Thread: Metalium XDP2000 machining coolant

My milling machine for some time has been running with a typical white emulsion coolant that I obtained pre-mixed from a friend. Recently I had a drain hose problem and lost much of it, so I needed some more. I purchased, from a local tool shop, some "Metalium XDP2000". This comes in a sachet, with instructions to add it to 20L of water and shake to mix. The packet says it will form an opaque white solution (typical of a soluble oil).......

Well, I did that. I shook it. Then I shook it some more (it's not easy shaking a 20L drum!). I then decanted half of it, so there was more room in the drum for shaking, and shook it some more. No matter what I do, when the foam subsides I just end up with a gold/brown clear solution.

Has anyone else used this stuff? It's what Hare & Forbes and various other places sell, and the only thing available to me locally.....

From memory it was about $17 for the 1L "bag", and they specify diluting 20:1 for machining steel, 15:1 for machining stainless and 10:1 for drilling.

I'm guessing it's relatively cheaper by the 20L drum but, barring hose failure, I don't use that much and the (undiluted) drum life is only 2 years.