1070 – 15 – Testing Your Cutting Fluid and Water

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Another crucial measurement to take is the pH with a pH meter or test strips. If the pH is between 8.7 and 9.2, it falls within acceptable standards. Any higher and the fluid can cause skin irritation, while a lower pH can cause a foul odor.

Besides cutting fluid’s pH and water hardness, fluid concentration is also an important factor to take into account. If the fluid is too concentrated, it can lead to excessive foaming, which prevents the coolant from functioning effectively. If the fluid is not concentrated enough, it can cause parts to rust.

Use a refractomoter to test the level of concentration of your cutting fluid. It will gauge the concentration of you’re a water-based cutting fluid. For most jobs, concentration should be between 2 and 8 percent. For soluble oil cutting fluid, you can use either a refractomenter or concentration test strips.