Lube/Coolant for carbide lathe inserts??

[hoz53]

Ive been using HSS in lathe for turning and facing until today, I bought a tool holder and a couple inserts and decided to give carbide a try. I thought it was and think it will be dandy. Set the lathe at 500 and .01 feed and it took .030 off like nothing with i thought pretty nice finish. I did this dry though and am wondering if i need to lube or use coolant? Hoping to make my inserts last awhile. the limited info ive found says with carbide use flood coolant or nothing and im wondering if anyone could give me a little advice on this. Thanks

 

[skeeljc]

I run mostly dry but if I want a really nice finish a little Cool Tool II does the trick. I keep it in a Spill Proof jar and apply with a brush.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I use coolant for all but the lightest cuts. Castrol 9954. I use this same coolant when chambering. When turning barrel tenons at 8-900 rpm, the chips come off silver in color instead of brown and blue. It also sounds better.

 

[hoz53]

I use coolant for all but the lightest cuts. Castrol 9954. I use this same coolant when chambering. When turning barrel tenons at 8-900 rpm, the chips come off silver in color instead of brown and blue. It also sounds better.

So you use a recirculationg flood coolant Walt? Thanks

 

[hoz53]

I run mostly dry but if I want a really nice finish a little Cool Tool II does the trick. I keep it in a Spill Proof jar and apply with a brush.

You havent had any problems with fracturing the carbide inserts? You apply it to the part?
Thanks Much

 

[urbanrifleman]

Go faster.

 

[Walt Krafft]

So you use a recirculationg flood coolant Walt? Thanks

Yes. I just filled the lathes built in coolant system and use it for everything.

 

[hoz53]

Yes. I just filled the lathes built in coolant system and use it for everything.

OK. Thank You again

 

[hoz53]

Go faster.

yeah I thought I could and take more per pass but thats where i started

 

[urbanrifleman]

yeah I thought I could and take more per pass but thats where i started

Try 1200 RPM. Or more.

 

[hoz53]

Try 1200 RPM. Or more.

thanks -

 

[xr650rRider]

Is that a CCMT insert? You can use a CCGT and have a better finish. Precision Matthews master turning kit had both CCMT and CCGT. CCGT says for aluminum but they work very well on 416 stainless just as well. One $2 insert lasts several barrels with no coolant.

 

[GenePoole]

My mentor, a 40+ year machinist, in his last venture as a shop supervisor for a large CNC facility, found a coolant that was suitable for nearly every machine in his shop, be it conventional lathe, grinder, or CNC machining center. He set me up with a simple system involving a Little Giant submersible pump in a 5 gallon bucket with some tubing and a Loc-Line nozzle and gave me a gallon of the coolant concentrate. The coolant is Houghton HOCUT 795MP-RHS.

I've since moved to a modified carbonator pump to get some more pressure and positive displacement so I could use the same system for through-coolant for chambering, but still use the same coolant and a 5-gallon pail and Loc-Line accessories. I use carbide insert tooling almost exclusively.

 

[LVLAaron]

@GenePoole How's that stuff react when there's other tramp oil mixed in from the lathe?

@hoz53 I'm personally not a fan of water splashing everywhere in my shop. Check out a noga mini cool

https://www.amazon.com/MC17001-Mini-Cool-Single-Cutting-Applicator/dp/B005P07TSQ

 

[hoz53]

Is that a CCMT insert? You can use a CCGT and have a better finish. Precision Matthews master turning kit had both CCMT and CCGT. CCGT says for aluminum but they work very well on 416 stainless just as well. One $2 insert lasts several barrels with no coolant.

it is a CCMT— i will try the CCGT and see how it works for me. Thanks

 

[hoz53]

My mentor, a 40+ year machinist, in his last venture as a shop supervisor for a large CNC facility, found a coolant that was suitable for nearly every machine in his shop, be it conventional lathe, grinder, or CNC machining center. He set me up with a simple system involving a Little Giant submersible pump in a 5 gallon bucket with some tubing and a Loc-Line nozzle and gave me a gallon of the coolant concentrate. The coolant is Houghton HOCUT 795MP-RHS.

I've since moved to a modified carbonator pump to get some more pressure and positive displacement so I could use the same system for through-coolant for chambering, but still use the same coolant and a 5-gallon pail and Loc-Line accessories. I use carbide insert tooling almost exclusively.

Thanks for that Gene. I dont have a through bore lube system yet so that sounds like a setup that would work good for me.

 

[hoz53]

@GenePoole How's that stuff react when there's other tramp oil mixed in from the lathe?

@hoz53 I'm personally not a fan of water splashing everywhere in my shop. Check out a noga mini cool

https://www.amazon.com/MC17001-Mini-Cool-Single-Cutting-Applicator/dp/B005P07TSQ

That Noga mini cool looks cool. I like the valve on it. i will be experimenting more with the coolants in my shop. Its not gonna be raining in there though- thats for sure. Thanks

 

[DaveTooley]

I use oil in the Haas. So if I don't want to set the smoke detector off I turn dry then use oil on all the other operations. With facing and turning I get maybe 50-60 barrels from one cutting edge running 300-325 SFM. I can tell when my threading inserts are getting dull by the sound, chip shape and smoke.

 

[hoz53]

I use oil in the Haas. So if I don't want to set the smoke detector off I turn dry then use oil on all the other operations. With facing and turning I get maybe 50-60 barrels from one cutting edge running 300-325 SFM. I can tell when my threading inserts are getting dull by the sound, chip shape and smoke.

Thats some great practical info that will help me Dave. Thanks

 

[LVLAaron]

That Noga mini cool looks cool. I like the valve on it. i will be experimenting more with the coolants in my shop. Its not gonna be raining in there though- thats for sure. Thanks

Be advised... there are knockoffs out there, skip them. Get the Noga. They're awesome to use on a mill as well. If you use Koolmist don't be afraid to double up on the concentration.