What coolants are you using?

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First off this is NOT about spindle coolants, but cutting coolants.

I am about to venture into the world of non-ferrous metal… C260 Brass to be exact. I know not the best material but this is for Church and everything is already C260 so trying to stay the same.

I have an Elite Forman with 2.2 Kw spindle, ISO-30 tool holder and ATC, so that part is fairly solid. My wasteboard though is all MDF, so you can see where this is going.

I purchased a cheap Amazon “mist cooler” and will mount it to do at least air blast for chip clearing. There is the option of coolant flow… and I have heard of folks using alcohol, but there are risks.

What are you using? Any and all suggestions are welcome.

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Windex in a dripper or spray bottle is my coolant of choice for alum and brass. I provides some lubricity, and really improves the surface finish, doesn’t gunk up the place like oil based coolants, easy cleanup, and the excess evaporates quickly. Although I don’t have any mdf to worry about since my table is all mic6 plate. If I have to use compressed air, I surround the work and blow the chips into a box lined with an old bath towel. The metal chips get snagged in there instead of blowing all over my shop.

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