Cutting fluids for machining are always assumed to be liquids but there are other types which are in fact gels and solids .
Usually used in specialist industries for machining non common materials but they could well have more general application .
Most usual application is for machining metals at very slow speeds with heavy cutting loads . In this case a gel is applied to the work which is an EP grease – for all practical purposes its the same as tapping compound though it may have a few more additives .
Applications of similar in home workshops could be shaping machines , screw cutting bigger threads at slow speed and use of TC tooling at slow speed .
MikeW
Edited By MICHAEL WILLIAMS on 11/01/2014 15:53:05