Drilling and threading lube

[Firstram]

I;ve recently found that Relton's A-9 is even better than Tap Magic (aluminum) for drilling holes smaller than .040 in Aluminum. Tap Magic broke drills, A-9 doesn't. I'mnot sure that the same is true for larger drill/tap sizes.

How is the smell?

 

[T Bredehoft]

Oily, verses cinnamon.
I'd prefer the cinnamon, but using the Tap Magic after about 15 holes (.120 deep/through) one drill didn't clear and broke in the hole. Using the A-9 I drilled another 120 holes or so, Finished the run of clutches. Drilling .038 holels in 6061 T6 aluminum. 3000 rpm.

 

[Firstram]

Oily, verses cinnamon.
I'd prefer the cinnamon, but using the Tap Magic after about 15 holes (.120 deep/through) one drill didn't clear and broke in the hole. Using the A-9 I drilled another 120 holes or so, Finished the run of clutches. Drilling .038 holels in 6061 T6 aluminum. 3000 rpm.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. I get tired of my clothes smelling like tap magic and A-9 seems cheaper too.

 

[coherent]

I have a couple sticks of boi-lube (sp?) and like it for tapping, drilling and on the band saw blade.

 

[AJB]

Sometimes I use Tap Magic, sometimes Rigid, and sometimes bacon grease. I keep all three on hand and really don’t see a great deal of difference in them for drilling and tapping. In fact, I just drilled and tapped a whole bunch of holes in my BP for DRO install and bacon grease worked great.

 

[Road_Clam]

For soft gummy alloys such as aluminum / bronze / brass / copper my top pick is Cool Tool II

https://www.amazon.com/Aerosol-Cool...8&qid=1545508658&sr=1-3&keywords=cool+tool+II

For alloys such as hard steels and stainless my top pic is Castrol Moly Dee

https://www.ebay.com/i/301239409551?chn=ps

 

[JPMacG]

I like a castor oil base. Been using CRC TrueTap lately. I put it into squeeze bottles with a needle tip and a neodymium magnet inside the bottle to keep it in place at the machine. It's good for tapping and cutting and goes a long way.
(from mobile)

I use castor oil to make fuel for my RC model airplane engines. I never thought to try it as a cutting oil. It is cheap and plentiful.

 

[pontiac428]

I use castor oil to make fuel for my RC model airplane engines. I never thought to try it as a cutting oil. It is cheap and plentiful.

...and what makes it great for glow engines is the same thing that makes it great for cutting- castor oil has a very high decomposition temperature compared to most common oils, so it does it's job longer under extreme conditions. Plus, it makes your work smell like a RC plane, invoking happy memories. At least it does for me.