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Debate: Should we use coolant mist or flood coolant on aluminum parts?
Last month I tried flood coolant on a batch of 6061 parts and got way better surface finish, but the mess was insane compared to mist. Which method do you guys think is actually better for production work?
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willow7321mo agoMost Upvoted
The whole "flood coolant is too messy" thing... I heard a guy at a shop talk once who said the mess actually saves time in the long run because you spend less time fighting with tool wear. I never really believed that until I tried flood on some 6061 myself. The finish was way cleaner, and I didn't have to stop and clean out the mist nozzles every 20 minutes. But yeah, the floor turns into a slip hazard and you need a good chip tray setup. I think if you're running production, flood is worth the extra cleanup, especially for thinner walled parts where mist can leave hot spots.
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wesleyjohnson1mo ago
You know what nobody talks about though? Flood coolant actually helps keep your chip conveyor working BETTER because that constant flow washes everything down the chute. Mist just lets chips pile up and jam things.
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