model 4 – Abanaki Oil Skimmers

Oil Skimming Supports Coolant Maintenance Routines

Skimmers — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:19:24 +0000

How Oil Skimming Supports Coolant Maintenance Routines

In CNC machining and other metalworking applications, maintaining a healthy coolant maintenance routine is essential.

A healthy routine fosters a fluid that supports tool life, a safe work environment, and a consistent, quality output. The goal should always be to keep coolant within the manufacturer’s recommended operating range while taking measures to remove tramp oil, metal chips, and prevent bacterial growth and concentration changes from shortening coolant life.

Tramp Oil

Tramp oil is an umbrella term referring to any unwanted oil that settles into coolant bays or sumps via machine way lubricants, hydraulic leaks, spindle oils, and greases as a result of regular operations. This can be problematic when machines are off for the weekend, as oil rises to the surface and prevents oxygen exchange. When this happens, it creates the perfect environment for anaerobic bacteria to thrive, which excrete sulfur scented hydrogen sulfide gas.

Other side effects of tramp oil contamination include coolant instability, which affects tool and machining performance as a result of increased heat transfer, and a generally shorter fluid life. In cutting tool operations, oil-laden coolant that comes in contact with hot tools may smoke, contributing to poor visibility and safety concerns for operators.

Disposing of coolant heavily concentrated with oil also tends to be more expensive than disposing of the two separately, as there are companies that can reuse or resell the separated oil for recycling.

Proactive Oil Removal

Because tramp oil is an ever-present source of contamination across the metalworking industry, oil skimming is a proactive means of routine maintenance. In using the word ‘proactive’ when we talk about oil removal, we’re iterating that removing tramp oil before it can become a shop-wide issue saves time, money, and effort.

Operating on the differences in surface tension and specific gravity between oil and water, oil skimmers use oleophilic media to pick up oil and carry it out of the fluid to be scraped into disposal containers. When installed in coolant bays, sumps, or reservoirs, they collect and remove tramp oil without picking up the coolant itself, preventing buildup and associated issues.

For one bolt manufacturer out of Cleveland, OH, tramp oil contamination in their coolant created clouds of smoke during the trimming process. The air quality and visibility in the shop became so poor that at times workers could see only feet in front of them.

The problem stemmed from machine coolant being combined with lubricating oil as it seeped from oiled parts into a common reservoir. Anytime oily coolant was sprayed on hot bolts, the oil smoked.

Struggling with the smoke, plus the replacement strain the tramp oil placed on their coolant system, they installed several oil skimmers throughout the operation. The skimmers, Model 4 Oil Grabbers, were able to collect and remove tramp oil from coolant reservoirs at a rate of roughly 32gph. By operating continuously, they prevent oils from accumulating so that coolant remains effective for longer periods. The manufacturer’s plant conditions improved. They replaced their coolant less frequently, and air quality and visibility throughout the shop increased.

Read the full case study here.

In Conclusion

Healthy coolant routines should include proper mixing, regular monitoring of pH levels and concentration, chip removal, regular cleaning, and of course, consistent tramp oil removal.

When incorporated into part of the larger shop routine, oil skimming helps boost tool performance, working conditions, and longer fluid life. While there are a variety of oil skimmers capable of removing tramp oil in metalworking applications, we suggest working directly with an Abanaki representative to decipher the best unit for your specific operational needs.

Troubleshooting Your Belt Oil Skimmer

Skimmers — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:21:21 +0000

Why isn’t my belt skimmer working properly?

At Abanaki, we know that skimmer downtime can affect your operation, and when your belt oil skimmer isn’t operating as intended it can be frustrating to try and figure out what’s going on.

Here are some of the most common problems we see, and how you can troubleshoot to identify and solve them. Because Abanaki’s belt skimmers rely on surface tension rather than pumps for oil collection, it is critical to monitor the unit’s mechanics to ensure their operating efficiency. Checking the unit regularly and performing routine maintenance will help keep your skimmer operating at its best over time. Things like oil changes, skimming media replacement (belt, tube, disk, etc.), motor replacement, and wiper replacement should be done at the appropriate times based on your skimmer’s model and runtime requirements.

My belt is slipping.

Abanaki Model 8 Oil Grabber Oil Skimmer

If the belt is slipping on your skimmer, check that the belt is passing through the wiper blades without any obstructions. Is the tail pulley able to turn freely without obstructions? Coolant and oil mixtures can be very slippery, but you can add a spacer (size depends on skimmer and belt width) between the spring and base plate for extra tension, which should add the resistance the belt needs to keep from slipping. When it comes to wiper blades, make sure not to overtighten them; they should make contact with the belt so that there is a slight bend as the belt passes through them, and the belt should be directly centered in the middle of the discharge troughs.

Another thing to check is whether the skimmer is mounted levelly. If it’s not, a free hanging belt won’t be able to track correctly over the pulley. Remounting the skimmer to be perfectly level should help. If you have a skimmer that has a yoke and chain (ex: Model 4 or Model 8) make sure that the belt is holding the weight of the tail pulley and that there is slack in the chain.

Finally, is there debris present? Be sure to check that the tail pulley is rotating freely and is free of any floating debris that could inhibit proper rotation movement.

Oil isn’t being collected like it used to.

If you notice a decrease in your unit’s skimming capacity, check that the wiper blades are making good contact with the belt or disk. The wiper blades should be tightened enough to contact the skimming media with enough tension to scrape oil off effectively, but wipers that are too tight will cause premature wear on both the media and the wipers themselves.

Additionally, check for debris, tears, and wearing in the wipers. When wipers are not in good operating condition, they cannot scrape oil from the belt effectively, and oil will end up back in the tank or sump.

Abanaki Polymer Belt

Another thing to check on is if there are rust inhibitors present in the coolant environment—rust inhibitors, or chemical compounds that are applied or mixed with metals to prevent or slow corrosion, can coat stainless steel belts and prevent oil from being picked up. If this is the case, another belt material like Abanaki’s elastomer or polymer belts can help, as rust inhibitors don’t have the same sticking effect on these synthetic belt materials.

I just installed my skimmer, but it isn’t collecting the amount of oil I had in mind.

If your skimmer isn’t collecting the amount of oil you envisioned and appears to be in perfect working order, it might be too small. We’ve actually written another blog post on this topic which you can read here, but purchasing a small skimmer based solely on gallons-per-hour skimming capacity can create long term skimming inefficiencies that outweigh any initial purchase savings.

An oil skimmer should have the capacity to remove at least twice the amount of oil required in your specific application to account for condition fluctuations and performance longevity. A good rule of thumb is that when selecting a skimmer, be mindful that you’re making a decision based on the size of the area to be skimmed rather than the amount of oil that needs to be removed. Smaller units can struggle to skim large surface areas effectively, meaning the unit will have to work longer and harder achieve intended results. This can also lead to maintenance issues and drops in overall skimmer productivity.

My skimmer is collecting too much water/coolant.

Ababaki Mighty Mini Oil Skimmer With Timer

If your skimmer is picking up a lot of water, try evaluating how often you’re running the skimmer- when is oil visibly collecting? Skimmers should run only when oil is actually present, and running it when oil isn’t present increases the skimmer’s chances of collecting water. Setting the skimmer’s runtime with a timer or installing an Abanaki Oil Concentrator can help minimize water collection in the right applications.

Something else to consider is that the belt should be at least two feet away from any tank walls, and positioned so that the belt’s downstroke is aimed towards the bulk of oil present in the tank. The belt must also be long enough that the tail pulley is submerged in the fluid at all times.

Didn’t answer your question, or having a unique problem?

Please reach out to one of our industry expert reps at 440-543-7400 for a free phone conversation, or contact us at skimmers@abanaki.com. We also have an “Ask Skimmerman” Question Box available on our website that’s a great troubleshooting resource linked here for you. You can check us out on LinkedIn too, and our page is a homebase for all things oil skimming, available here.

Happy Skimming!

Abanaki Specializes in Refinery Oil Skimmer Technology

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:05:00 +0000

Refineries are capable of producing gasoline, jet fuel, or even asphalt and, like most large-scale high capacity plants, require process optimization and advanced process controls.

Oil skimming is a popular method for capturing and removing oil from wastewater in plant treatment systems. This process is mandatory to avoid fines and to produce fuel as economically and environmentally friendly as possible. Abanaki Corporation has successfully specialized in refinery oil skimmer technology for over 40 years. Oil skimmers work by making use of the differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil and water. These physical characteristics allow the belts to attract oil and other hydrocarbon liquids from the surface of the fluid. Abanaki belt skimmers can be used in applications as deep as 100 feet.

By implementing an oil skimming solution, the goal to recapture 100% of all hydrocarbons before they go down the drain, can be achieved. The oil skimmer collects the bulk of the hydrocarbons and sends them back to a crude tank. Any residual oils can be removed through filtration or chemical treatment. The oil skimmer is operated 24 hours a day 7 days a week. A refinery oil skimmer requires very little oversight, no maintenance, and the time saved more than offsets the electrical costs.

The Model 8 oil skimmer is the most widely used Abanaki oil skimmer. Its size and removal capacity make it suitable for most applications. From a mere shimmer on top of water to a heavy oil slick, the Model 8 oil skimmer performs efficiently, removing up to 40 gallons of oil per hour.

The new solar-powered version of Abanaki’s popular Model 8 Oil Skimmer is available. It removes oil at up to 40 gph, where electrical power is unavailable or inconvenient.

The Abanaki Model MB oil skimmer is a dependable and effective means of removing oil from water and water-base solutions. Often, oil skimming by itself will reduce oil to an acceptable level of water purity. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, it is possible for the Model MB alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a pretreatment before filtration, and in conjunction with a coalescing system.

The Model 4 oil skimmer utilizes a continuous belt and wiper to remove up to 20 gallons of oil per hour from the fluid surface.

Depending on the application, a belt skimmer such as the units described above can be used or a tube skimmer like the Oil Viper would be another viable solution. The Abanaki Oil Viper tube skimmer is a surface oil skimmer that effectively removes floating surface oils by means of an oleophilic (oil attracting) 3/4 inch diameter continuous looped tube. The tube extends out over the surface of the tank or pit and collects the free floating oils.

The Oil Viper has a specially designed method for removing the oil from the tube. It has a unique wiper combination attached to the tube itself in addition to the ceramic wiper on the skimmer. The result is a virtually oil free tube as it leaves the oil skimmer for quicker oil removal. Removal rates can be as high as one hundred gallons per hour. It can be used in either shallow tanks or reservoirs.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400.

Oil Skimmers Enable Mines to Reuse Wash Water in Wash Bays

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 19:10:00 +0000

Abanaki oil skimmers have been at work in mines around the world for decades. Typically located in remote areas, wastewater treatment facilities are often not available, so water must be reused onsite. Oil skimming cost-effectively removes oil from wash bays so that the water can either evaporate or can be reused.

When washing large equipment, diesel, oil, and grease, along with mud and debris get rinsed into a sump. Abanaki has three solutions that can be used in this situation: the Oil Grabber Model 4, Portable Tote-It, and the Oil Viper tube skimmer.

The Oil Grabber Model 4 is the most commonly used solution at mines. Its heavy-duty construction withstands the harsh environment inherent to the industry. Specially designed belts can collect all of the oil products present in the wash bay, and coupled with the optional Oil Concentrator, they effectively remove the oil without picking up much water.

The Portable Tote-It works well in smaller wash bays or in other parts of the mine where water and oil are present. As with the rest of Abanaki’s product line, it is available in stainless steel, which resists the strong chemicals that can be present at a mine. Two sizes are available based on belt width: 2″ and 4″.

Abanaki’s Oil Viper tube skimmer has a small footprint, but large recovery rate. The tube “snakes” around the pit and can collect oils and greases with ease. It works very well in shallow sumps or confined spaces.

Oil skimming can reduce the amount of labor needed to keep wash bays clean by mechanically removing the oil. Unlike socks or hand-held skimmers, Abanaki’s equipment is able to run continuously or on a timer to eliminate the need for manual labor. Wash bays are typically small and located near the mining pit and would not merit a large, expensive water filtration system. Oil skimmers are an economical way to remove the oil.

To find out which of our skimmers would suit your application the best, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400.

“Hopeless” Oil Skimming Emergency? Abanaki Comes to the Rescue!

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 16:45:00 +0000

There are over 25,000 plating companies in the USA operating under challenging manufacturing conditions. Facing high temperatures, abrasives, extreme pH and chemicals in parts washers and holding tanks, effective oil skimming seems like a nearly hopeless task.

Some companies know a solution. A select group of plating companies and metal finishers across the country are extending the life of their parts washer and eliminating recontamination of their parts. These companies recognized that removing oil from their parts washers and holding tanks would enhance manufacturing efficiencies and provide cost-savings. They found the solution with the trusted the leader in oil skimming over the past 70 years — Abanaki Corporation.

By working with the oil skimming experts at Abanaki, each of these customers have been able to determine the most appropriate skimmer for their own specific application — the Mighty-Mini, the Tote-It, the Model 4 and the Model 8.

And, rest assured, when all of the other plating companies and metal finishers are ready to address their “hopeless” manufacturing conditions, they’ll dial Abanaki Corporation at 440-543-7400 to find their solution.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment: Abanaki Model 4 Provides The Best Solution

admin — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 16:30:00 +0000

Our belt oil skimmers are used in industrial wastewater treatment applications quite frequently. An international manufacturer in the power transmission industry has been using our Model 4 belt oil skimmer as part of its manufacturing process for more than 2 years . The facility utilizes a poly belt on the Model 4 that is used in the parts washer, and it runs at roughly 140°F. The skimmer runs 8 hours a day and efficiently skims the oil out of the parts washer and helps to eliminate the company’s disposal costs. After more than 2 years of consecutive operation, the plant operators are just now replacing the poly belt and wiper blades.

There are many reasons why so many facilities use the Model 4 oil skimmer as part of their industrial wastewater treatment. The Model 4 oil skimmer is designed to last for many years. With the proper configuration it can handle liquid temperatures up to 212°F, and the pH of the fluid can range from 3 to 13. Belts are specifically selected for your application (see Belt Selection page). The skimmer drive includes an oil filled gear reducer with bronze gears and ball bearings. The motor, reducer, and powder coated finish of the weldments give the Model 4 exceptionally long life, even under the harshest conditions.

The Oil Grabber Model 4 Belt Oil Skimmer provides a continuously operating belt and wiper that can remove up to 20 gallons per hour. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, it is possible for the Model 4 alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a pretreatment before filtration, and in conjunction with coalescing systems as part of an industrial wastewater treatment plan. Reclaimed grease and oil can be re-used or used as furnace fuel, avoiding sucker truck disposal costs.

The Model 4 belt oil skimmer utilizes a continuous belt and wiper to remove up to 20 gallons of oil per hour from the fluid surface. The belt, operating on a motor and pulley system, runs through contaminated liquid to pick up oil from the surface. After traveling over the head pulley, the belt passes through tandem wiper blades where oil is scraped off both sides of the belt and discharged. The tail pulley has flanges which allow it to roll freely on the inside of the belt without becoming dislodged. It requires no bearings and does not need to be fastened to the tank. If turbulent conditions exist, an optional tether and cage assembly prevents the tail pulley from being dislodged.

Abanaki Shows Oil-Water Separators at CARS Expo

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 22:15:00 +0000

Recently, one of our sales team attended CARS Complete Automotive Recycling and Secondary Materials show. Focused on the waste and oil byproducts from old cars, Abanaki made a strong impression with their oil skimmers.

CARS Expo, located in Derby, UK, is a focused convention bringing over 1,200 professionals to its halls. These professionals work day in and day out to reclaim and reuse parts from old automobiles and other forms of conveyance to service vehicles currently on the road, creating a more sustainable ecosystem and economy. Often facing runoff from oil leaking from these vehicles, the companies these professionals work for want to curb any potentially harmful waste exiting through the water stream. Abanaki’s products are a top choice.

Abanaki’s PetroXtractor skimmer, on display at CARS, provides easy oil-water separation, collecting the oil and containing it for other uses. In some cases, the oil can even be reused! The skimmer is also portable and will draw oil to the belt. Various automotive recyclers have already used our products to great effect.

Our UK representative, Graham, had a great time meeting with many of the professionals there and raising awareness of our product. Many of the attendees were impressed by the PetroXtractor’s ruggedness and efficiency and the sheer oil collection capabilities of the Model 4. If you could use a means of collecting oil from water or coolant in any applications, you can contact Graham in the UK at graham@abanaki.co.uk. For those of us elsewhere, call Abanaki at (440) 543-7400 or e-mail us at skimmers@abanaki.com. If you’d like to see more information on how our skimmers can help you, take a look at the automotive industry.

Oil Skimmers for Steel Mills

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:17:00 +0000

Click here to receive a copy of our Solutions Sourcebook. This 43-page handbook offers application notes on more than 40 real-world implementations of oil skimming.

Abanaki offers industrial wastewater skimmers specially designed for steel mills where plant maintenance engineers are looking for the lowest cost, most reliable method of removing greases and heavy oils from the steel-mill scale pit. Abanaki oil skimmers use the difference in specific gravity and surface tension between grease and water, allowing the belt to attract grease and oil as the belt passes through the surface of the water. The simple belt-and-motor approach is proven to operate unattended and reliably for decades with little maintenance.

To avoid fines from government and municipal sewer districts, steel mills must limit the amount of grease in wastewater discharged into the environment. The Oil Grabber Model 4 Belt Oil Skimmer provides a continuously operating belt and wiper that can remove up to 20 gallons per hour. Depending on the characteristics of the liquid, it is possible for the Model 4 alone to reduce oil content to less than five parts per million in water. The unit can be used as a pretreatment before filtration, and in conjunction with coalescing systems as part of an industrial wastewater treatment plan. Reclaimed grease and oil can be re-used or used as furnace fuel, avoiding sucker truck disposal costs.

Oil skimming makes use of the differences in specific gravity and surface tension between oil and water. These physical characteristics allow the belt to attract oil and other hydrocarbon liquids from the surface of the fluid. The Model 4 can be used in tanks with depths as shallow as one foot, or as deep as 100 feet.

To learn more about the benefits of the Model 4 belt oil skimmer, click the photo below.