Cutting Fluids & Compounds Comparison
Cutting fluids and compounds are both used to manage heat, reduce friction, and protect tools and workpieces, but they differ in formulation, performance, and application.
Cutting fluids are liquid-based (oil, water, or oil–water mixtures) designed to cool, lubricate, and flush chips from the cutting zone. They are used in a wide range of operations such as milling, turning, drilling, grinding, and tapping
Cutting compounds are solid or semi-solid lubricants (often paste, gel, or aerosol) applied to the tool or workpiece surface. They are not liquids and are used where liquid fluids are impractical or undesirable.
We sell a variety of products, each with their own special advantages or tradeoffs.
Anchor Lube - 6816
- Water based
- Use for cutting, sawing, drilling, and tapping
- Use on all metals
- Smokeless, odorless
- Easy cleanup
Re-Li-On - 3120
- Oil based
- Use for cutting, drilling, and tapping
- Use on all metals, but better on aluminum, low sulfur alloys like stainless steel, hastelloy, Inconel, and titanium
- Non-Staining - no sulfur of carbon tetrachloride
- Clings very well
- Smokes, pretty much odorless
Nikx Stikx - 3089
- A non-hazardous solid wax-based
- Use for cutting, sawing, drilling
- Prevent steel and aluminum from galling tools
- Works on wood working tools too
- Clings very well
- Odorless
Vipers Venom - 6362
- High-sulfur with chlorine
- Use for ferrous metals
- Use for tapping, threading, reaming, and lathe work
- Slight staining of ferrous metals
- Clings well
Tap Magic EP - 6803
- Use for cutting, drilling, and tapping
- Use on all metals but best with ferrous metals
- Use on all metals
- Withstands galling and welding under extreme pressure
Tap Magic Nano - 6804
- Use for cutting, drilling, and tapping
- Use on all metals but best on aluminum, brass, bronze, and copper
- Biodegradable
- Non-chlorinated
- Low odor
WD-40
- Use for cutting, drilling, and tapping aluminum
- Biodegradable
- Non-chlorinated
- Familiar odor
Comparison
| Ferrous | Non-ferrous | Base | Sulfur | Chlorinated | Odor | Viscosity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor Lube | better | best | water | no | no | low | high |
| Re-Li-On | better | best | oil | no | no | low | low |
| Nikx Stikx | better | better | wax | no | no | low | high |
| Vipers Venom | best | good | oil | yes | yes | medium | medium |
| Tap Magic EP | best | oil | no | no | low | low | |
| Tap Magic Nano | better | best | oil | no | no | low | low |
| WD-40 | ok | better | oil | no | no | medium | low |
Tip: Clean freshly machined aluminum with 409 cleaner for shiny finish