Recommendations sought for a non-shrinking, non-spill oil pot.

Six months ago I bought two non-spill pots like this.

When new, their push-on lids were tight-fitting. I put Ilocut cutting oil in one of them and used it for about three months before I noticed that the lid had become very loose, to the point where it could be lifted off the pot with just the weight of the empty pot pulling down on it.

Since this non-spill pot had now become a "spill pot" I deployed the second pot, whose lid was still nice and tight at this point, as it was when originally purchased. Three months later,though, the lid on this second pot is just as loose as the first one was after three months.

I don't understand the chemistry of why putting oil in the pot makes the plastic shrink, but if anyone can recommend a specific non-shrinking non-spill pot I'd appreciate it.

A couple of questions, Bill

1. has the pot shrunk, or has the lid expanded ?
2. Are the two components made from the same type of plastic ?

MichaelG.

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Edit:__ and a third question … is this the relevant oil ?

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/lubricants-and-chemicals/cutting-and-coolant-fluids/ilocut-154-cutting-oils/f/52961

… it appears that there are several numbers/grades of Castrol ilocut

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/07/2023 16:05:46

Hi ,

Make one from a glass jam jar ,make a hole in the lid for your brush.

Maurice

If you go the glass route, and if it’s big enough … the Colman’s Mustard jar is a good relatively-stable shape

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 30/07/2023 16:52:18

Wife bought half a dozen of these non spill pots in The Works, used them for the grandkids when they were painting, I nicked a couple for the workshop and they have had neat cutting oil in them for over a year with absolutely no problems, don’t know the spec of the neat cutting oil but it is the stuff that Warco sell

Thanks for the replies.

Michael, it's Ilocut 154, yes.

I don't know whether the lid has expanded or the pot shrunk, but I assume the latter from that fact that, most of the time, significantly more oil is in contact with the pot than with the lid.

Either way, the pots are now unusable, as two accidental spillages have already attested.

ETA: I don't know whether the two plastics are the same, but the lid is coloured whilst the pot is translucent.

I tried that, Maurice. Access to the oil through a simple hole wasn't quick enough for me, though, even when I bonded an inverted shower cord pull in the lid to guide the brush down into the oil.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 30/07/2023 18:52:43

The twelve page MSDS is available here: **LINK**

https://msdspds.castrol.com/ussds/amersdsf.nsf/Files/3D072EBD71E80B75802585FF0053ACA4/$File/2663615.pdf

I can see no specific reference to an incompatibility with unspecified plastics, but reading between the lines, the reference to gloves might give us a hint.

MichaelG.

Thanks for that, Michael.

The second of my mysterious shrinking pots/expanding lids is now in the bin. I have replaced it with something of older vintage.

I just hot glued the lids in place after dropping them a couple of times, not had an issue since!

Jimb

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That’s classy, Bill …

MichaelG.

Dropping a decent sized button magnet into my simple plastic pot, has prevented accidental knock over spills for me (obviously only when the pot is on a ferrous surface though).

Thanks for the further replies.

Jimmy, gluing the lid in place wouldn't be much good if I wanted to clean the swarf out that inevitably accumulates in the bottom of the pot.

Nick, the magnet idea is a good one, though again I wouldn't want to have to clean the swarf off it each time I come to renew the oil. I suppose you could put it in a small ziplock bag.

You may have a problem removing the magnet from the bag and preventing the swarf following the strong magnet pull.

How about a ferrous oil pot with that powerful magnet stuck to the bottom, on the outside, then in turn stuck to the mill table or wherever?

From a gift shop:
I have tried a couple of pots/ideas but was dissappointed, but spot some glass pots with narrow openings shaped like a round trianglerelative thick glass(Some weight for the size), a small round artbrush will fit through the openning, different sizes. I bought a few from a gift shop(Small/Larger), and so far the bigger one about 10cm tall and the base will fit over your hand, is the one used. None has broken or posed a problem so far. I fit/slide a brake cyclinder rubber over the brush to prevent evaporation.

They handle easy by hand and don't tip over easily.
The weight is enough so inserting pulling out the brush does not disturbe the pot., I glued a rouns 3mm cutout metal to the bottom that will stick to a round welding magnet, if you want to have it stay put. Some chips gather at the bottom but dont bother, clean/rinse it out from time to time.

I used it for two years now and don't think about going back to anything else.

Edited By Chris Mate on 13/08/2023 07:29:25