Drilling oil for stainless

[mick]

I now have lovely new cobalt drill bits to make holes in stainless steel sheet but forgot to get a lubricant. What can I use?

 

[sailorman]

any

slo , sharp & cold is the trick

my ordinary HHs do the trick /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Shiver Metimbers]

Slow speed, slow feed with lots of coolant. soluble oil (suds) is the kit, but normal oil will do.

 

[bazobeleza]

I use wd 40 or kerosene from the boiler tank, whichever is to hand

 

[30boat]

Soluble oil mixed 50/50 with water.Speed should be high for small diameter low for large always keep pressure high (within reason).Kerosene or parafin is good for aluminium.

 

[dsw]

parafin.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Failing a proper cutting oil - also available in aerosol cans - you can use practically any oil, even diesel, at a pinch.

TIP: if the object being drilled is flat you can build a small 'dam' wilt plasticine around where you are going to drill. This will keep the drill point cool and submerged in oil.

 

[mick]

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Anonymous]

3-in-1 or even engine oil is fine.

 

[pampas]

Rocal cutting oil

 

[oldsaltoz]

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[Guest]

My last job in industry was at a Kodak factory, where the workshop guys drill a lot of stainless. They gave me the tip of using ordinary HSS drills (at slow speed etc) using condensed milk as the lubricant. I never worry about drilling stainless now.
The beauty of condensed milk is that it stays put, no matter what angle you're drilling at, and washes off easily afterwards. Apparently it works by denying oxygen to the surface being cut, thus preventing the formation of hard chromium oxides on the surface of otherwise soft metal.

 

[Billjratt]

Ordinary milk works too