Cutting Oil Recomendations?

[bx24]

What do you folks use (name brands?) for cutting oil? I have always used what ever is handy (wd40, 10w40 oil etc etc) to cool things down when I have done limited cutting - but I know using the right stuff would almost certainly provide better results.

I am about to get into some new projects where I will be using hole saws through thicker plates and I want to use the "right stuff" to both improve results as well as limit wear and tear on the hole saws.

Does anyone use the white-ish looking stuff that commercial shops pump onto milling bits? Is the best possible scenario?

signed Mr Friction!

 

[kennyd]

On my lathe and mill I mostly use Ridgid Dark Thread Cutting oil, it's cheap and readily available at Home Depot in the plumbing isle. Put some in a small container and brush it on with a small paint brush.

The white coolant is used for flooded cooling, it's very thin and would not be good in your application.

What size holes, in what size plate are you drilling? And what's the lowest speed your drill press will go?

 

[PBinWA]

I use whatever the hardware store has in the plumbing section that is marked as "Cutting Oil". It's cheap and readily available.

 

[TrippleT]

Use any good cutting oil. Motor oil is structured to hold metals apart, not for cutting or drilling. You can get it at most hardware stores.

 

[JPCjr]

For drilling in steel, my favorite is Tap Magic Standard.

The "white-ish" looking stuff that we use at work on the bandsaw I believe is Mobile Mobilemet S122. It's water soluble and works well on the bandsaw, but I prefer Tap Magic for drilling. We use Cool Tool II or a mister on the mill.

You can find all of these products here:

McMaster-Carr

just type in "cutting fluid" in the search box.

 

[bx24]

Thanks guys .... I guess if one of you would have asked me where I would have seen the most job site metal cutting being done, threading/cutting black pipe would have come to me (then again I may be giving myself too much credit again!)

KennyD

I will be making 3/4" - 1" size holes in 3/8" and 1/2" plate. My drill press is probably too fast at it's slowest setting ~ 500 rpm. I am looking for options to get down into the 200 rpm range. Somewhere I remember coming across a chart comparing RPMs to the hole saw size. If anyone has one handy, please post a link.

Thanks

 

[MJPetersen]

According to the chart that I have with my hole saws for 25 mm (1in) in Mild steel 350 rpm, tool and stainless seel 175 rpm, and for cast 235 rpm, brass 470 and aluminium 525.

But I found this chart.
RECOMMENDED HOLE SAW SPEED REFERENCE CHART

So there you go. For 1 inch saw in mild steel aim for 350 rpm.

Mike

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin BX24,
A lot of what you use depends on what type of material your machining. Also what type operation your performing. Generally I use Cool Tool 2, manufactured my Monroe Fluid Technologies. I also cut this by 50% with kerosene quite often.

 

[schmism]

On my lathe and mill I mostly use Ridgid Dark Thread Cutting oil, it's cheap and readily available at Home Depot in the plumbing isle.

if found Ridgid dark to have really good results. I was amazed by how much better stuff cuts with it.

 

[swines]

Depends upon what you're cutting. I use LPS Laboratories Edge cutting fluids, and solid sticks for bandsaw blades.

The "Edge Liquid" is what I use most of the time for steel, and "#1 Gold" for aluminum, and stainless steel using cobalt tools. The "Edge Lube" is a solid bar that can be applied to bandsaw blades without slinging the lubricant all over the place.

Tapmatic Edge Liquid, Lube, Creme

Tapmatic Natural, #1 Gold, AquaCut