PB Blaster is Snake Oil

[SteveHGraham]

Is there something better than WD-40 for turning and milling aluminum?

[NP317]

I use WD40 for general metal cleaning, and as aluminum cutting fluid.
Being 40% very light oil and 60% solvent, I consider it a solvent.
~RN

[liveaboard]

My Indian machinist told me to use kerosene, which is cheap. He used to brush it on the turning part.
WD40 smells better.

[Harold_V]

My Indian machinist told me to use kerosene, which is cheap.

Not anymore, not here in the US. And it's not easy to find, either. But I agree. Kerosene was the recommended fluid for aluminum. Not so much these days, although it certainly does a great job.

He used to brush it on the turning part.

Yep! Common practice. You can always tell when you're in the shop of an old school machinist, where one can observe a few small cans of cutting fluids of various descriptions, each with one or more acid brushes protruding from the cans.

WD40 smells better.

Indeed it does! In fact, if I have a prolonged machining project in aluminum, that's what I use, and for that reason, although I keep a can of used solvent at the ready for those little quickies, as that's one way I dispose of used solvent. It, too, does an excellent job on aluminum. If, by chance, I happen to have a large volume of dirty solvent, it's dumped in my heating oil after being filtered. Might as well recoup a little of my investment by heating the shop and house.

H

[LIALLEGHENY]

By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?

[mcostello]

Wonder what snakes use for (Ahem) personal lubricants?

[warmstrong1955]

By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?

You’re confused.
Snake oil isn’t made out of snakes, it’s made for squeaky snakes.

[NP317]

By the way, has anyone ever tried snake oil? Where would one get some? The Everglades perhaps?

It can be found under their snake pits.
~RN

[neanderman]

...I keep a can of used solvent...

Solvent?

[Harold_V]

...I keep a can of used solvent...

Solvent?

Yep! Like Stoddard solvent, or mineral spirits. Once it's been used to clean a few things, it contains enough oil to lubricate the tool, which prevents chip welding. I started doing that when I ran out of kerosene and didn't have a means to get more immediately. Been doing it ever since, and don't see a need to buy kerosene at current prices. I sure miss the "good ol' days".

H

[neanderman]

Yep! Like Stoddard solvent, or mineral spirits.

Thanks for clarifying, Harold!

[liveaboard]

Not anymore, not here in the US. And it's not easy to find, either.
H

When I was growing up in Maine, we used to heat the house with kerosene. In India it's still available everywhere, people use it for lamps and kitchen stoves. Stinky, cheap stuff.

Would diesel or heating oil work as well as kerosene for cutting aluminum? Only slightly different I'm told.