Two additions to my shop tooling.

[Rickabilly]

(08-21-2013, 09:14 AM)Highpower Wrote: I don't especially like the smell of WD-40 myself, but like Tom I use it by the gallon when it comes to machining aluminum / aluminium because it is cheap. I can pour it on without worrying about breaking the bank. I have heard that straight kerosene works just as well though. Anyone tried that?

There is only one lubricant for tapping Aluminium, and it might sound a little odd, cheap hand cream, that's right, no-name generic skin moisturiser, go into the Missus' stash steal the cheapest looking bottle and give it a go, it stays where you put it, lubricates much better than WD40 or Kerosene smells nice and even makes your hands feel nice, the only drawback is when you run out you have to go into the cosmetics department to buy more and it feels a little foreign especially when you are all set up in your finest tapping attire complete with shavings in your hair.

I had a machinist working for me in 2002 and it was his "Secret formula" he used to bring it in from home in an unmarked squeezy bottle, I recognised the smell as the cream my Mum used to use it while watching TV every night after washing the dishes.

I asked and he couldn't very well lie about it when asked, He didn't last too long with us but I've been using his secret formula ever since.

Regards
Rick

PS tomorrow's tip; how to stop your high heels getting caught in cobble stones