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Fire Management Tech Tips November 1998 [NewFire_05]
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5100 9851 1316 SDTDC
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* Introduction
* Background
* Feric Study
* Forest Service Field Trial
* Conclusion
* Information
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VEGETABLE OIL FOR LUBRICATING CHAIN SAWS
by Skip Garrett, Mechanical Engineer
Introduction
To work properly, chainsaw chains and bars must be
lubricated.In the past, most operators have used
petroleum-based oils. When a chain saw is used, virtually all
of the lubricant ends up in the environment. Every year
thousands of gallons of chain-and-bar oil are carried into the
forests and none returns.
The demand for environmentally acceptable products is growing
rapidly. There is increased concern about the influence of
petroleum-based oils on the envi-ronment. Also, exposure to
petroleum-based oils can have adverse health effects on users.
One potential alternative is the use of environmentally
compatible or enviro-friendly oils that are produced from
vegetables. To achieve this classification, an oil must be
nontoxic and must biodegrade rapidly if spilled.
Rapeseed-based (usually called canola) oil is currently the
most common environmentally compatible chain-and-bar
lubricant.
Background
Vegetable-based oils are triglycerides or natural esters that
come from agricultural crops. These oils are natural products
and therefore their chemical composition varies somewhat from
one crop to another.They have some undesirable
character-istics. Their cold-temperature properties and
oxidation stability are their main disadvantages compared to
petroleum-based oil, and additives are needed to overcome
these problems. Vegetable oils have many good natural
properties including good lubricity, good resistance to shear,
a high flash point, and a high viscosity index. Vegetable oils
vary in price but, in general, are about twice as expensive as
petroleum-based oils.
Modern vegetable-based lubricants first appeared in the
marketplace in Europe in the mid-1980s. The acceptance and use
of these products, particularly in the European forest
industry, is widespread and growing. The two main reasons for
this are concerns about workers occupational safety and
health and environmental protection.
Petroleum-based oils are known carcinogens and medical records
show that they cause discomforting eczema and oil acne. In
addition, prolonged ex-posure to petroleum-based-oil mist can
cause irritation of the respiratory tract. Environmental
damage caused by petroleum-based oil spills has had extensive
attention from the media.
The benefits of using vegetable oils are well known in
Germany, where there are about 80 brands available, and in the
Scandinavian countries. In Austria, all petroleum-based chain
saw oils are banned. The Coordinating European Council (CEC)
has established a test methodology for bio-degradability. This
test standard (CEC-L-33-T-82) measures the amount of oil that
biodegrades over a 21-day period. (Cautionary Note: Some
products show CEC on their product labels and all this means
is that the products contain some portion of bio-degradable
material. They may still contain mineral oils or mineral-based
additives. It is best to find out what percentage of the total
product will biodegrade in 21 days.)
Readily biodegradable, petroleum-free lubricants based on
canola oil including hydraulic fluids, greases, motor oils,
concrete release oils, two-cycle oils, and chainsaw-oils are
now available commercially in North America. Canola oil is a
renewable, sustainable farm product. Manufacturers claim that
these products are rapidly bio-degradable, nontoxic to the
environment, and safe for operators and mechanics.
Canola-based chain-and-bar oil has been extensively tested in
Europe. It has excellent lubricating properties and some
studies have shown up to 40 percent reduction in consumption
without sacrificing bar-and-chain life. Most high quality or
professional chain saws have sophisticated chain oilers that
are more efficient and have the capability of controlling the
amount of oil being used (figure 1). Manufacturers and some
users claim that there is a potential for extended
bar-and-chain life when using canola-based products because it
lubricates and adheres to metal better than petroleum-based
oils.
Canola-based chain oils have low vapor pressure, which reduces
inhalation of fumes by users. Its composition is similar to
human skin oil and this can reduce skin irritation and eczema
for operators and mechanics. Tests have shown that
canola-based chain oils provide good performance down to -13
degrees F but stor-age can affect the pour point temperature
(they may not pour easily after standing for several days at
-22 degrees F). Generally, vegetable-based oils have higher
flash points than petroleum-based products.
Chainsaw chains
and bars must be
lubricated.
Virtually all of
the lubricant ends
up in the
environment
Figure 1 Chainsaw
chains and bars
must be
lubricated.
Virtually all of
the lubricant ends
up in the
environment.
FERIC STUDY
The Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC)
tested and reported on field trials of a vegetable-based oil
for lubricating chain saws. (See FERIC General Field Note
Number 35.) They conducted two trials, one with chain saws on
a conventional manual falling operation and the other with
chain saws on Rottne single- and double-grip harvesters on a
shortwood mechanical harvesting operation. The climatic
conditions on the two tests were different as the hand falling
took place in a wet, temperate Coastal rain forest while the
mechanical harvesting took place in sub-zero temperatures.
Both trials used an oil called Binol that is produced in
Sweden by Karlshamns AB. This chain oil is canola-based with
additives, and the manufacturer claims that the product (oil
and additives) is non-toxic and biodegradable (degrading 97
percent in 21 days.)
The overall results were positive. Users reported that the
vegetable-based oil was easier to clean from clothes and
equipment. Users also experienced less skin irritation. Rottne
harvester operators noticed a significant reduction in the oil
mist that collects on the machines windows due both to the
cleanliness of the Binol compared to petroleum-based oil and
to the reduced consumption of oil. The operators claimed a 60
percent reduction in consumption, however, the manufacturer
does not claim such a large reduction. They also claimed that
Binol increased the life of the bar-and-chain, but the hand
fallers reported no noticeable change. The coldest temperature
during the trial was -13 degrees F, and there were no
lubrication-related failures.
The vegetable-based oil performed satisfactorily in both
trials. FERIC reported that Binol costs about twice as much as
mineral oil, but when taking into account the manufacturer s
claim of a 40-percent reduction in consumption, the cost
increase over mineral oil is around 20 percent. FERIC noted
that the potential for extended bar-and-chain life may offset
this cost. The report concluded that even with the increased
cost, the benefits for workers and the environment make
vegetable-based oils an attractive alternative.
FOREST SERVICE FIELD TRIAL
A limited field trial of three vegetable-based chain oils was
conducted by Winston Rall on the Wind River Ranger District of
the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Rall has a great deal of
interest in and experience with chainsaws and is the lead
instructor for chainsaw training and certification in Region 6
(figure 2). He tried vegetable-based products from Greenland
Corporation, Green Oil Company, and Stihl, Incorporated.
Forest Service
employee operating
a chainsaw
Figure 2 Forest
Service employee
operating a
chainsaw.
All of the vegetable-based oils performed adequately in these
limited field trials. While these trials were by no means
scientific studies, some opinions from an experienced sawyer
are worth noting. Starting with a new bar and chain, Rall
could see no difference in the amount of wear shown on these
components (and after using one of the vegetable-based oils,
he felt that the bar showed more wear than expected). He noted
that the oil was difficult to see good for esthetics and the
environment, but somewhat disconcerting for the operator. Rall
would not recommend using these products in a fire situation
such as bucking burning logs because it appeared that the oil
comes off or evaporates in extremely hot conditions
(Petroleum-based oils also have problems in these conditions).
Rall was pleased that he saw no oil sheen rainbows in
puddles or rainy weather and that the oil was less noticeable
following cutting operations. Rall recommends using these
pro-ducts, particularly when environmental protection is
important, in work such as streamside restoration, and in
areas where esthetics are a concern, such as public recreation
sites and hiking trails. Please bear in mind that these
observations and opinions are based on very limited field
trials.
CONCLUSION
The information contained in this publication is based on
background investigations, literature searches, and
consultations with technical specialists. Based on this and
limited field observations, vegetable-based chain-and-bar oils
are an attrac-tive alternative to petroleum-based oils. The
cleanliness and non-toxic characteristics of the
vegetable-based oils make them worth trying. Chainsaw users
that are working in environmentally-sensitive areas should use
these envi-ronmentally-compatible oils instead of conventional
petroleum-based chain-and-bar oil.
Information
The information in this publication is for the use and
convenience of Forest Service employees and does not
constitute an endorsement by the Technology and Development
Center or the U.S. Government of any product to the exclusion
of others that may be suitable. Additional information on
vegetable-based chain oils may be obtained from the following
suppliers (this list is not complete):
Mike Dowd
Greenland Corporation
Tel: 403 720 7045
Toll free: 800 598 7636
Ira Pierce
Green Oil Company
Tel: 215 542 8584
Mark Hilliard
Stihl Incorporated
Tel: 757 486 9100
For further information on the Forest Service field trials,
contact Winston Rall at 509 427 5646.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Fire Management Program Leader
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444 East Bonita Avenue, San Dimas CA 91773-3198
Phone 909-599-1267; TDD: 909-599-2357; FAX: 909-592-2309
E-mail: mailroom_wo_sdtdc@fs.fed.us
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