cutting oil

[jaydee325]

I'm really going deep into the memory banks, but my recollection from high school metal shop circa 70's (yikes!) is that cutting oil (of that time anyway) was high in sulfur which helped it cut. I recall it did have a somewhat pungent odor.

Anyone know the chemical traits that make true cutting oil work like it does?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm really going deep into the memory banks, but my recollection from high school metal shop circa 70's (yikes!) is that cutting oil (of that time anyway) was high in sulfur which helped it cut. I recall it did have a somewhat pungent odor.

Anyone know the chemical traits that make true cutting oil work like it does?

Don't know, but some cutting oils really do stink when they get warm/hot... so maybe that is from sulfur? Makes sense.

 

[nickc]

I use a cutting wax sold by Kimball-Midwest, works great for drilling but it also makes sawzall blades last much longer

 

[Scooby074]

Rapid-Tap.. (Hey I'm Canadian after all!)

LPS Tapmatic Gold

Ive recently started using this paste from Cimcool called Cimtap on the advise of a Rep.. I really like it. Way less mess than the traditional oils. Stays where you put it and doesnt sling. Looks like PeptoBismol too lol.

 

[firemanmike69]

I use zep "drill chill" we get it at work and it seems to do a pretty nice job

 

[Danno1]

.



I know the OP asked about steel but since someone else mentioned aluminum, I'll throw out that if you're tapping aluminum then absolutely nothing works better than A9. For steel I've been using Cool Tool. Works fine.


For the bandsaw (or Sawzall too I guess) I use a tube of wax from McMaster-Carr. If you search for cutting oil (or fluid) you'll find it. It's the size of a regular caulking tube. You remove the cap and just run the cardboard tube into the blade. Greatly extends the life of the blade.


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[locknut]

The counter guy at my local NAPA suggested regular old transmission fluid.Works just as good as cutting oil and I can get used tranny oil from work for free.