About cutting paste – a comparative test

[Sonic EscapeParticipant @sonicescape38234]

I wanted to know how useful is the cutting paste when drilling. I saw a test on YouTube but I didn't find it conclusive. Also I have a different paste. So I decided to make a test setup with my press drill. I attached a lever with a weight to have the same pressure on multiple drills.

 

I tried also WD40 lithium and the way oil that I'm using for the lathe.

 

The heller paste is available on Amazon. I repeated the test for two 5mm HSS drill bits made in Ukraine. I made consecutive drills in different condition, without paste, with paste, with oil and with grease. I cleaned the drills with acetone when changing the substance. Here are the results:

 

Conclusions:

• When paste is used the drilling time decrease to 64% and 71%.
• Drilling bit wear during test was negligible (important for test relevance)
• Oil and grease have no effect
• Large cutting time dispersion between different bits.

I hope this helps for others who have the same dilemma.

Edited By Sonic Escape on 25/06/2023 17:36:57

[Sonic EscapeParticipant @sonicescape38234]

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Well done for answering your own question with some actual experimentation and for sharing the results!

I recall some while ago that a chap from British Rail Research came to our place to fit an accelerometer on a carriage door lock handle fitted to a test rig we'd made. These handles were made from a turbine blade grade of stainless steel and heat-treated. He got out a battery drill and tried to drill a hole in the handle. No chance. He reached into his bag and brought out a bottle of Rocol RTD cutting compound and put a few drops on the slight dimple he'd managed to drill. Using the same drill bit, and occasionally applying more RTD, he was able to drill through the handle no problem.

As a result of that, I always use RTD in the workshop when tapping ferrous materials or phosphor bronze; I'd certainly use it when drilling "difficult" materials.

Usual disclaimer.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Recently I have been using bacon fat collected from the grill pan before washing it up, works well when cutting/ drilling and tapping various grades of aluminium. Probably works as tallow did for threading steel conduit, very similar consistency.

When my RTD bottle became empty last year after 10 or more years of use I replaced it with a much cheaper substitute which works well.
Always a can of Trefolux for use by the drill stand when drilling steel.

Emgee

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Posted by Emgee on 26/06/2023 16:15:56:

Recently I have been using bacon fat collected from the grill pan before washing it up, works well when cutting/ drilling and tapping various grades of aluminium. Probably works as tallow did for threading steel conduit, very similar consistency.

When my RTD bottle became empty last year after 10 or more years of use I replaced it with a much cheaper substitute which works well.
Always a can of Trefolux for use by the drill stand when drilling steel.

Emgee

I could not use that in the workshop. I would be forever going into the house for a Butty.

Steve.

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