5D tactical Jig. Best cutting Fluid

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5D tactical Jig. Best cutting Fluid

Posted: 11/6/2018 4:26:07 PM EDT

Just got my Jig from 5D. I will have my first lower in later this week. They recommend WD40 as a cutting Fluid. Can anyone recommend something better? Thanks in advance.

Posted: 11/6/2018 4:33:57 PM EDT

[#1]

WD40 works great. I use a coolant on the CNC at work, but use WD40 anytime I’m machining aluminum at home.

Posted: 11/6/2018 4:35:27 PM EDT

[#2]

WD40 for home use is correct.

Posted: 11/6/2018 4:59:12 PM EDT

[#3]

I use, lard and kerosene mixed together, have also used WD and I have used brown cutting oil, all of them work on aluminum just fine.

Posted: 11/6/2018 6:43:22 PM EDT

[#4]

Magic Tap.

Posted: 11/6/2018 7:39:16 PM EDT

[#5]

Thanks guys. I think we will hold off on the lard. For now.

Posted: 11/6/2018 7:55:27 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks guys. I think we will hold off on the lard. For now.

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Actually the Lard and kerosene mix is an old time recipe that works really good for aluminum and steel, they came up with that in the infancy of metal machining and some old timers still claim it is the best, of course now a days you can pick up clean white lard at the store all packaged up so it is not skimmed off the bacon skillet after the Sunday morning family breakfast!

Posted: 11/6/2018 8:58:51 PM EDT

[#7]

I used WD40 on my first 2, and then switched to Relton A9 Aluminum cutting fluid (based on good reviews of the Relton, and that it was readily available for a decent price). I never tried Tap Magic that others also recommend, but I imagine it would perform similarly to the Relton.

The thicker cutting fluid was dramatically better than the WD, and the lower came out with a much smoother cut than my earlier ones with WD. Since it works out to less than $2 worth of cutting fluid per lower, and it will probably make the bit last longer, I would say it is definitely worth it.

I filled one of my plastic oil bottles with the fluid and put a few drops into the trigger pocket every pass after I vacuumed out the chips.

Posted: 11/6/2018 9:31:56 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

Actually the Lard and kerosene mix is an old time recipe that works really good for aluminum and steel, they came up with that in the infancy of metal machining and some old timers still claim it is the best, of course now a days you can pick up clean white lard at the store all packaged up so it is not skimmed off the bacon skillet after the Sunday morning family breakfast!

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What self respecting machinist didn’t have a sardine can of bacon grease?

Posted: 11/6/2018 10:08:05 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

Actually the Lard and kerosene mix is an old time recipe that works really good for aluminum and steel, they came up with that in the infancy of metal machining and some old timers still claim it is the best, of course now a days you can pick up clean white lard at the store all packaged up so it is not skimmed off the bacon skillet after the Sunday morning family breakfast!

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Information like this is one reason I'm on this site

I have used hydraulic fluid bought by the 5 gallon bucket to cut steel with for years. I grabbed the can and lubricated with it when milling a lower, I never even thought about it much until now.

Posted: 11/6/2018 10:39:02 PM EDT

[#10]

If the tool is not being flooded when turning how does the lube help with the cutting? After the first cut it is it not cutting an unlubed surface? I would think you would have to mist or drip the cutting tool surface to really lubricate the cutting edge.

Posted: 11/7/2018 9:00:46 PM EDT

[#11]

I did all of mine with some Hoppe’s #9 oil I had sitting around. Worked fine. If you stop often to lube and don’t push too hard, most lubes work fine for router milling.

Posted: 11/8/2018 4:40:27 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:
If the tool is not being flooded when turning how does the lube help with the cutting? After the first cut it is it not cutting an unlubed surface? I would think you would have to mist or drip the cutting tool surface to really lubricate the cutting edge.

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I put a few drops or some spray into the trigger pocket before I start each new pass. The bit kind of splashes it around as you're cutting, and it is cutting through a surface that has a light coat of oil, so I guess that enough to help it.

Posted: 11/8/2018 4:53:26 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
I used WD40 on my first 2, and then switched to Relton A9 Aluminum cutting fluid (based on good reviews of the Relton, and that it was readily available for a decent price). I never tried Tap Magic that others also recommend, but I imagine it would perform similarly to the Relton.

The thicker cutting fluid was dramatically better than the WD, and the lower came out with a much smoother cut than my earlier ones with WD. Since it works out to less than $2 worth of cutting fluid per lower, and it will probably make the bit last longer, I would say it is definitely worth it.

I filled one of my plastic oil bottles with the fluid and put a few drops into the trigger pocket every pass after I vacuumed out the chips.

View Quote

I wasn't going to contribute here as my experience has been with another jig, using Relton A9 and with excellent results. I also used a 1" - 2-1/2" adapter for the shop vac screwed in place of the buffer tube continously sucking up the chips.

Posted: 11/8/2018 8:21:30 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
If the tool is not being flooded when turning how does the lube help with the cutting? After the first cut it is it not cutting an unlubed surface? I would think you would have to mist or drip the cutting tool surface to really lubricate the cutting edge.

View Quote

In cooking, oil works well for heat transfer. I imagine it works the same in machining that it allows heat to dissipate as well as lubricate.

Posted: 11/8/2018 8:53:21 PM EDT

[#15]

i get better results with this than wd40

https://www.amazon.com/Oatey-30204-Pipe-Fittings-32-Ounce/dp/B0058I1LHA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541724869&sr=8-2&keywords=oatey+pipe+cutting+oil

Posted: 11/8/2018 9:32:43 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
i get better results with this than wd40

https://www.amazon.com/Oatey-30204-Pipe-Fittings-32-Ounce/dp/B0058I1LHA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541724869&sr=8-2&keywords=oatey+pipe+cutting+oil

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Yup, I have a bottle of that stuff, works really good and it don't take much.

Posted: 11/10/2018 12:09:32 AM EDT

[#17]

Just started my build. Useing WD40 first pass went great. Second pass the end mill broke

Posted: 11/10/2018 12:24:54 AM EDT

[#18]

Tap Magic to ease cutting and extend bit life. More than a few lowers and your jig will begin to show friction wear. Use a silicone lube to prevent this and ease movement of the router plate.

Posted: 11/10/2018 1:46:03 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just started my build. Useing WD40 first pass went great. Second pass the end mill broke

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If you broke your bit on the second pass, either you were going to fast, to deep or the router bound, there is no reason it should break even if you didn't have lube, not when using a lube on the piece, something happened and it happened quick enough, you may not have even realized it.

Posted: 11/10/2018 3:55:44 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:

If you broke your bit on the second pass, either you were going to fast, to deep or the router bound, there is no reason it should break even if you didn't have lube, not when using a lube on the piece, something happened and it happened quick enough, you may not have even realized it.

View Quote

Dave is absolutely right on this.

Whether the router slightly jumped, it was a defect in the bit, or it was the wrong phase of the moon. It happens.

Carbide bits blow (literally & figuratively) I’ve broke them on my mill and on my router.

Posted: 11/10/2018 5:12:27 PM EDT

[#21]

Good news. I watched the video on chargeing out the end mills. It was a 30 min job. I got the jig second hand and it came with a end mill for a bosh. Mine is a Dewalt. Just popped in.

Attached File

Just finished it!

This time 1/2 hash marks worked great. Vacuum it out every half pass. Can’t wate till I do the next one. Got the AR10 Lower comeing in next week.