Water Soluble Cutting Fluid

[Richard D]

What do you guys recommend for a hobbyist on a budget? I have a Millrite milling machine and a 9" Southbend. I have been mixing "Kool Mist Formula 77" I got from Little Machine Shop for about eight bucks in a 16 oz bottle. I also use it on my metal cutting bandsaw, and mag drill. Now that my mill is finally up and running, I am almost out. I want to get a gallon, and was thinking about trying the Formula 78, it's a bit cheaper, which is not really a big concern, but also is claimed to be "the most universal coolant available". I really want a "one-size-fits-all". No flood coolant system. My current system is, I just mix it up in a spray bottle and carry it to what ever machine I am working with.

 

[lilscorpion]

Man, I used this stuff in my CNC's for years. It looks like milk but has rust inhibitors in it as well as water soluble lubricants. Not only can I not remember what it was called (maybe something milk), I can't find it on the internet. A friend recommended it to me because it didn't gunk up the equipment like some of the others I had tried. I'll keep looking.

 

[A_Pmech]

Cutting fluids come in four main varieties:

1) Oil
2) Soluble oil
3) Semi-synthetic
4) Synthetic

Of those four, soluble oil is the most "universal". Metalworking fluid manufacturers all like to tout that their fluid is better, just like gasoline companies like to tout that their gas is better. In the end, it's six of one, half a dozen of another. You won't notice any difference unless you run several different brands and types for a few thousand parts.

For general shop use, my supplier carries Master Chemical brand, so I use Trim E-206 in most of my machines as a flood coolant. I sometimes use it in a spray bottle as well, but I try to avoid misters. I don't like coolant mist floating around in my shop.

 

[scouting]

Im running the kool mist as a flood lube on the lathe. Ghetto setup, cheap China dial base and an aquarium pump. It works well on a small manual machine, but on a cnc I would definitely try to.find a more economical solution. If you have an enclosure, oil seems to work great for extending tool life, but it is messy and every part needs cleanup which adds time.

 

[bullnerd]

I know you said no flood systems but i would strongly consider building yourself a fogbuster "style" mist system. There are a couple of good home built versions on the web and they can be made very portable. We had one that was on a magnetic base, fluid tank and nozzle. We moved it from mill to lathe to bandsaw no problem. They dont fog out your shop like a standard mister and you can really remove a lot more material without welding up with one setup on your mill.

Do a search for fogbuster and check out this link. This is probably the best one on the web.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/gener...nes/102934-built_fog-less_coolant_mister.html

 

[Richard D]

I actually have a el-cheapo system that the coolant came with, hooks to the air compressor and siphons the fluid. I'll check on the fogbuster...

 

[Steinmetz]

What do you guys recommend for a hobbyist on a budget? I have a Millrite milling machine and a 9" Southbend. I have been mixing "Kool Mist Formula 77" I got from Little Machine Shop for about eight bucks in a 16 oz bottle. I also use it on my metal cutting bandsaw, and mag drill. Now that my mill is finally up and running, I am almost out. I want to get a gallon, and was thinking about trying the Formula 78, it's a bit cheaper, which is not really a big concern, but also is claimed to be "the most universal coolant available". I really want a "one-size-fits-all". No flood coolant system. My current system is, I just mix it up in a spray bottle and carry it to what ever machine I am working with.

We used a product called "cimcool" many years ago.

 

[deere2210]

I use Blasocut 2000 Universal. Been happy with it.. I believe the local suppliers will sell it in 5 gallon containers and the bigger 55's.

 

[fordbroncodave]

if the blade or bit isn't sharp enough it should not be used. dull blades or bits cause friction and raise temperatures quickly. with that said, if the blade or bit is in good order, a coolant of sorts is all that is needed. coolant, not oil. we do not need to lubricate the cutting edge which turns it into friction and dulls edges and raises temperature. coolant will maintain or reduce heat when cutting. I have used laundry detergent and a paint brush for a while and it works.

 

[Jack Burton]

My current system is, I just mix it up in a spray bottle and carry it to what ever machine I am working with.

I can't imagine a hobbyist going through coolant all that quickly with manual machines.

Though I do find spray bottles waste a lot of coolant. The pot and flux brush to me is a much more efficient and cleaner method. You can get the coolant where you need it without making a mess on the bed of your machine.

Also the depth of cut and feed rate should dictate how much coolant you're using. Some operations need more coolant than others. Some need none at all if you're tool bit already has coolant residue on it.

 

[Richard D]

It probably wastes a lot, but it's cheap and the spray bottle is really convenient.

 

[oldwheelieguy]

this has been working for me
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...-and-anti-rust/_/N-255s?itemIdentifier=248595