Machining question: Tap-Magic = Barf-Magic???

I've been using Tap-Magic cutting fluid with my little mill to cut aluminum and it does a very good job. But, the past few times I've been working on the mill, I've been getting nauseated after about an hour. My garage is well ventillated with the rollup door open. It's a little too warm down here to be working in a closed garage! Unless, you're one of the fortunate who can afford to air condition their garage!
I checked the MSDS for side effects and found nausea listed. Though, it does not say how often it occurs. Has anyone else experienced this? Maybe I'm just an oddball?
So, the question is: what's a good alternative?

 

You should need anything to turn aluminum. Tapping is another story I have used mobil one it work good.

 

There are alloy specific (aluminum, stainless etc.) fluids for tapping etc.

As far as milling and lathe turning, I cut aluminum dry, but I do use a cutting fluid for drilling - especially deep drilling - aluminum. (As well as other alloys.)

Maybe a little fan would help, sounds like you're inhaling the smoke from the cutting fluid.

If you have a machinery's handbook you should be able to find a list of cutting fluids for a specific alloy. The list is not brand-specicic, but tells you the makeup of the fluid. Kerosene being one of the most commonly used.

Home Shop Machinist (out of Traverse City, Michigan) has listed what's required for home-made cutting fluids.
With the prices on some of the commercially available fluids, you'd probably do well to whip up your own and perhaps end up with something less offensive to you.
Seems I read somewhere that the best fluid for turning copper was milk.
Haven't tried that one, but it could be interesting....

 

You can also use alcohol (rubbing alcohol) in a squeeze bottle on aluminum. Keeps things from overheating if you work on larger pieces. Small pieces I ususally cut dry or just use a brush to put some cutting oil on the tool/ work piece.
Tapmatic is not really a cutting fluid for the lathe. Use a fan to get rid of the fumes if you continue using it.

 

If you know anyone in a job shop or in manufacturing maybe they can get you some fuild, At the company I work for we turn about 1.5 million pounds of Al chips per year, on the CNC machines we use Blasocut, its a synthetic you mix with water, on the gridleys we still use cutting oil. Our shop will not use Tap Matic it has been associated with health problems as far as I know.

 

Thanks, Jay and oldspeed!

I really didn't think about not actually having to use a cutting fluid with aluminum. Though, I'm only using enough fluid to wet the surface of my cut. At the Rocket Factory, cutting fluid flows like water! I guess that's where my little "mind set" originated.

 

Chris, If you'd come see me, you wouldnt have this problem!

 

I typically use a water soluable oil,very very diluted for turning.
It should feel just slightly slippery between your fingers.
The better products do not get stinky in hot weather.

For tapping,there are several different pastes available.
They work very well,especially for tough materials,with no fumes.

Tap-Magic works fine,and there are several similar products,like Cool Tool.
But they are expensive,and the fumes are definately not good.

 

If you just taking light cuts on Aluminum,you don't need coolant.
When taking real heavy cuts,coolant will definately help.

 

I use some green stuff called "Anchor Lube" for all of the drilling and tapping I do. I've used it on (mostly) 316L Stainless, 6AL4V Titanium, a few different alloys of Aluminum, and a few different alloys of brass, and it's worked well on all of them.

It's water based, cleans up easily, and has NO odor that I've detected in the last 8 years of using it almost daily!

 

There's some stuff in the MSC catalog that is incredible. It works great on everything I've tapped/cut with it, including tool steels, copper, aluminum and bronze. It's odiferous, but it's not unpleasant, and I never get dizzy.

It's called LPS Edge:



Page 2700 on the internet MSC catalog.

 

That tap-magic shit will kill ya. Fer cutting al just use good ol' fashion WD40. EZ to git and cheap. At work I use Wynns (yes Wynns) foaming tapping fluid. $4.75 a can works great on 316, 304,410 SS, inconel 718 anything.

 

[ QUOTE ]
There's some stuff in the MSC catalog that is incredible. It works great on everything I've tapped/cut with it, including tool steels, copper, aluminum and bronze. It's odiferous, but it's not unpleasant, and I never get dizzy.

It's called LPS Edge:

[/ QUOTE ]

Be sure to get the correct Edge lube, and don't keep it in the bathroom cabinet.

 

Thanks, everyone! I guess it's all part of the learning process!

 

[ QUOTE ]

Be sure to get the correct Edge lube, and don't keep it in the bathroom cabinet.


[/ QUOTE ]
That stuff makes me dizzy.

 

FWIW I've always used Breakfree to as a tap lube. Haven't broken a tap since I started using it.

 

I've gotten dizzy with Tap-Magic, and also have the feeling of having a spiderweb on my face. I don't use it any more often than I have to. You can also use kerosene for Al, but it stinks up the shop.

 

http://www.tapmagic.com/TMmsds.htm,

it used to be clorinated, and they dont use triclor any more but the stuff will make some people sick,here is the msds sheet tells you all about the products