Transferring fluids

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

More of an observation than a question really, I get through quite a bit of WD40 and buy it in 5 Litre containers transferring it to smaller bottles to spray, squirt or drip on to work.

The issue is that pouring from the bigger container to the smaller ones results in WD40 getting all over the place. (I know I should be more careful.)

So I tried to use a large syringe with a tube on the end, I’d used this to transfer nitro methane fuel for my models with no issues, but one use with WD40 and the thing seized then a few days later the rubber bung had Swollen and fell off the plunger. Ouch sounds like a serious medical condition.

As a result i thought I’d buy a device specifically designed to transfer auto fluids, a syringe like thing but much bigger! This seems to use O-ring seals running in a poly polypropylene tube, on inspection it appears the o-rings are lubed with clear grease, silicone perhaps. Anyway trying it with iso 32 hydraulic oil seemed ok but one go with WD40 and it wouldn’t budge again, requiring a strip down, clean and re grease of my new gadget. :0(

What is it about WD40? I believe it makes the seals swell.

Any ideas on how to dispense the stuff without getting it everywhere would be appreciated. Yes I have a small funnel and I have lost count of the number of times I’ve knocked the bottle with funnel over losing most of the liquid I’d transferred to the point where it might be cheaper to buy big WD40 aerosol cans in bulk!!!

[HOWARDTParticipant @howardt]

Use a peristaltic or diaphragm pump. The diaphragm pump would use check valves for inlet and outlet but could easily be metallic. Alternative would be to use seals suitable for WD40, a seal specialist could make recommendations based on its chemical constituents.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

How about a cheap – all plastic – syphon pump. <£10 from various sources. No pistons, just a couple of plastic flap valves.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Why not use a funnel?

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

I have seen the cheap battery syphon pumps and I did wonder if a diaphragm fuel pump would do it? Massive over complication mind!

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I would not go with a peristatic pump unless you change the tube from the usual silicon to one that can resist hydrocarbons. That is what is in the WD40 that can make silicon and rubber swell much the same teason you use the yellow Tygon tube for model engines running on petrol not the usual silicon.

Also check what any diaphram is made from.

Trick us to pour with the handle at the bottom so the spout is more horizontal before it starts to flowthen you don’t get it running back down the 5lts container. You can also buy pouring lips and spouts to fit 5lts containers which makes clean pouring easier.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Surely it cant be that difficult?

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, +1 for JasonB’s method of poring 5lt containers.

Regards Nick.

[Maurice TaylorParticipant @mauricetaylor82093]

Hi

Clamp the bottle in the vice, if vice not big enough, put bottle between bricks.Use funnel.

Maurice

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Pouring lips for 5 litre containers, that’s what I need thank you @jasonB

 

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

Trick us to pour with the handle at the bottom

I would express it as “ensure the spout is at the top” for any container, eg petrol can.
I guess I learned this at 10yrs old filling the lawnmower but the greenies and townies with no lawns or electric mowers won’t have had such practical life training.

Assuming the bulk container has a screw top and you have emptied one that should give you a spare screw on lid. Put two holes in it, use plumbing fittings (or if small check the various fittings available for model aircraft fuel tanks) to attach tubes. Inside one long tube reaches the bottom, the other needs no inside tube. Now pressurised air from any suitable source to the no-inside-tube port will start the syphon working.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Hi @Bazyle it occurred to me that I could make two holes in a spare cap poke two tight fitting tubes in, one which reaches to the bottom and blow in the other to dispense.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

No need to blow, just lay it on edge with cap at the bottom (like the tap picture), air in one tube held high as a breather will allow liquid out the other.

[Nick Wheeler]

On Nick Wheeler Said:

Why not use a funnel?

What a silly idea.🙂🙂🙂🙂  is this a new invention?  What are these things called – that I have been using for about 70 years of my life?  Wide at the top, to prevent/reduce spillage, and a spout that fits in the can/bottle/tank that is to be filled, to direct the liquid or powder/granules to where needed.  Big ones, small ones, even tiny ones!

Oh, they <u>are</u> called funnels.  Well I never.  Fancy that.  The simplest idea going.🙂

Years ago we used to use a funnel to get the animals into a line for the likes of ‘dipping’ sheep or ‘drenching’ cattle – even the foot bath for prevention of foot-rot in the sheep.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

From memory, WD-40 is a mixture of white-spirit and mineral oil. Its MSDS should tell you.

[Bazyle]

On Bazyle Said:

On JasonB Said:

…

…
I guess I learned this at 10yrs old filling the lawnmower but the greenies and townies with no lawns or electric mowers won’t have had such practical life training.

…

Not sure where Bazyle got this notion from.  Drawing the curtains for today’s afternoon nap, I noticed my green townie neighbour showing his lads, eldest 11, how to fill his petrol lawnmower!  Not doing it properly though – neither boy was smoking his obligatory Capstan Full Strength!

At school I remember reading an old chap writing circa 1930 who felt modern youth had lost essential life skills. I was amused by his example – all boys should be taught how to stop a runaway horse in the street! I expect he would have been horrified to find effete boys filling petrol mowers instead of building manly muscles by swinging a scythe…

Dave

 

 

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

In the original post the OP explains why he doesn’t want to use a funnel, so ‘clever’ comments suggesting using one are a bit pointless

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

In the original post the OP explains why he doesn’t want to use a funnel, so ‘clever’ comments suggesting using one are a bit pointless

OK, but the simple way around knocking over his smaller container is easy enough.  Stand/fix it in something that is far less likely to get knocked over.  Then use a funnel.

[Alan CharlestonParticipant @alancharleston78882]

Hi Paul,

If the WD40 comes in a rectangular container with the spout at one end, it helps (particularly when the container is full) to pour it in the opposite direction to what is generally done. i.e. when pouring, the spout is higher than the rest of the top of the container. The result is that the angle at which the liquid starts flowing is much steeper and the liquid is less likely to dribble down the outside of the container. Hope I have explained it clearly.

Regards,

Alan C.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Alan –

That is correct but not the full story.

As you pour the liquid out, whatever it is, it has to be replaced by air.

If you try to pour it with the spout at the bottom the two fluids fight each other, causing violent surging with consequent splashing.

Pouring with the spout uppermost allows an air space above the liquid, so the exchange is far smoother.

 

it also a lot more controllable – you can pour the liquid out in much smaller flow.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Thank you all, yup the pour with the handle on the low side makes sense.

i will focus on my funnel bottle technique !

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