Why change coolants? Many things can and do go wrong with coolants. Rust problems, dermatitis, odors, decreased tool life and lack of attention by your sales rep. Every good salesman who believes in his product is going to try to convince you that his product is the best. This often goes only as far as the sales person’s ability to service your company. Yes, some coolants work better than others and some cost more than others, too. When you change coolant suppliers, you must do it for the right reasons and not just because your coolant supplier’s price just went up.
How can you tell if you are getting the best coolant for the application and, for that matter, the best coolant for the price? How do you know when to keep a coolant supplier or show him the door? Of course, the ultimate answer is a judgment call you’ll have to make, but here are few benchmarks to keep in mind.
Every good relationship is built on trust. Is your sales rep there when you need him? When there is a problem, is he equipped and willing to handle it? Do you believe him when he tells you he will take care of something? What is his track record—does he follow through? It seems the more technical the products get and the more we rely on our sales rep’s help, the more important the bond of trust between customer and supplier becomes. We look for long-term relationships where the best interests of both parties are well cared for.
When a rust problem presents itself, the first thing you should do is read the February 2005 issue of ShopTalk magazine article entitled “Why Do Parts Rust When the Coolant Appears Okay?” Then, you’ll want to call your coolant suppler. He will probably ask you to check your concentration to make sure that you are running at the proper level for the rust protection you need. Between your coolant supplier and your willingness to work through the rust issue, you can solve this problem. At S.C. Chemical, this is what we call “Value Added” service and it comes with the price of every product we sell. Keeping your coolant concentration at the proper level and removing tramp oil and metal fines are all good ways of preventing finished parts from rusting.
If on one end of the spectrum are rust problems stemming from running your coolant too lean, then on the other end are skin problems that come from coolant running too rich.
Here the solution is not as easy as just fixing the mixture. You may have good, dependable workers with serious concerns over bothersome sores on their hands and arms. While I never recommend changing coolant suppliers over cost-per-gallon increases, you sure want to consider switching if dermatitis problems don’t go away.
First, check your coolant concentration to make sure it isn’t too strong. What is the recommended concentration from your supplier? Next, make sure that the coolant is clean and in fairly good shape. Remove tramp oil and metal fines—this always helps the coolant work much better. Find out if the operator with the skin problem is taking good care of himself. Perhaps changing gloves will help. Sometimes we see operators wearing long sleeves that get wet from the coolant. Damp clothing from coolant when lying against the skin all day can be the cause of the irritation. The best thing to do, however, is to get your coolant supplier involved in finding a solution. This again is the “Value Added” part of what you are paying for when you buy your coolant. If your current supplier isn’t providing this kind of service, it may be worthwhile to change companies.
Coolant can smell bad. There are solutions for this and each involves your coolant supplier. He can advise you on how to clean your systems properly when to refresh or change coolant. This service should be part of the “Value Added” to every gallon of coolant you buy. If you are using a coolant that consistently gives you odor problems and your sales rep isn’t addressing the problem, then it’s time change suppliers. But don’t change coolant just because of a price increase.
Are you looking to improve tool life or do you need a better finish on your parts? Your coolant supplier should be able to help you improve your entire operation. If your tooling costs are increasing and you still aren’t getting the finish you want, one of the many ‘high performance’ coolants on the market today could be the answer. Start by asking your present supplier if he might have something new to offer. Competition is what keeps our whole economy improving; so if the present supplier can’t provide any improvements, perhaps now is the time to consider looking somewhere else.
Conclusion
Prices on every product we buy are increasing. Chemical raw materials used to make coolants; cleaners, rust preventives as well as many other chemical needs are all increasing. Regardless of which coolant supplier you are currently working with, they surely have experienced incredible raw material cost increases but they still want to keep you as a customer. Don’t forget the “Value Added” portion that should come with each container of coolant you order. Remember, it’s not just a gallon of coolant you are buying; it’s a solution for every machining problem you might come up against. When your rep fails to solve your problems, then it’s time to buy a different coolant!
