drilling lube

[hill.josh]

I wanted to know what was the best lube for drilling? and if i should use different ones for different speeds

[Rich Hale]

What are you drilling with?
hand drill, drill press...etc? what kind of bits are you using? and what are you drilling? All of these things play a role in selecting a lube if it is needed

[welder19]

Rich is right, but keep in mind something is better than nothing, unless your drilling sheetmetal which really doesn't require anything, the #1 purpose of a cutting fluid is to keep the bit cool, if you get a bit hot, you can basically kiss it goodby, so if you don't have a proper cutting oil then use WD40 or engine oil or whatever kind of oil you have.
If your just doing basic steal drilling on a drill press then just get yourself a can of cutting oil from the hardware or automotive store and it will serve most of your cutting/drilling needs, look for one that sticks, normally if it is a sticky oil they will advertise it as such, they stick to the bit and really make it work better than the oils that just run off.
If your going to be drilling exotic metals then that is a different ball game.

welder19

[Mills]

Water. I use a squirt bottle with soap. Soap helps the drilling and lets me check leaks on gas lines air lines and tires.

[NateDJ]

I am a firm believer in Marvel Mystery Oil. Been using it for years and it smells nice too. cheep and available at most places that sell oil, red and black bottle.

[hill.josh]

Originally Posted by Rich Hale

What are you drilling with?
hand drill, drill press...etc? what kind of bits are you using? and what are you drilling? All of these things play a role in selecting a lube if it is needed

I'm drilling with a drill press.. and they're metal/wood bits i think?
and im also probably only gonna be drilling lower carbon steels and structural aluminum
thanks for all the replys guys

[ironantlerforge]

I like to use a stick wax myself. It's good for drilling and grinding (sanding) applications. I worked at a machine/sheet metal shop years ago and that was a much used product. It comes in a large tube and has a oily wax like consistency when it is cold. rub a little on the metal to be ground or on your drill bit and start working. As the steel heats up the wax starts to liquefy and absorbs the heat. Look up stick wax at Granger or Travers tools and you will find several varieties to choose from. Oh yea, the stuff lasts forever. I have been using the same tube for several years now and I do this work full time. I also use it to lube the ram on my Big Blue and has proven to be the longest lasting lube I have found.

I like it...

[hill.josh]

thanks alot for the info.. i probably would've screwed up alot of drill bits without it. actually i definatly would've

[HWooldridge]

Sulfurized cutting oil and non salted lard are good on steel, WD40 works well on aluminum (so does water with a little soap) as mentioned, the important thing is to keep the bit cool but feed at a sufficient speed to load the cutting edges so they'll cut properly. It's quite surprising how fast a sharp bit will drill a hole in most metals.

[hill.josh]

what do you mean by loading the cutting edges?.. keeping them covered in the oil?