turning ally

got give some ally rd stock, and was thinking of making something this weekend.

do i need to use cutting oil with it?

anything else i need to bear inmind?

cheers

Paraffin works well as a cutting fluid. Higher speed than you would use with steel and a bit more toprake on your tool.

J

I must be getting old, I didn't understand the question or the language it was written in.

Ah well, back to the shed.

Jim

Hmm, resembles English, might be some kind of Pidgin?

G,d&r, Frank

Praps his spilling chocker isunt worknig?

Regrads Martian

Oh how i wish i were as perfect as some of you folk on this forum.

Cheers Dek.

There's ally and there's ally. Some of it is very "gummy" and welds itself to the tool tip, especially when parting off. If the tool is not really sharp, high speeds tend to create more heat which exacerbates the problem, in which case it's often better to reduce the speed rather than raising it. As already stated, paraffin is a good lubricant, as is WD40.

Hi

I have found that the use of either of the suggested lubricants, WD40 or its equivalent or paraffin can improve the finish; and when parting off will normally stop it cold welding to the tool and jamming up. Not having a a cutting fluid pump etc I normally apply it using a small brush or a quick squirt every now and then from the aerosol. Again sharp tools help no end and I would suggest HSS is the best option.

As mentioned above some ally can be soft and gummy almost like lead in its consistency and I have never got a good finish from this stuff, though I didn't persevere when I found out what it was like. Possibly with a razor sharp tool and care a smooth finish may be achievable but what the hell you would use this material for is beyond me (invites replies from the more knowledgeable ) !!

Cheers

Martin

G'day.

Although I often use paraffin (kero to some), I have also found that a local (Australian) lube called Inox is quite handy to use on aluminium (in the spray-can variety). As well as being a handy cutting fluid it is great for fishing reels, model engines etc. I have no connection with the company btw.

**LINK** has more info.

Cu Later * Danny M *

I dont know anywhere local that stocks parrafin and the last time I did manage to buy some it was dearer than petrol.

I use WD40 on aluminium, use aerosols if you like but I find if bought by the gallon it dosent work out too salty price wise.

Paul

Not sure where you are paul but we can buy paraffin from most petrol stations and garden centres and some DIY stores in 5lts containers. About £1.75/lts

J

Paraffin or perhaps central heating oil? Years ago when we were flying model aeroplanes, we made our own diesel fuel, equal mixes of ether/paraffin and castor oil - made a BIG mistake of buying the paraffin from the chemist. That was medical paraffin (Liquid paraffin) used to clear intestinal blockages - NOT what we wanted !!

Bob

In my experience pure aluminium (1050A) is a pig to machine, a bit like warm toffee. On the other hand all the alloys I've used (2014, 5083, 6082 and 7075) have turned beautifully. For the most common alloy (6082) I turn dry, except for parting off where I use flood coolant. I don't have a problem with BUE, but I do use polished high positive rake inserts specifically for aluminium.

The main problem is that the swarf often comes off as an uncontrolled bundle, which can get trapped between tool and work, which tends to give a burnished rather than polished finish.

Regards,

Andrew

Andrew,

That swarf is also razor sharp as you no doubt know, but newcomers may not.

Take care naughtyboy and enjoy the hobby.

Geoff - Making progress with the lathe repair at last!

Hello, some " ally " to turn. Sorry to be pedantic,but does he refer to alloy as in steel or aluminium ?. Am I the only one who gets pissed off when people text even when they are typing on a keyboard ! Perhaps Im getting too old and actually care about the language slowly turned into abbreviations. Sorry for the rant, BFN, RW.

Being even more pedantic, an alloy does not just have to be of steel or of aluminium. It can be of any two or more metals.

Being really pedantic, 'ally' is not an abreviation of aluminium. 'Ali' is more common but I doubt there is a correct abreviation anyway. I have seem 'alu', 'alum' and probably several others in the past but the only one that I can read without it stopping the 'flow' of the text is 'ali'.

Ian P

thank you to the people who have helped.

to those who have pulled my husband apart for his poor english, english is his third language.

He would like to say goodbye to you all as he assumes being non english he is not welcome on here judging by comments made about him.

I am saddened, but not honestly surprised, to see this response.

MichaelG.

Yes its a pity that some would rather nit pick than offer advice, to those I would direct them to this guidance post on another forum which I would hope they will bear in mind next time.

J