Maching Aluminum

[john grinder]

what to use as a cutting fluid for aluminum

 

[4GSR]

John,

I moved your thread under the other Questions & Answers Forum. Ken

 

[JimDawson]

For general machining WD-40 or kerosene is my prefered cutting fluid for aluminum. For tapping I like Rapid Tap aluminum tapping fluid, or a sulfonated dark cutting oil. Never tried alcohol.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i can attest that a bacon grease/kerosene mixture works quite well, i have not tried alcohol....yet

 

[george wilson]

I would not use something as easy to ignite as alcohol. Kerosene or WD40 is just fine. But,don't leave WD 40 laying on your lathe
s precision ground parts. Wipe it off. WD40 has been reported to leave a hard scum that is very difficult to remove if left long enough. I haven't experienced this myself,but numerous others have. That is enough to keep me from leaving it on my machinery.

 

[Subwayrocket]

Based on recommendations here on HM I use WD40 for aluminum, but below i'm using a conglomeration of a bunch of half empty oil bottles I had laying around.
I welded someones mistakes and overshoots into these soft jaws I acquired, then faced them off. I combined my oils all into one bottle for general use .
I haven't noticed much difference so far , but as recommended I use WD40 for alum now .
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[Groundhog]

I use Tap Magic Aluminum cutting fluid when applying directly, Trim C350 for flood coolant/lubricant. Tap Magic Aluminum is made specifically for machining aluminum and I think is a lot better than WD40 (which is not a lubricant). My small, high speed end mills (0.010" @ 30,000 RPM) seem to last longer using it. They last longest using flood cooling though.

 

[FLguy]

Tap Magic Pro, excellent for almost every metal. I have tried alcohol, not impressed! I'm trying Honeycut, what smell is light cinnamon,great thread finishes. It's like honey so it stays pretty much where you put it. So far I'm 85%, need to try some inconnel hastaloy before I go further with a higher rating.

 

[Hawkeye]

For general machining on aluminum, I usually use Crisco. You brush it on and it stays put, prevents build-up on the tools. It can be a bit messy, but it's cheap and it works.

 

[mikey]

I would not use something as easy to ignite as alcohol. Kerosene or WD40 is just fine. But,don't leave WD 40 laying on your lathe
s precision ground parts. Wipe it off. WD40 has been reported to leave a hard scum that is very difficult to remove if left long enough. I haven't experienced this myself,but numerous others have. That is enough to keep me from leaving it on my machinery.

WD-40 will indeed leave a hard, molasses-like layer on parts if left to dry and accumulate. Here is a shot of my Emco lathe when I got it. Hard to believe this lathe had only 100 hours on it and the ways are pristine underneath that layer of guck. The PO just shot it down with WD-40 after using it and left it to accumulate - I have to wonder if he had a brain in his head. After a lot of trial and error, I found that Acetone gets it right off.



WD-40 is fine for cutting but do clean your lathe after you're done. A-9 works the best for me when a fine finish is needed or when tapping or thread cutting.