Cutting oils.

Guindesigns

Guindesigns

Well-Known Member
Well yesterday I was in the shop trying to drill out some holes for my pins and making a few lighter handles. I had to use all my 3-n-1 oil but noticed it did little to the effected of cooler or really helping my bits cut the steel. What is a better oil.
Thanks.
-Youngpup
 
https://www.amazon.com/10016E-EP-XT...=UTF8&qid=1538063336&sr=8-1&keywords=tapmagic

Not really an oil...you'll love it though...been using this stuff for about 35 years. They did a formula change in the 80s to make it less toxic/more enviro friendly...still works great. I think the old formula was even better.

Here's the very first review...lol. (amazon)


"I wish I'd tried this years ago. I've been using 3-in-one, and there's no comparison. This makes cutting, drilling, and and tapping so much easier, and I need so little of it, it's great.
Chips don't seem to clog up the taps and drills as quickly, either.
It stays with the work on the lathe and doesn't sling off, also.
I use a needle applicator to apply it to whatever I'm turning and can make 2-3 passes before I have to reapply, it hangs onto the work so well."
The swarf tends to drop down, not sling all over the place as much as dry cutting or 3-in-one.
And I've yet to see discoloration of aluminum. "
 
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Smallshop said:
https://www.amazon.com/10016E-EP-XT...=UTF8&qid=1538063336&sr=8-1&keywords=tapmagic

Not really an oil...you'll love it though...been using this stuff for about 35 years. They did a formula change in the 80s to make it less toxic/more enviro friendly...still works great. I think the old formula was even better.

Here's the very first review...lol. (amazon)


"I wish I'd tried this years ago. I've been using 3-in-one, and there's no comparison. This makes cutting, drilling, and and tapping so much easier, and I need so little of it, it's great.
Chips don't seem to clog up the taps and drills as quickly, either.
It stays with the work on the lathe and doesn't sling off, also.
I use a needle applicator to apply it to whatever I'm turning and can make 2-3 passes before I have to reapply, it hangs onto the work so well."
The swarf tends to drop down, not sling all over the place as much as dry cutting or 3-in-one.
And I've yet to see discoloration of aluminum. "
Click to expand...
ok thanks ill have to check that out.
 
I'm not sure Cliff. I've only used the pink. Works great and the container will last for years.
 
All those mentioned are really good special purpose lubes. For a time I was using a variety of different lubes, each for a specific purpose, and one day realized I was spending way more money on lubes then I should be. After some thought, I decided to search for a single lube that I could use for as many purposes as possible, to that end I tried several water soluble oils, and after trying a few, I found one I liked for most jobs, purchased a 5 gallon bucket of it, washed out an old Tide laundry detergent container (the kind with the push button spigot) and use it to refill all the little containers around the shop. It was just my way of getting the most uses out of cutting fluid, for the most economical cost.
 
EdCaffreyMS said:
All those mentioned are really good special purpose lubes. For a time I was using a variety of different lubes, each for a specific purpose, and one day realized I was spending way more money on lubes then I should be. After some thought, I decided to search for a single lube that I could use for as many purposes as possible, to that end I tried several water soluble oils, and after trying a few, I found one I liked for most jobs, purchased a 5 gallon bucket of it, washed out an old Tide laundry detergent container (the kind with the push button spigot) and use it to refill all the little containers around the shop. It was just my way of getting the most uses out of cutting fluid, for the most economical cost.
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care to share what that lube is?
 
Man I'm lazy. I buy my bits from Fastenal in bulk. They run around $.25 apiece and get 4 or 5 knives out of each bit. No oil, no mess, just throw them away when they're burnt up.
 
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This is the stuff I currently use: https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/89908800 But man oh man, did the price go through the roof after MSC eliminated Enco! I purchased mine about 2 years ago from Enco, and paid $86 for a 5 gallon bucket! Now it's over $200! Just another chip on my shoulder for MSC. I've got about a gallon left, so I suppose I'll be looking for either another source, or something else when the time comes for more.

I remember when they eliminated Enco, and I spent about a 1/2 hour on the phone with a rep, who assured me that since I was a long time Enco customer, I'd get all the same prices with MSC (on the same items) as I did with Enco..... NOT!
 
Smallshop said:
I know many of you are using Mobil-1 as a sanding/filing lube....anyone tried it for drilling/reaming?
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I tried it Ted, and it's so thin that it wicks away from the hole as you drill. Rapid tap is my go to when I feel like using oil.
 
They make some very good water soluble coolants. It's all fine and dandy until it is time to clean out a 100 gallon coolant tank that has been in there for a few months. OMG,,,,
If you have a surface grinder or a mill that's wonderful. With only a old drill press I'll stick with tapmagic or re-li-on.
 
Smallshop said:
I know many of you are using Mobil-1 as a sanding/filing lube....anyone tried it for drilling/reaming?
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I tried. it makes a nasty mess. I use chainsaw bar oil for lathe work which also makes a mess but it’s cheap. Mobil 1 is still the best thing i’ve ever used for hand sanding.

I switched to Boelube for drilling. It is superior in every way for drilling and tapping.
 
Way back when, I used an old sulfer based product my father in law bought after WW2! When it finally ran out I got some tapmagic. The first smelled like spearmint, it was good stuff. Ran out of it and went back, after they changed the formula for tapmagic, it was OK but not as good as the original. Next I bought a gal. thru the local hardware, that had sulfur base. It wasn't bad but when I went to fill up the next time, I found out the vibration of the air compressor had rubbed a hole in the gal. and it was gone. (That would explain why the oil stain appeared on top pf my stash of wrought!)
So here it late Saturday night and I am in the garage working and I desperately need some tap oil! So I take my ole oil can.jpg oil can and I mixed up what I am using now. My father was a believer in Marvel Mystery Oil.Marvel mystery oil.jpg I also had a mechanic friend that used this in every engine he built. He said it would stick to the metal and it is thick enough to and has a sticky feel to it!! Lucas.jpgWe ran it our race car and it is good stuff!

So I have a 50/50 mix of Marvels Mystery oil and Lucas HD oil stabilizer, and so far it has worked real good as a tap oil!! What can I say it works!! It got me thru the weekend and I have only broke one tap since I been using it and that was my fault, I rocked the handle as I was starting the thread.
 
John Wilson said:
I tried. it makes a nasty mess. I use chainsaw bar oil for lathe work which also makes a mess but it’s cheap. Mobil 1 is still the best thing i’ve ever used for hand sanding.

I switched to Boelube for drilling. It is superior in every way for drilling and tapping.
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John I'm going to have to try the chainsaw oil, I have gallons of the stuff! Thanks for the tip.
 
If you want the most for your money, go to the plumbing section of your local big box hardware, and get a gallon of pipe threading/cutting fluid (the sulfur based stuff). It stinks, but it works, and it's cheap.
 
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