Cutting Lubricant or Oil.

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Cutting Lubricant or Oil.

I am going to put this out there and see peoples views.

Last night I was cleaning up some M8, M10 and M12 threads, not cutting new. Just cleaning the old paint, scale and just getting them ready to be reused.

I was using engine oil as a lub. Now if I was cutting new, or repairing, yes I would use cutting fluid.
My neighbour was going on that any thread cutting needs cutting fluid, as I am damaging the die and the threads will not work correctly.

I was first using "Die Nuts", if it got to much a split die was used and cutting fluid was used. Now These bolts are not used in anything were strength is needed. They are used on a metal frame.




What are your views?

 

[123hotchef]

i dont use any thing on the threads of the truck bolts when i clean them up with a split die

am I bad?

 

[Maker]

I think your neighbour is talking out of his ****.

More often that not I cut new threads dry, but when I do use oil I use whatever is to hand, be it engine oil, 3 in 1, paper shredder oil, waylube, etc.

 

[Gareth J]

Thing is, rust is pretty hard and I find it dulls the edges of stuff quickly. I'm reluctant to use anything too"nice" with anything rusty.

Scuzzy old bolts often get a nut with a single slit in it run on and off. Disposable die. Same with cleaning internal threads, slit a spare bolt if there are no crappy taps lying around.

 

[brightspark]

I think your neighbour is talking out of his ****.

More often that not I cut new threads dry, but when I do use oil I use whatever is to hand, be it engine oil, 3 in 1, paper shredder oil, waylube, etc.

cutting new threads without lubrication isn't doing your dies any favours it will be harder to cut give a rough thread and wear your die out quicker . just cleaning up stuff already threaded I just do it dry just wire brush it up 1st .proper cutting compound is better than oil but oil is better than nothing . trefolex or rocol is the best

 

[gordon stephenson]

X2 for Rocol, ( Love the smell too )

 

[Parm]

Small drop of Rocol never hurts

 

[MattF]

Either/either. I'd rather put something on there than not, as a rule, but it's not the end of the world to cut dry. It merely tends to make things a gnats easier on occasion, and should extend the tap or die's useful lifespan. Oil, cutting fluid, paraffin or kerosene etc. I actually prefer the latter generally, as it doesn't tend to clog the die as much as oil, for example.

 

[norlander]

Is Rocol that white stuff used on lathes n stuff? smells nearly as good as Castrol R, we used on the drills etc, I have a vague memory of oils not being used as it forms a slurry, but also summat about some oils have too much shear strength- like say EP90 or summat, and there was also summat about drybolic effect building up but that might have been apprentice bait.
You can get a light cutting oil from Bardahl over here, I spray a tad of that on, or like MattF, squirt of the owd Esso Blue-but that only works if you go Bum Bum Bum first.

 

[Spark plug]

 

[123hotchef]

i got a spray tin cutting fluid from toolstation smells nice too dont know if it is any good or not,

 

[WorkshopChris]

i got a spray tin cutting fluid from toolstation smells nice too dont know if it is any good or not,

Haven't used it for drilling or tapping yet, but its what i use on the band saw.
It makes a huge difference to blade life, it comes out of the can in a good jet you can aim right on the blade/cut line, some of the aerosols have a habit of leaving a wide mist and go everywhere.

 

[123hotchef]

i use it on the pillar drill it works ok I also use 3 in 1 oil too that does the job also

 

[MrFluffy]

I just use anything with Molybdenum disulfide in it for tapping or cleanup to cut the friction down, amazing stuff and dont have rocol etc here. For cutting I use soluble oil, in a can with a paintbrush on the drill press, and in the suds system on the rest of the stuff.
I've got a mister system to go onto my metal cutting vertical bandsaw though, flood seems a bit overkill on it, but they have health concerns about breathing a coolant mist longer term so needs a respirator to be worn.

 

[MrFluffy]

But in the real world, anything is better than dry. Even lard or bacon fat or stuff like that. There's no excuse for going in dry

 

[123hotchef]

I will start using veg oil then as it is free and plentiful for me

 

[brightspark]

But in the real world, anything is better than dry. Even lard or bacon fat or stuff like that. There's no excuse for going in dry

hmmm I lube with ky jelly
never dry

 

[brightspark]

View attachment 84126

is that the red rocol chlorine free ??it stinks if it is . the old brown pastes the best . I thin it with white spirit to apply small amounts for drilling and tapping out of a squirty bottle

 

[Welderpaul]

I wouldn't get too hung up on what to use. As long as it's wet it will help stop your tool snapping..

 

[brewdexta]

KY Jelly

Just don't but it back in the bathroom cabinet with swarf in in