Gunsmithing Coolant

[woodsy]

What are you guys using for flood coolant on your mills? Just got a new PM1054 going in the shop and am looking for a good synthetic coolant to run in it.

Another stupid question - what oil should I be running in the one-shot lube on this mill? Mobile 1, 2, 3 or 4?

I'm also planning to get a barrel flush system set up for my lathe. Any ideas for a good oil that will work for reaming operations?

Thanks guys. Just getting into the coolant game outside of sawing.

 

[angelballer]

Re: Coolant

I wouldn't use flood coolant on a manual mill because of the sheer mess. I've used the Kool Mist setup and liked it.

For way oil, I prefer Vactra 2.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Coolant

Thanks AB. I've already considered the mess and hope to control that with some plexi and imagination.

Not sure if I can find any Vactra around here but I'll give it a whirl. There's a Mobile dealer close by but I'm not sure they carry any machining fluids in stock. They'll certainly order anything that I need but that's something I can do as well.

 

[LRI]

Re: Coolant

Cimco 320 rocks. Spendy at 180/5 gallons, but worth it.

 

[Doc Holiday13]

Re: Coolant

I've been happy with Mobilcut, but I haven't used it much yet so tinge will tell. It does leave a nice oily coating on everything though

 

[Robert Gradous]

Re: Coolant

For a flush system on a lathe look at Ridgid dark with Tap Magic EP-EXTRA to blend with. Good tool life.

 

[northern50]

Re: Coolant

Vactra 2 for the way oiler.

 

[coues103]

Re: Coolant

i use moly-dee for reaming and tapping kinda spendy but worth it

 

[woodsy]

Re: Coolant

Thanks guys. Great info.

I'll see if I can't find some of this stuff locally but am betting I'll be submitting an on-line order.

Loving the mill so far. It's nice to finally have the rigidity and power to take some heavy cuts and get things done. Only been chewing on 6061 so far but it's still great to see EMs eat that stuff like butter.

 

[LRI]

Re: Coolant

If you guys want to save some shekels you might consider this for your muzzle flush:

Let's play a game of comparisons:

What is the environment of a form tool (reamer)?

High pressure.
High friction.
Lots of shearing action.

What else in the world of oils experiences this?

Engine oil?
Hydraulic oil?
Baby oil? (Kinky phuks!)
Automatic transmission fluid?

If you chose hydraulic oil/ATF your onto something.

I've been using hydraulic oil for about a year now. Its crazy good and 1/3rd the cost of mobile cut, etc. Smokes a bit when taking a heavy turn, but that's ok.

Well worth trying out.

Good luck

C.

 

[jrm850]

Re: Coolant

A question for those of you that run thicker oils through the barrel... How much more resistance to pushing the reamer in with the thicker oils? I like the high sulfur Mobil cutting oils and used them before I set up the through barrel coolant, but have only run thin synthetics through the barrel. It stands to reason that the cutting oils or hydraulic oil would protect the bushing to bore contact better and another big benefit would be the eliminating the evaporation problem inherent in the synthetics.

 

[my human host]

Re: Coolant

I took the Dascool out of the sump on my lathe and replaced it with Mobilmet 766 a month or so back. It's a bit thick for my pump, but seems to work well. I'd love to thin it with something, but don't have a clue what to use. I'd rather not have to deal with anything that gives off a powerful odor.

I will say that switching to the cutting oil pretty much eliminated the tool pressure issues I was having while threading with carbide at low speed. Saves some time and seems to result in a better fit.