Coolant on cast iron , Pro's and con's

I've never used coolant on cast iron, I think it would make a bigger mess than it does. Prolly get in to the machine more that also.

Paul
 
I don't have a direct answer but, I can say that cutting oils are generaly avoided when machining cast iron because, the heavy oils and CI dust form a paste that sticks to the cutting tool... -And in no time at all, the cutting tool gets dulled or chiped. This is very different from coolant which I would think vastly helps clear-away the dust.

... I'm looking forward to responses on this.
 
Never used any coolant on CI, but there were times that a spray mister sure would have come in handy.

Breathing that dust, (Along with other acids, chemicals, welding fumes); have literally destroyed my lungs.

Back then, shops didn't even have a basic, cheap, dust mask.

We thought we were doing the right thing.
 
We dont use coolant on CI mainly because it cuts so nicely without it and we are doing it only occasionaly for one off parts. (permanent molds for casting aluminum ) Also, you pretty much trash your coolant and end up with rust speckles everywhere. Ive used a shop vac to control the powder. I think alot depends on the type if iron too. We pour class 30 grey iron. Done right it cuts like butter. Sometimes the guys in the foundry goof up and we get some glass hard garbage that eats cutters.
 
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