Kerosene for EDM

I'll be the first to admit that my EDM machine leans toward "minimal" being
an adaptation of a design in PS/PM/P Something in the late '60s - early
'70s. But, I have been using kerosene for many years and fail to see what
the fuss is all about.

My low regard for kerosene as an inflamable liquid goes way back.... to
before I started to school. I had a heck of a time getting our trash barrel
to burn so I tried using some kerosene out of the can used to fill our
Aladdin lamps. Then I had a heck of a time getting the kerosene lit. I'm not
suggesting a kerosene-filled water pistol fight in front of the fireplace
but kerosene is not the risky business gasoline, acetone, laquer thinner,
alcohol and a few other common fluids certainly are. Used with even a small
dab of comon sense, I don't think there is a problem with kerosene as an EDM
electrolyte.

That said, my machine works with the part submerged. There is no oxygen
availble to support combustion. It does boil a little bit, and maybe
releases some vapors near the surface, but all indications are that they
stay there.... near the surface where there is no ignition source.

The best way to reclaim the electrolyte is to leave it alone. Even fine
aluminum particles are heavier than kerosene and will settle out after
standing a day or so. You can decant about 95% of the clean/clear fluid
before the sludge starts getting the urge to go mobile.

I seldom circulate electrolyte through the electrode. It isn't necessary for
most of what I do. When I do (maybe that should be did) find it necessary, I
used a very small positive displacement pump, a paper element in-line
gasoline filter and a home-made a disk filter using a piece of chamois as
the filter element.

WDSmith
(Caution: Do not try this at home. This writer may be mentally challenged so
use extreme caution and proceed at your own risk if attempting to try it
anywhere. No responsibility for stupid shop tricks expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.)

> Many others have suggested distilled water from the grocery store, and

using

> a once-through system.

This makes NO sense at all! After two milliseconds of use, this water would
NOT be "distilled"!

I THINK I recall that alcohol is used by some, with attending caution of
fire-hazard? Would this work better, or am I all-wrong?

How about such as kerosene or mineral-spirits? (Dangerous? Out of the
question? Wouldn't work, anyway?)