Which Cutting Oil?

[Toolbox X]

I need to buy cutting oil to use with my new mill.

I've been researching and doing my dilligence, but I would like to know if there are any specific brands or types I should lean towards or stay away from. Enco.com is overwhelming me with all the different types.

-Grant

[gunboat]

For general steel and cast iron - Lard oil is hard to beat --

[Heatseeker]

I like the Kool Mist system myself:
Kool Mist

It's a little spendy, but keeps the cutters cool and lubricated promoting longer tool life. It also seems to be a little less messy and a little less odorous than brushing on cutting oil(although I kind of like the smell of burning cutting oil ).

[tlillard23]

automatic transmission fluid.....

[sprintcar]

Use a mister. You can get cheap setups and you only need a little fluid. Lots of air little fluid and it works great.

[Josh]

WD40 works great for Al

for what you are doing almost any cutting fluid will suffice. Having used stuff ranging from regular synthetic motor oil to specialty mobil and castrol cutting fluid, it all seemed to work the same when doing stuff on a manual knee mill.

Use one of these to apply the fluid, much better then a brush.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=17714811&PMT4NO=55321080

[rg_1111@yahoo.com]

WD40 is OK for Aluminum. I would use thin oil for steel.

[Bigugly]

Personally I like the Tapmatic products. #1 for all steels and #2 for aluminum.

[prc104]

If you get the kind of cutting oil that comes in a spray can, it comes out a little foamy and sticks to the cutter and work surface so it doesn't go flying off the cutter.

[rino]

i mix 10-30 and 2 stroke oil in a little bottle

[nat]

You can use isopropyl alchohol on aluminum.

[hung380]

This is what I use for my Mold/Machine shop
1) http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PMPXNO=941893
2) for aluminum http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PMPXNO=949393
3) For hard steels http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PMPXNO=946152
The tap magic doesnt have a bad odor when it burns and its cleaner to use on aluminums. Mobil cutting oil with sulfer works best for steels and heavy/rough cutting.
Oh yeah, order extra brushes.

[gunboat]

WD-40 is pretty expensive cutting fluid -- use kerosene for alum.

[Forestgnome]

I've been using Napa's version of WD40 for aluminum. Works fine, and is convenient to use if you don't have a coolant setup. I also have some Rustlick water-soluble that I havn't tried yet. If you want to try some of that your welcome to a sample. I bought a gallon, and it dilutes 10:1 minimum. I'll never use all of it!

[RedRocket]

+1 on the kool mist

That 'coolmist" will pay for itself with the money you will save on end mills.. Keeping the cutter cool is key.. once it turns blue you will notice a difference.. Use a synthetic lubricant that you dilute with water

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=505-2057&PMPXNO=946817

put it in a spray bottle and use a lot of it... keep the tool wet... your mills will stay sharp for a long time..