We’ve supplied UK based stainless steel tube drawing mills with drawing oils for nearly 20 years. However, about 12 years ago, a large US plant contacted us because they decided they wanted to ditch trike cleaning, rationalise the number of lubes used and improve production processes. Typically, they dipped tubes into a solvent deposited plastic pre-coat, dried tubes for 24 hours, applied a paste on their semi-floating mandrel plugs and poured a sticky tube drawing oil onto the o/d just before the die. Overall, they used 5 different pastes and lubricants in production and tube quality was poor. We came on the scene through a web search and whilst they liked our ideas, were not convinced our products would bring any benefit – they’d tested a lot of competitor oils. The key was their desire to move to alkaline cleaners. Initially, they wanted their existing mandrel paste and tube drawing oils made alkaline cleanable. We did as instructed. They were happy, we weren’t – we thought we could do better. We visited the plant, talked through the production process with the crew and suggested a different formulatory approach might bring benefits. After a lot of lab bench testing we came up Gruebb 4099, problem – it was three times the cost of normal tube oils. They tried it. As an O/D lubricant, Ra fell, drawing speeds increased, die life improved, the tube looked bright and the most startling discovery was it could also be used as a mandrel lube. Delighted is not the word. From using 5 different products to one for everything. They stripped over 24 hours from the production process plus produced better quality tube and less waste. Gruebb 4099 also cleaned well in their alkaline wash system. Common 304L/316L tubes are the main throughput, but they’ve even found they can draw some difficult alloys on the same line. Needless to say, they’ve been using this oil ever since.

Gruebb 4427 uses the same base chemistry, though is solvent cleanable with agents such as Dowclene 1601. Many plants still prefer to use solvent cleaners so they can use existing cleaning equipment, plus they are less sensitive to contamination. Gruebb 4427 is cost effective, gives low Ra, improved drawing speeds and bright tube. Used at two plants in the US. We also think Gruebb 4427 would make an excellent pilfering lubricant.

Second generation tube and pilgering oils are our speciality. Contact us to see how we can help.