Revisiting cutting tool lubes

[Phil9N3667]

I know it's been beat up on here several times about lubes for drilling, cutting threads, machining, etc. What are the favorites you guys use? I'm looking on our industrial supply provider's website and it's bewildering what's available. I use tapered reamers when possible to keep from twisting my wrists and they just work. We used to use ZEP brand Drill Chill years ago at a previous employer, kind of a foaming lube, just wondering what y'all use. Thanks.

 

[dr sportster]

Tap Magic aluminum and Anchorlube .

 

[rufus80]

I use Rapid Tap and Tapmatic Gold.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

Unfortunately Tapfree is no longer in it's original form if at all. We used to mix it 50-50 with cutting oil, but keep it away from aluminum. I still have some.

 

[Moonlite37]

I am convinced that the wrong stuff is better than nothing. I have some really black pipe thread cutting oil that has a lot of sulfur in it. I would bet that there are better ones.

 

[Butch(OH)]

35 years running my repair/machine shop and just as many years reading all mannner of oil wars, cutting oil wars, motor oil wars, diesel oil wars, etc etc etc I have decided that there can't be 10% right who say you have to use X and 90% dead wrong who say something different. Mostly because it defies my experiance. If you want my drilling fluid opinion read on, if not flip the page, LOL.

In the machine shop spend 99% of your time and brain cells learning speeds and feeds AND how to sharpen your cutting tools and 1% worrying about what you put on them for lubricant, it's time, and money better spent,,,much better.

I keep rapid tap at the lathe and mill. At the drill press there is a squeeze bottle with used motor oil in it. I have actually run tests just for funzies. The difference in the number of holes between sharpening using old motor oil or rapid tap, or any other drilling fluid is very, very small. But I don't run will tooling. A person who shoves dull bits with a press might see things differently.

 

[Janicholson]

Agree--- Tap Magic for Aluminum and a different Tap Magic for steel. Both reduce effort and protect tools creating a nice finish with sharp tools. Jim

 

[4wdtom]

I have to agree with Phil, if you have a sharp tool and the speed is somewhere near right for what you are doing it isn't all that important what you use for a cutting oil. Anything is way better than nothing and exactly the best for what you might be doing probably isn't much better than whatever you happen to have on hand. Listed speeds and feeds may be for a constant flow of coolant and may be too fast for the once in a while brush on application.

 

[Dopp Creek]

I use cutting oil from the plumbing section of the hardware store. I make a dreadful mess if I squirt it so I dab it on with an acid brush. works on the mill, lathe and drill press. Just gotta be careful to keep it out of a spinning end mill. I learned quick.

 

[RESLLS]

Drill Chill. Have 2 cans left. Once they are gone I doubt I will replace them. It's now $16 per can.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

What are "listed" speeds and feeds? I've watched hundreds of hours of instructional video on machining and all they will ever say about speeds and feeds is, "You just have to try different ones and see which works best for you."

After ruining countless drill bits, I just put my little round column mill/drill on the lowest speed and leave it there. 125 RPM for everything from a 1/16" drill bit to a 1-1/8" annular cutter, and everything in between. Seems to work best for me.

Oh, and I use the cutting oil they sell in the plumbing section at DoItBest Hardware stores. In a spill proof paint cup with a magnet in the bottom. Apply with an acid brush.

 

[560Dennis]

I use tap magic for drilling reaming viz