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Thread: cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

  1. #1

    Smile cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

    I had over the years had many end mills and drill bits gummed up with aluminum do mostly to operator error.

    Question, Use Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) solution in water to dissolve gall deposits.

    Good Idea? or not so much?

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    Default Re: cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

    a lot of guys claim to use drain cleaners to clean their carbide end mills of gummed aluminum . I haven't done it myself but I see no reason not to . The only thing I'd question is the reaction on a coated tool , I'm guessing it would probably have an affect on the coat . Either way it's worth a try since the only other alternative is to turf the tool .
    HSS I wouldn't bother



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    Default Re: cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

    Hi Tri -NaOH should be fine for removing Al from the steel tools. They soak AL extrusion tools in it to remove the solid AL so I think its fine for drills and cutters. Peter



  4. #4

    Default Re: cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

    This technique seems to work well on both Ti coated and carbide bits and end mills. Saved a bunch!

    Is a sentance fragment?


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    Default Re: cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

    I just poke with a carbide scribe. Works so far.

    Cheers
    Roger



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cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?

cleaning endmills of aluminum deposits with lye. yay or Nay?