Non-flood coolant use suggestions

[Batmanacw]

Let me start of by saying I am not going to run flood coolant on my machines. Period. I don't want mist coolant either. I do own a cool mist from way back but I left it with my mentor who doesn't use it either. Please don't badger me on these two types of coolant.

I use dark cutting oil a lot. WD40 on aluminum.

On the mill I'll squirt a bit down the hole as a drill, or apply with a brush to a chamfer tool or reamer to save oil. It sticks with the tool and does a very good job. I often brush a bit on hss endmills in steel. There is always a bit of clean up.

On the lathe I brush it on because the squirting it wastes so much its crazy.

I see some YouTubers hand squirting coolants of various flavors onto drills and cutters and such. I was using a pump sprayer to apply a slightly heavy mix of soluble oil and water onto different projects while milling and occasionally on the lathe.

When is the best time to use coolant over a cutting oil when I'm hand applying it while running the machine? What am I missing?

I'm thinking I should try it out more often drilling in the mill because I can fill the hole with coolant and it will gravity feed as it cuts. I could hit an endmill as it power feeds. Possibly when I'm parting.

I found I like these types of squirt bottles. Less crap to go wrong over time. Left coolant, center dark cutting oil, right wd40 for aluminum.

 

[mmcmdl]

I just cleaned out the Hardinge's resorvior today of the dark oil . I know darn well this oil has been in this machine since the 70s or 80s . It smelled like oil and it did not stink at all . If this was coolant , eeh gad . Rancid in 6 months . The only place I would run flood coolant these days would be on fully enclosed CNC machines .

 

[mmcmdl]

I'm thinking I should try it out more often drilling in the mill because I can fill the hole with coolant and it will gravity feed as it cuts.

The drill will pull every bit of coolant right out of that hole unless flooded .

 

[Batmanacw]

The drill will pull every bit of coolant right out of that hole unless flooded .

I can basically flood it without huge volume. I can squirt as needed if the coolant has any real advantage

 

[mmcmdl]

Ever try Accu-tap paste ? Works great without a huge mess .

 

[matthewsx]

I can basically flood it without huge volume. I can squirt as needed if the coolant has any real advantage

I use this method with a spray bottle when drilling aluminum. Just squirt a little in there when I pull the drill out to clear chips.

John

 

[Mitch Alsup]

I am a cutting oil and WD-40 man myself.

While slot and side milling I will keep a acid brush with cutting oil and touch it on the side of the end-mill every couple of seconds.

I use heavy cutting oil for drilling and tapping (even in aluminum)

And I use slower speeds and feeds than would be possible with coolant.
On the other hand, after milling for 5 years I am yet to dull a end mill.

 

[Batmanacw]

Ever try Accu-tap paste ? Works great without a huge mess .

I have really excellent results with dark cutting oil. I'm really trying to figure out when I would be better off with coolant.

 

[benmychree]

I like TapMagic for most all operations to avoid the rancid flood coolant,