Cutting fluid for stainless and Aluminium?

[jeff000]

Been drilling a lot of stainless at work lately, and it *****. I have rapid tap, but it really doesn't seem like it does much besides make some smoke.

Also always have drilled aluminium a lot, and even with rapid tap I feel like the bits just don't last as long as I think they should.

It's 100% with cordless drills, and we use the Walter SST 118 degree drill bits.
I don't have the ability to buy new bits as the boss buys in bulk (10,000 at a time) and we still have almost all of them from the last order.

I do have the ability to buy cutting fluid or something else like that to help. I like rapid tap on steel, but it seems much less effective on everything else.

Thanks.

 

[Thumper68]

I use alumatap or wd40 on alum but have been trying Anchor lube on everything with good results.

You can get a free sample here http://www.anchorlube.com/

 

[jeff000]

I use alumatap or wd40 on alum but have been trying Anchor lube on everything with good results.

You can get a free sample here http://www.anchorlube.com/

That looks interesting, seems like it shouldn't be oily too, which is another bonus, one of the reasons I had rapid tap

 

[Falcon67]

I use mostly Tap Magic around the shop. Spinning aluminum on the lathe, usually WD-40.

 

[Thumper68]

That looks interesting, seems like it shouldn't be oily too, which is another bonus, one of the reasons I had rapid tap

Here is a vid of the proper way to use it, just like brill cream just a little dab will do ya.

 

[dr_clyde]

You want something without sulfur for stainless. So the dark, smelly threading oil doesn't work worth a ****. My buddy has a fairly good size machine shop that does mostly stainless, and he uses Tap Magic on the drill press and for manual drilling. Master Chemical TRIM E206 water soluble oil for the lathes and mills.

I use Union Butterfield drilling and tapping fluid with great success on stainless.

For aluminum, tapmatic and WD-40 work pretty good.

 

[Clark_uk]

Hangsterfers 525 space age cutting oil is what I've had very good success with on stainless and even inco, it's supplied by a company called Macinnes in the uk, i dont know if you could track it down over there. http://www.macinnes.co.uk/leaflet.pdf

 

[nehog]

I always found WD-40 to be inferior on aluminum. What I found that worked well was (used) ATF (Dextron). Cost was acceptable (free, we generated a lot of it that was changed out by age and not wear), and it lubricated well for both cutting and drilling/tapping.

 

[WhiteSSP]

I used tap magic for everything when I was in the shop. It certainly smoked, but it helped it cut.

 

[bad_idea]

Another vote for anchorlube. The stuff makes the bits cut like crazy and they last forever. It is water based, so no issues with hazmat. It will freeze, so keep indoors. Love the stuff. Wipes up easy too, with minimal mess.

 

[TheOtherChris]

I always found WD-40 to be inferior on aluminum. What I found that worked well was (used) ATF (Dextron). Cost was acceptable (free, we generated a lot of it that was changed out by age and not wear), and it lubricated well for both cutting and drilling/tapping.

+1
I use ATF for machining aluminum as well. Very happy with it.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Tap Magic.
They make a different formulation specific for Al and I think there is one for stainless too.

 

[Fixnair]

I use bees wax for drilling & tapping Aluminum. Leaves a good finish when used on the lathe with HSS tools too.
I'll have to try ATF though.

 

[zkling]

About the best for stainless is Moly Dee, but it's not cheap, thankfully all you need is just a bit to work. Cool Tool works pretty well and is cheaper. WD40 is hard to beat for non flood applications of aluminum. I prefer the non aerosol, more controllable.