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Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

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Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#111
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tangentially related, in the early 00’s in a datacenter belonging to a large multinational corporation, there was an IBM as/400 that frequently leaked puddles of yellow liquid. A puddle was found under it; the puddle was cleaned up. The puddle came back. Repeatedly. The data center management was perplexed. The internal as/400 professionals were stumped. IBM techs were called in. They assured the datacenter’s managem…

nobody sniffed it?

I bet the IBM workers sniffed it, but then decided they couldn't write in the report "stop pissing on our servers and blaming us!". So instead they wrote "the servers don't contain any matching yellow liquids. We recommend using a camera to identify the source of the leak".

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Piss smells like urea, and urea has industrial uses. If you have 0 ideas about what it is, and piss seems improbable, I could see the confusion

Urea doesn't smell like anything much. Leave it long enough and it breaks down to make ammonia, which does.

You mean like leave it under a hot mainframe?

Or expose it to warm temps in a lot of industrial processes?

It's a distinction without meaning, urea based products like DEF end up smelling like pee/ammonia. Laypeople usually specifically compare it to a cow urine smell

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#113
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You want your oil (and grease) in the bearing surfaces, not in nooks and crannies. Tackiness can indeed be good though.

Oxidized vegetable oil is the most disgustingly tacky substance that I know. It's like a cross between rubber, glue, and grease. It is very resistant to removal with "intuitive" methods (but using un-oxidized oil and heat tends to work) and it doesn't lubricate, it sticks. It can't possibly be good for lubrication, I'd say. Unless you can somehow control the process so that it oxidizes just a little.

Well a slimy sticky surface rubbing against another slimy sticky surface doesn't cause wear.

And in a chainsaw, it's mostly wear you want to reduce. The frictional losses in the chain are low compared to the massive friction in the blades.

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#115
Komatsu builders of forest harvesting machines.

https://www.komatsuforest.com.au/about/sustainability

HE GEN II Natura is a hydraulic oil that is both biodegradable and a certified environmentally friendly product, biodegrading by at least 60% within 28 days. The oil does not accumulate in plants and animals and does not spread in ecosystems. The oil has a synthetic base with largely bio-based and renewable content and exceeds the certification requirements. The oil has minimal toxicity, is non-toxic to aquatic life and has been checked for allergenic and environmentally hazardous substances. HE GEN II Natura is specially adapted for use in sensitive nature areas as it is based on synthetic esters and is certified compliant with the requirements for environmentally friendly hydraulic fluid. Compared to mineral-based hydraulic oils, HE GEN II Natura has less impact on the environment in the event of an accidental leak or spill.

Komatsu SCO Natura environmentally friendly saw chain oil has vegetable and renewable content. The oil is biodegradable, non-bioaccumulative and does not spread in ecosystems. The product is also non-harmful to humans, animals and plants. This saw chain oil offers superior equipment lubrication and adheres well to the saw bar and saw chain, reducing wear and extending the equipment's service life. Moreover, oil consumption can be reduced by up to 50%. Komatsu saw chain oil is suitable for use in sensitive nature areas that risk harm from conventional mineral-based oils.

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#116
post #12

My paper shredder's user manual recommends* periodically shredding a paper with oil drizzled on it for lubrication. It says vegetable oil is fine. *At least, it did until I shredded it.

> At least, it did until I shredded it. Is this a compulsion common to paper shredders, similar to how every label maker must be stored in a container labeled "Label Maker"?

I thought the first thing you did was label the label maker itself label maker

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#117
You can't even buy a non-vegetable chainsaw oil in my country.

The only time I used such a thing was when I was a kid and I put regular machine oil into the chainsaw. My father never explained the difference between different oils to me. I will never forget the frown on the chainsaw repairman's face.

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#118
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about other manufacturers, but Fellowes brand shredder oil is just expensive canola oil.

Confirmed: check the MSDS sheet.

I checked the MSDS years ago and commented on the Amazon listing for Fellows "shredder oil." It always helps to check the MSDS, for many reasons. :-)

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> At least, it did until I shredded it. Is this a compulsion common to paper shredders, similar to how every label maker must be stored in a container labeled "Label Maker"?

I thought the first thing you did was label the label maker itself label maker

The first thing I do is print a label with my email address and stick it on the bottom of the label maker, out of anger that my last label maker grew legs and walked away in a datacenter.

Re: Vegetable Oil for Lubricating Chainsaws (2008)

#120
post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live way off grid, and we just use our own olive oil, on our electric chainsaws, powered by solar power. Apart from the actual hardware, it’s a neatly closed loop.

> our own olive oil How long have you been off grid (or did the olive trees pre-date you)?

The trees are mostly several centuries old - long abandoned when we arrived.
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