cheep crap. if i'm going to buy cheep crap id rather it branded whatever and not pay much for it. tho i prefer to pay the money and buy the proper thing that right and be done with

 

[dan.taylor.1]

That's why i spend extra and buy genuine pcl couplings, separators and other bits.

Dan

 

[TulTrak]

Sounds like the way to go Dan. I haven't even seen my Sealey filter collect any water yet, and I know there's some in the air because a bit comes out the drop leg! The Draper Expert lubricator is now stuck in the minimum position despite still dumping oil in like it was going out of fashion.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

To be fair getting it far enough away from the compressor is often a problem, I still get a bit from mine when the tank gets hot running it all day.

Dan