what coolant/lube

[bucketboy]

I am a total novice when it come to turning :-[ so forgive my ignorance in asking such a basic question.


What coolants should I use for turning and drilling (if any) on, ali, brass, steel and what lubes should I use while tapping ?


Bb

 

[Ken Bartlett]

I go the cheap route and use WD-40 as a general cutting fluid. For tapping I use Tap Magic, fairly viscous oil I get from work.

 

[arnoldb]

Hi BB. This is a much discussed issue, and there are many differing views on it - mainly because different machinists get differing results, and have access to differing lubricants and coolants all over the world.

A lot of the time I work all the metals you mentioned dry - that is for turning and drilling. I'm new to milling, but so far dry have worked OK for me. For tapping and reaming, I would not recommend working any metal dry, except for brass.

For better finishes, I do use the following:
Brass: turning, drilling, reaming and tapping always done dry
Aluminium: turning, drilling, reaming and tapping - methylated spirits. (caution: not the safest coolant!) Paraffin also works well.
Steel (including stainless): turning: Synthetic water soluble oil. drilling, reaming & tapping: A local variant of "Tap Magic"

This is a bit minimalistic, but works for me. There are also a lot of more specialist coolants and lubricants available depending on the metals you want to work with, and also depending on what kind of coolant delivery system you have, if any.

Regards, Arnold

 

[Deanofid]

I do things similar to Arnold, except for the water based coolant bit. I'm not set up for that.

Free cutting brass, nothing, no matter what the machining operation.

Aluminum, for turning and milling, and only if I'm having trouble with chips attaching themselves to the cutter, I use WD-40, which is pretty similar to kerosene, but smells good. For the most part, I machine aluminum dry.
For tapping aluminum, I use paraffin wax. It works great for this purpose.

Steels. It depends on what type. For free machining steel, I often don't use any lube if it just regular turning. For "mean" steels, like HRS, which doesn't seem to ever want to behave, I use Tap Magic, for turning, milling, and tapping. Same for drill rod and most non-leaded CRS.

For thread cutting steels on the lathe, it's hard to beat sulfurized threading oil. It smells. It does what it's supposed to do.

Dean

 

[mocaquita]

Generally,
For turning I use Koolmist 78 from a squeeze bottle.
For milling, Koolmist 78 from a mister.
For drilling, Koolmist 78 from a squeeze bottle.
For tapping, Tapmatic natural. Great stuff, even for form tapping.

WD40 is also very good for use on aluminum.

Dave

 

[mklotz]

For thread cutting steels on the lathe, it's hard to beat sulfurized threading oil. It smells. It does what it's supposed to do.

I concur. It also smokes when the work gets hot. The smoke gets into your clothes. The good part is that your smoky shirt will keep the mosquitoes and other airborne vermin away.

 

[Deanofid]

I concur. It also smokes when the work gets hot. The smoke gets into your clothes. The good part is that your smoky shirt will keep the mosquitoes and other airborne vermin away.

Seems to work on wimmen, too.
Just my experience.

Dean

 

[Tin Falcon]

Look at Army TCTO 9-524 Apendix A table 4-3 see below attachment.
Tin

View attachment Cutting fluid table.pdf

 

[bucketboy]

Thanks men, some useful stuff there

Bb