Cutting oil for drill press - help/advice

benmack1

benmack1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Location
USA
I make everything too damn hard but the short version here is I need to drill a 1.5 inch hole in a 1/4 inch thick bumper blank and I am going to try with a hole saw. I am told this works well but to use a water soluble cutting oil to cool and lube the saw/bit. I'm going to use my drill press of course on the slowest speed.

question is does anyone have a recommendation of what oil to use and where to buy said oil? I read about 'water soluble oil' which seems like an oxymoron but wanted to see if I can get any expert advice before I screw this all up. Thanks!
 
Any oil will work as long as your drill press will spin slow enough-400 rpms or less. I've holesawed many holes bigger than that in 1/4" using wd40, motor oil, trans fluid or what ever was close. Just don't crank down on it real hard.
 
Tap Magic is pretty good stuff. I buy bulk cutting oil from ACE hardware, they sell it in gallon jugs but also in small containers as well. Sears sells cutting oil as well. I would be certain you could get it at a big box store (Home Depot/Lowes)

Make sure the hole saw is "bi metal" one or you will have really poor results trying to cut (ie don't buy the cheapest ones, as these are usually made for wood.
 
If you can find it, buy yourself a tube castrol industrial stick wax. A friend of mine in the nascar industry turned me on to it a few months ago and now I cant live without it. It looks like a tube of grease but more solid. You pop the cap off and spin the drill bit or hole saw into it till it's coated. If you use flap disc on a grinder for aluminum you can spin the disc against for a sec and the wheel will cut aluminum 10x faster. It's pretty impressive stuff with a ton of uses.
 
^^good Stuff^^ excellent for coating taps too!
doesn't weld very well though so I like to keep welded edges clean from it. but it wipes off well and leaves very little residue. tacky and stays put and excess leaves with the chips!
 
rockmafia said:
Any oil will work as long as your drill press will spin slow enough-400 rpms or less. I've holesawed many holes bigger than that in 1/4" using wd40, motor oil, trans fluid or what ever was close. Just don't crank down on it real hard.
Click to expand...


for what you're doing, ^ this is your answer..
 
Here at our shop, we have found that regular hand soap is the best thing for tapping stainless steel. I would give it a shot on a whole saw also
 
Thanks to all, much appreciate the help. I've also read coconut oil or beeswax are good since I posted this. I'll run to some of the hardware stores and see if they have anything on the shelf.
 
Ivory soap could do the job. I've never tried it as a lube stick, but I use it all the time on flap disks and sanding disks for grinding aluminum. Should serve the purpose.
 
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