The author gives a view of the present methods for evaluation of cutting fluids and emphasizes that reliable selection can be made by means of cutting processes, exclusively. Regarding their time-consuming and rather expensive nature the necessity arises to develop short-run tests. He describes two short-run tests introduced in Hungary and proves their efficiency on the basis of experiments. One of these tests is used in the low-speed range and leads to the cutting force reducing the effect of the fluid ; the other is applied in the speed range v > 20 m/min reflecting the complex friction reducing effect. The latter test can be expressed in the Taylor equation.