Mist Oil Cans

[Rhyolith]

I have wanted to try out one of these for a while having seen a few about, however they were always it terrible condition or too expensive. Then I ordered what I thought was just a plain Oil Can by my favourite manufacture of such things (Enots) and to my surprise it turns out to be a mist can!

Enots Mist Can by Rhyolith, on Flickr
Enots Mist Can by Rhyolith, on Flickr

My question is: what sort of oil do you use in these? if oil at all (the nearly all brass construction makes me think twice). I was going to put 3 in 1 in it and use it for coating tools... which it what I assume they were for?

 

[ED65]

I'd be very surprised if these didn't originally use a light machine oil. Machine oils were/are a type of mineral oil or liquid paraffin, different fractions for different viscosities. So I'm betting you could use baby oil if you don't mind the unmanly smell :mrgreen:

Great photos by the way!

 

[Walney Col]

Those type of cans are often used in engineering to put neat cutting oil directly onto the cutter of a machine that isn't fitted with a coolant system.

Col.
Ps. Of course you could even go one step further than the baby oil suggestion an add a touch of something aromatic? ;-)

 

[Bod]

Castrol R?

Bod

 

[davem62]

Castrol r
What a smell brings back many forest stage memories
Dave

Sorry typo error corrected
David

 

[Rhyolith]

Whats Castro R?

 

[Racers]

Castrol R from Cuba?

My spell chequer corrects Castrol as Castro.

Pete

 

[davem62]

Castrol R used to be an engine oil used in the escorts and most rally racing engines in the 1970 and 80's
which had its own sweet smell when they went by on full chat in the forests of the rac rally etc.

David

 

[Racers]

I was more of a Bel-Ray si7 man my self.

Pete

 

[whiskywill]

Castrol R used to be an engine oil used in the escorts and most rally racing engines in the 1970 and 80's
which had its own sweet smell when they went by on full chat in the forests of the rac rally etc.

David

If my memory is correct, it was an oil obtained from vegetables rather than from fossil fuel oil.

 

[sunnybob]

Yes, Castrol R was a castor oil used in all racing engines. Not suitable for road engines because it had a short working life, not to mention being hideously expensive.
Ultra high revving engines and Fuel injection killed it because it couldnt cope over 7000 rpm and also clogged up the injectors.
I always used to put a tablespoon in the fuel tank on my bikes all through the 60's cos I was too poor to afford the real thing.
Still used in classic racing, but at almost £14 a litre, you wont see it on the garage forecourt.