Oil Skimmer Blog

In today's fast-paced industrial environments, operational efficiency is everything. Yet, a common and often overlooked problem—oil contamination—can quickly derail productivity, compromise part quality, and drive-up maintenance costs.

During parts washing and machining processes, unwanted oil contamination frequently occurs. Without proper management, waste oil can re-contaminate freshly cleaned parts and dramatically shorten coolant life, leading to more frequent fluid replacement, unscheduled maintenance, and even equipment failure.

Ignoring this problem not only impacts operational performance but also adds unnecessary environmental and disposal challenges.

Why Oil Skimming Matters

Oil skimming provides a simple, cost-effective solution to combat oil contamination at its source. By continuously removing floating oils from the surface of process fluids, a well-designed oil skimmer helps maintain fluid integrity, extends coolant and cleaner life, improves part cleanliness, and reduces wastewater treatment demands.

For facilities using parts washers or machining centers, integrating an oil skimmer isn’t just beneficial—it’s a smart preventative maintenance measure that pays for itself over time.

Introducing the Tote-It Oil Skimmer: A Proven Solution

When it comes to choosing an oil skimmer you can rely on, the Tote-It Oil Skimmer stands out. Specifically engineered for industrial environments, the Tote-It is built to withstand the rugged conditions commonly found in parts washers and machining operations.

Whether dealing with fluctuating temperatures, aggressive pH levels, or high particulate loads, the Tote-It maintains consistent, reliable performance day after day.

Key Advantages of the Tote-It Oil Skimmer

✔ Lightweight and Portable
At just 36 lbs., the Tote-It is easily portable, allowing operators to move the unit between tanks, sumps, and machines as needed. This mobility makes it ideal for facilities where multiple stations require periodic oil removal without investing in a skimmer for each one.

✔ Efficient Oil Removal
Using a single oleophilic (oil-attracting) belt, the Tote-It quickly lifts oil from the fluid surface and directs it into a collection container. This simple, yet highly effective mechanism minimizes oil buildup and keeps working fluids cleaner for longer.

✔ No Tank Modifications Required
Designed for flat-mount installation, the Tote-It typically needs no modifications to existing tanks or reservoirs. That means fast, hassle-free deployment without costly downtime or retrofitting.

✔ Handles Fluctuating Liquid Levels
Unlike many other oil removal systems, the Tote-It maintains strong efficiency even when fluid levels rise and fall. This feature is crucial for parts washers and machine sumps where fluid volumes can change during operation or cleaning cycles.

✔ Minimal Maintenance
Built with durability in mind, the Tote-It requires very little maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Routine inspection and occasional belt cleaning are usually all that’s needed, reducing the burden on your maintenance team and keeping your process fluid systems operating optimally.

Long-Term Benefits of Oil Skimming

Implementing an oil skimmer like the Tote-It doesn’t just solve immediate contamination issues—it delivers measurable long-term benefits, including:

• Extended coolant and cleaner life: Reduce the frequency of fluid replacement, lowering operational costs.
• Improved part quality: Clean parts are essential for downstream processes like coating, painting, or assembly.
• Reduced wastewater volume and disposal costs: Cleaner fluids generate less oily waste, easing environmental compliance.
• Less equipment downtime: Cleaner fluids mean less wear, fewer clogs, and longer equipment life.

Oil contamination in parts washing and machining processes is a silent culprit that can cause significant operational headaches. Proactively addressing it with a durable, efficient solution like the Tote-It Oil Skimmer not only protects your operations but also enhances your bottom line.

Don't let oil contamination undermine your hard work. Equip your facility with the right tools to stay cleaner, more efficient, and more productive.

To learn more about oil skimmers, please contact our experts at 440-543-7400 or visit our website: www.abanaki.com

You are just one step away from downloading Abanaki's most detailed resource on our oil skimming equipment. Simply click at the button to get your ultimate guide now.

Many customers have come to realize that, when they purchase an oil skimmer from Abanaki, it is not a “one and done” deal.  Although the rugged construction of all of Abanaki’s oil skimmers assures a long-lasting, beneficial product, proper maintenance is important.

The new Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 oil skimmer provides cost-savings by removing oil contamination, prolonging the life of the coolant. The patent-pending Oil Boss 2.0 is designed for machines requiring a higher than normal amount of tramp oil removal.  This new high-capacity unit removes and discharges the tramp oil constantly.  The Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 operates unattended using a specially-designed discharge facilitator, automatically discharging the tramp oil as it is collected.  It eliminates the need for manual draining of the collected waste oil.

Get the datasheet for more information on the money-saving design.

Call an Abanaki sales representative today @1-800-358-7546 for more information about the Abanaki Oil Boss 2.0 Oil Skimmer.

Related Video:

The relationship between oil and water in a mixture is well-known and governed by two physical properties:

• Specific Gravity: Most hydrocarbons have a lower specific gravity than water. Without agitation, oil separates from the water and floats to the surface. These oils are known as LNAPL’s, Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid. Oils (and other components) that sink in water have a higher specific gravity and are known as DNAPL’s, Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid.
• Surface Tension and Affinity: Normally, oil bonds more tightly to itself and other materials than to water. This affinity, and differences in surface tension between oil and water, cause oils to adhere to a skimming medium.

Although designs vary, all oil skimmers rely on specific gravity, surface tension and a moving medium to remove floating oil from a fluid’s surface.

Find out more about the 9 typical applications for Industrial oil skimmers by clicking the button below.

Choosing the right oil skimmer may improve the oil collection rate depending on the application. In a parts washer application, a belt skimmer is usually the best choice because of its small footprint and its ability to use various belt types to handle harsh conditions. Shallow wastewater sumps may have less than one foot of water, requiring a tube type oil skimmer that uses a tube that can float on the surface and collect the oil without bottoming out. Standard coolant sumps may be able to be cleaned up with an inexpensive disk skimmer while other sumps may have very little access. Some sumps can only be accessed with an oil skimmer that can bolt to the side of the tank and have a tube access the sump through a cutout in the side of the tank. If you're not sure which skimmer would best suit your plant's application, contact an Abanaki's sales rep today and they'll help determine which oil skimmer is right for your application! Or click the photo below to launch our Oil Skimmer Selection guide and click the X that fits your application to find out what skimmer is best for you.