Anyone who’s ever worked with metal can tell you that cutting metal generates a huge amount of heat. Without proper cooling and lubrication, you’ll be battling deformed tools, poor surface finishes, and impossibly high production costs in no time. That’s where cutting fluid saves the day – but the wrong choice can spell shop-quality outcomes or costly mistakes.
Understanding Cutting Fluids
Cutting fluid is both a coolant and a lubricant for metalworking and machining. It is used to decrease friction between the cutting tool and workpiece, to remove heat generated by cutting, and to remove chips from the cutting area. Good cutting fluid also prevents rust and corrosion and prolongs both tool life and machine life.
Water-Soluble Properties
Most modern cutting fluids are water-soluble, and for good reason. Water is a very good coolant, much better than oil alone. Water in cutting fluid forms an emulsion that combines the better cooling qualities of water and adds to them the lubricating qualities of oil that are still needed. Both together are required for the best cutting conditions, especially for high-speed cutting.
Material-Specific Applications
Various metals need various methods of cutting:
- Steel: Needs a strong cutting fluid with good cooling characteristics and high-pressure additives. The fluid must be stable at high temperatures without chip welding.
- Aluminium: Requires cutting fluid that will not stain the material and can minimise material build-up on cutting edges. Proper fluid assists in obtaining the clean, bright finish required in aluminium work.
- Brass: Although easier to machine than certain metals, brass is helped by cutting fluid with resistance to chip adhesion and retained surface finish integrity.
- Titanium: This difficult material needs specialist cutting fluid with extreme pressure additives and excellent cooling characteristics to cope with the high cutting temperatures involved.
The Position of Quality
At our Heathrow workshop, we’ve seen firsthand the difference that quality cutting fluid makes. That’s why we exclusively use Rock Oil Akwesol 554 Soluble Cutting Oil in our industrial bandsaw operations. This premium cutting fluid offers several advantages over cheaper alternatives:
- Better cooling characteristics that prolong tool life
- Very good chip removal properties
- Clean running with little residue
- Retains stability even under heavy usage
- Offers consistent surface finish quality
- Protects against corrosion
- Low foaming properties
- Easy to use with little odour
Cutting Fluid for Bandsaws
In bandsaw cutting, fluid selection is especially important. The continuous cutting action requires the fluid to retain its performance over long periods of time. Akwesol 554 performs exceptionally well in this application, delivering consistent cooling and lubricity while keeping the blade free from overheating or metal chip clogging.
The Cost of Poor Substitutes
Use of poor cutting fluids or unsuitable substitutes may result in many issues:
- Unnecessary tool wear requiring frequent replacement – Defective surface finishes requiring extra finishing work
- More machine maintenance from chip buildup
- Increased energy usage due to greater cutting resistance
- Possible health problems due to poor bacterial control
- Inconsistent results in product quality
Health and Safety Issues
Quality cutting fluid is not only about performance – it’s also about safety. High-quality products such as Rock Oil Akwesol 554 are designed to resist bacterial growth, stay stable under a range of conditions, and generate low levels of mist, providing a safer working environment. Protecting Your Investment Spending money on good cutting fluid is actually a matter of safeguarding your larger investment in tools and machinery. At Sparks Welding Services, we’ve discovered that Akwesol 554 has cut our tool replacement expenses and maintenance downtime significantly while also enhancing the quality of our cuts.
Ready to Enhance Your Cutting Operations?
If you want to take your metalworking to the next level, try making the change to Rock Oil Akwesol 554. We carry this high-quality cutting fluid in several sizes to fit the needs of different scales of operation, ranging from 5-litre containers for small workshops up to 205-litre drums for industrial customers. We also stock the very popular Action Can CT-90 Cutting & Tapping Spray.
Take a look at our selection of cutting fluids in our online shop, or stop by our Heathrow workshop for personalised consultation on choosing the best cutting fluid for your particular use.