machining copper

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: Jim Lux <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

I just received an interesting and useful piece of machining lore.

When machining copper (which is difficult to machine):

sharp tools
Fast speeds
condensed milk as a lubricant <<< this was the new thing...


Think about it... a colloidal dispersion of a high temperature oil (butter 
fat) in a water base.

Stinks, goes sour, etc., but apparently is the "miracle lube" for copper 
cutting.