Kool Mist as cutting oil?

[Investigator]

Curious what if any help Kool Mist from a fogbuster type mister is inputting and threading? I got it and use it mainly when I work titanium. What will it do on stainless and alloy steel?

 

[ChazzC]

Curious what if any help Kool Mist from a fogbuster type mister is inputting and threading? I got it and use it mainly when I work titanium. What will it do on stainless and alloy steel?

Stefan uses soluble oil (diluted as if it would be used conventionally) from a small squirt bottle; I’ll do some searching tomorrow.


EDIT - Info from Stefan's Shop Chemicals Video:

At 22:20 he starts talking about cutting fluids, and at 24:00 he talks about using Soluble Oil in a dropper/squirt bottle. In an email exchange he confirmed 5 – 10% oil mixed with water, but didn't say specifically what materials he used it on. However, since he mentioned the water content helping to cool the part, I assume more turning/milling than threading.

For taping/threading/parting I use Anchor Lube for Stainless (be sure to clean up and excess that gets on you machine), Viper Venom for Steel and either Tap Magic Aluminum, Relton A-9, BoeLube or Cool Tool II on Aluminum (depending on my mood, they all seem to work equally well). From time to time I'll try a little of my hoarded Lard Oil on Steel.

 

[Investigator]

My situation is this; I have a home made Fogbuster mister with Kool Mist already. After having a couple chips 'light off' working with Titanium, I'll only use the mister with it now, for the cooling effect to keep it from catching fire.
When I thread stainless or carbon steel, I use thick dark oil. It not that big of a mess, but it is a bit of a mess. I am wondering if the cool mist is enough of a lube for clean threading. Especially since I have the set up already.

 

[Jimsehr]

One thing to keep in mind. Titanium has magnesium in it. If you have very fine chips watch out for them starting a fire. Koolmist has water in it. Not a good mixture. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher handy.
I speak from experience.

 

[Boswell]

I run cool mist through a fog buster on the mill, but not the lathe. As you said, CoolMist can help cool the part and more importantly the cutting tool and the air-flow helps to remove chips. So with this in mind,

Thread cutting with tap or die: I don't think I would see it as a replacement for cutting oil. unless you are doing repetitive mfg runs, I would not think that tool cooling is an issue and I don't think air flow will help remove chips down inside of the hole with a tap in the way. While I don't really know, my thought is that the thicker cutting oil helps the tap flutes to move the chips away from the cutting edge of a tap or die in a way that the cool mist could not.​

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Single point thread cutting: There might be some value in tool cooling and chip removal in this scenario but I have never tried it. I mostly work with aluminum and do most of the single point dry or I use a heavier cutting oil.​

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Looking forward to what others have to say about this.

 

[GeneT45]

I think you'll find it inferior to dark (sulfurized) cutting oil. It's better than nothing, but Kool Mist is coolant, and threading on a manual machine is not really a high-heat kind of job.

That said, something is better than nothing, and 90% of your results will have more to do with tools and technique than what lube or coolant you use.

GsT

 

[mmcmdl]

One thing to keep in mind. Titanium has magnesium in it. If you have very fine chips watch out for them starting a fire. Koolmist has water in it. Not a good mixture. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher handy.
I speak from experience.

Well said Jim . I've seen both go up flames . Magnesium burned thru a wood foot rest in front of the lathe . The Titanium burned thru the chip pan . Hope the OP has some sand in the area , water will spread the fire .

 

[Jimsehr]

Well said Jim . I've seen both go up flames . Magnesium burned thru a wood foot rest in front of the lathe . The Titanium burned thru the chip pan . Hope the OP has some sand in the area , water will spread the fire .

I saw a new turret lathe burned to the ground from a magnesium fire.

 

[Jimsehr]

I used to keep a coffee can full the power used in fire extinguishers to throw at the fires that started when running an automatic turret. If I used the whole fire extinguisher it would take half a day to clean up the mess.

 

[mmcmdl]

I've got 2 old Lawn Boy magnesium decks slated for the firepit when it gets a little colder .