[SEL] Gear Lube for Power Bandsaw/info wanted on steam lube vs.

[Andy Glines]

Thanks to all of the SEL folks who attended the Classic Iron show.  Sorry 
that I didn't get over to visit much.  I did manage to keep pretty busy 
though.  I would be careful about using words like "notable" and "guru" when 
referring to me if I were you.  As explained to me at the Pawnee Steam 
School, the primary thing that makes Steam Cylinder Oil special is the 
addition of animal fat to the formula.  Beef tallow is usually used.  The 
addition of the tallow allows the oil to emulsify with the steam.  Cyl oil 
is injected ahead of the throttle.  Injecting the oil here allows it to 
lubricate the throttle valve, governor, slide valve, and piston.  One of the 
ways that we confirm that oil is being injected and emulisified is to check 
the condensate from the cylinder cocks.  Condensate should be milky and look 
like coffee with a lot of creamer in it.
>Message: 30
>Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:17:23 -0400
>From: Curt <curt at imc-group.com>
>Subject: Re: [SEL] Gear Lube for Power Bandsaw/info wanted on steam
>	lube vs. regular lube.

>Andy,
>Since you are a notable steam guru (enjoyed hearing your steamer belted
>to the fans at Evansville!) could you enlighten us on what makes a steam
>cylinder oil vs. regular old oil? I've wondered about this since my
>early days playing with a Wilesco steam engine. Does steam oil need to
>be misable (sp?) with water to be effective in a steam engine? Or is
>that the last quality you want as the steam would wash the oil out? Does
>steam oil have tackifiers in it to keep it "stuck" to the cylinder
>walls? I do recall reading old engine manuals, and I recall them being
>very specific about NOT using steam cylinder oil in the cylinder drip
>oiler. I'd really appreciate knowing what makes each unique.
>Curt Holland
>Gastonia, NC
>
>Andy Glines wrote:
> > Assuming that you have a worm gear box (you probably do) then Joe is
> > correct. Steam Cyl oil and worm gear oil are the same thing. In the
> > steam hobby sometimes we have to ask for worm gear oil when we are
> > looking for steam cylinder oil. Refineries are still making cyl oil
> > for worm gear boxes. There is not enough demand for cyl oil for steam
> > engines to keep making it. I would look for worm/steam cyl oil at an
> > industial supply or oil jobber.

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