Is machining and stamping a process that is associated with your industry? If your business involves any type of metalworking, it is key to use cutting fluids as part of the process. But what are cutting fluids? Here’s a brief look at them and answers to some of the most relevant questions about what cutting fluids do, what they are made from, and why they are so important. 

1. What Are Cutting Fluids?

Cutting fluids are a sort of lubricant and coolant used in industries that work with metal. Some of the many industries that use cutting fluids as a lubricant for metal work include: aviation products, sheet metal working for air conditioning and heating companies, stamping in the tool-making industry, and machining. Some machining products include parts for the automotive, telecommunications, and electronics industries. These items could include screws, pins, threaded rods and many more objects. Cutting fluids are used on the cutting tool itself, for example, a drill press, lathe, or power saw, to lubricate it and cool it down during the cutting process.


2. What Are the Different Types of Cutting Fluids?

Cutting fluids are not all liquids or solvents. They are also available from lubricant distributors in pastes, oils, mists, oil-water emulsions, and gels. Metalworking and cutting fluids go hand in hand because it is necessary to reduce friction between the metal and the cutting tool, and that is what cutting fluids do.


3. What Are Cutting Fluids Made From?

The answer is a variety of materials. These include animal fat, raw ingredients, and plant oils, among other things. Cutting fluids also serve as a protection against rust, as well. In addition, cutting fluids play a vital role in chip removal on the work surface. The use of heavy duty lubricant is a great asset in keeping the work area smooth and clear, and in eliminating, or ‘flushing’ chips from the metal piece being worked on.


Cutting fluids are instrumental for four main reasons. First, it is because they act as a coolant to the metal being cut and the cutting tool itself. Secondly, the cuttings fluids act as a lubricant to make sure the cuts are smooth and precise. Rust prevention is the third important role that cutting fluids play in the machining and stamping process, with chip management, or keeping the surface free of discarded, cut pieces of metal, being the fourth. Selecting the right cutting fluid for your particular machining operation will be of great benefit in ensuring a successful outcome of your product.