There are two stages to an oil bath air cleaner. The fiber-packed part does not get oiled. As the air passes through a couple of 180-degree turns on its way to the fiber packing, the heavy dust particles fall out of the airstream and get trapped in the oil. The finer dust particles get caught in the fiber packing, so it does not get oil-soaked, ever. The original material was a coarse-weave fiber similar to horsehair that could be washed in kerosene without being damaged. Very coarse steel wool could be substituted for the fiber packing, but the fiberglass filler material from a home air conditioner duct filter would work better- - - - -just change it occasionally instead of trying to wash it.
Jerry
