Oiling Router Bits?

[kench]

I was wondering... if oiling the cutter edges of the router bits could prevent black burnt cavities. It happens especially on maple where you move the router slower, for example the corner areas of a pickup cavity.

Any of you guys tried to oil them before using?... or do you all use oils on bits already but I just don't know it because I'm too novice?

I'm planning to try it on my next routing job. But I think the oil must be heat resistant... or I might burn the oil itself. What kind of oils I may use? I could think of engine oils that are used on cars.

[litchfield]

BAD IDEA!

[Setch]

BAD IDEA!

Ditto.

Look into getting a dry lube specially formulated for router cutters. Trend sells a kit in the UK which contains a dry cutter cleaner, a dry cutting lubricant, and a soft brass brush for cleaning the collets. I have one and it's great.

[truerussian558]

so what would happen, probably something nasty but im curious

[litchfield]

Worst case: the bit would loosen itself and come out of the collet at 33,000 rpms

[truerussian558]

ouch, that would be, umm painfull, but i though he ment oil, the bit not the shank...

[litchfield]

Yeah, and the oil will creep up the shank. Thats why setch mentioned dry lube. It would aso spray everywhere.

[soapbarstrat]

it would all soak into the wood right away, then you can forget about any kind of finish sticking to the maple. The maple would be stained with oil, and look like crap. That oil soaked wood would probably decay, too.

Burning the wood ? Probably a dull or defective bit.

[darren wilson]

Use sharp bits and work smoothly and decisively. Hesitating will definitely increase the risk of burning, and dull bits can also cause burning and/or tearout.

[krazyderek]

You're looking for something like this...

It's called dry coat, designed to be sprayed on cutting tools to improve the cutting edge life. NOT to be confused with TOPcoat, which is a lubricant you spray on your slidding surfaces, like planers, jointers, table saws, band saws, etc.