Lubricate or Not?

[nick morrisonParticipant @nickmorrison17107]

I am converting some old cast iron by hand. What is the recieved wisdom

on lubrication of hacksaw cuts? I was taught to use light oil. This seems to work fine – but most authorities suggest dry cutting to avoid a sliding of the hacksaw. Any thought? Regards, Nick.

[nick morrisonParticipant @nickmorrison17107]

Hacksawing lubrication?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

On CI I would cut dry, on steel I brush a bit of soluable cutting fluid onto the blade.

 

J

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Nick, I agree with Jason. It is generally accepted that cast iron is self lubricating.

 

Regards Nick.

[mickParticipant @mick65121]

Way back when, most castings were “Chilled” and therefore very hard to machine with the tooling of the day. If oil impregnation was considered not to be a problem, then paraffin was most commonaly used to good effect. If my memory hasn’t completely failed, we used to use tallow as well.

Regards.

Mick

[nick morrisonParticipant @nickmorrison17107]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve been in the workshop tonight and dry cutting really works.

 

I think I was getting confused with mild steel and I presume some lubrication (as you state) here is useful. Thanks, I’ve buried a prejudice. Nick

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