Cheap alternative for drilling/tapping fluid?

[Nimonic]

Do I really need to spend $15-$20 for another small bottle of Butterfield drilling/tapping fluid or can I just source a heavy oil and call it good? I'm usually just working with mild steel.



https://www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/0334641

 

[pepi]

ACE hardware.

 

[epmills]

I always use motor oil as I have an abundance of it, although I don't drill/tap on a daily basis.

 

[MotoDave]

A can of RapidTap lasts me years, how much are you tapping!

 

[Nimonic]

ACE hardware.

Last one in my hood closed about 6 months ago. HD and lowes are all that's left.

Anyway, I have all sorts of oil, from SAE 40 for the mower, to royal purple 20-50 for the race car to childs and alberts assembly oil for shortblock assembly. I would probably start with the cheapo mower oil but I do have a sh-tload of holes to drill in some metal straps. Trying to avoid burning up my bits...

 

[A_Pmech]

Dark thread cutting oil. Available in the plumbing aisle of any decent retailer by the gallon.

 

[PCO6]

I always use motor oil as I have an abundance of it, although I don't drill/tap on a daily basis.

That's what I use too. I have no idea how it compares to other fluids but it seems to work OK.

 

[Mattlt]

Bacon grease / lard?

 

[tlmartin84]

dish washing soap...........

 

[Falcon67]

I don't mind spending $16 on a bottle of Tap Magic. Lasts a long time here. I wouldn't use Royal Purple to kill ants. 3-n-1 oil might also work well.

 

[StRacerDuke]

I don't mind spending $16 on a bottle of Tap Magic. Lasts a long time here. I wouldn't use Royal Purple to kill ants. 3-n-1 oil might also work well.

What's wrong with Royal Purple?

 

[soapii]

I always use motor oil as I have an abundance of it, although I don't drill/tap on a daily basis.

x2

--Joe

 

[brycez28]

I use cheap motor oil....not sure how it compares to the real stuff, but works. Use about 1 quart a year.

 

[bad_idea]

Anchorlube. Fairly cheap, worth every penny. Waterbased, easy cleanup. Cuts like crazy and extends bit life. Cheaper to buy paste than bits right?

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

For drilling clearance holes I use used motor oil (filtered through a home made siphon contraption). I also use the same oil for cutting metal, in my chainsaw, on leaf springs, and other non-critical applications.
For tapped holes and other "precision" work I use cutting fluid.

 

[cheechi]

If I don't have cutting fluid available 3 in 1 is my first choice, wd40 my second. I have used remoil but its expensive compared to the other 2 so I don't like to use it for that.

I don't know what or where I got it but I have a gallon in a white jug of cutting fluid that I think cost me $8. I have no idea what it 'should' cost since that has lasted me years and I use it for any kind of metalworking. I have used rapid tap at the shop, its about the same as what I have so I never felt a need to get specific tapping fluid.

 

[Kevin54]

A quart of 30w will last you for years.

 

[Seppala]

When I was learning the trade of blacksmithing, one of my teachers named Francis Whitaker recommended water for slow speed drilling of mild steel, it works. I found that lard works fine for tapping mild steel.

 

[lilredex]

I use old oil out of my propane fired trucks, seems to have the right additives, for both drilling and tapping....rarely break either.

Water may work, but I'd hate the rust build up everywhere.

 

[bullnerd]

An old candle.

 

[Falcon67]

What's wrong with Royal Purple?

Overhyped and over priced. Seen it many times not make 1HP difference on a dyno vs VR-1 of the same weight. I can buy twice or better VR1 for what I could buy in RP and I have yet to have one engine failure attributed to an oil issue.

 

[Nimonic]

When I was learning the trade of blacksmithing, one of my teachers named Francis Whitaker recommended water for slow speed drilling of mild steel, it works. I found that lard works fine for tapping mild steel.

I believe this. Just need to quench the heat away to preserve the drill/cutter tips.

...but it would be a mess because you would need to maintain flow.

Thanks to all for the responses.

 

[Falcon67]

Water - now I learned something new tonight. Thanks.

 

[Davefr]

Next time your wife roasts a duck, collect the drippings and use it for tapping fluid.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Bacon grease / lard?

x2

I have mixed the bacon grease with last of some unknown tapping grease I had and it works pretty good.

 

[crf731]

Funny you should ask that.

I've drilled well over three hundred 11/16" diameter holes in 1/2" thick angle iron this week with a magnetic drill and annular cutter.

I used gear oil for lube as that is what I had available at the time and I am still using the bit that I started with. It is still drilling fine and doesn't show any signs of getting dull.

The trick is to keep the bit lubricated and cool so it doesn't get hot and loose it's temper. If that happens they are done.

 

[G McKay]

Whenever I change the oil in my cars, I hang the plastic bottles in a rack to drain into one bottle. That way I can collect the last bit in every bottle. That is what I use for almost everything such as drilling oil. Who would spend that kind of money for special oil to use with a home drill press? Right?

 

[rancherbill]

An old guy told me his mix. It is 30% motor oil, 70% water. Add dish soap to get the two to mix(teaspoon or table spoonful-depends on size of the batch). It does not separate.

It provides lubrication and great heat dissipation. It's cheap and readily available.

 

[38Chevy454]

Whenever I change the oil in my cars, I hang the plastic bottles in a rack to drain into one bottle. That way I can collect the last bit in every bottle. That is what I use for almost everything such as drilling oil. Who would spend that kind of money for special oil to use with a home drill press? Right?

I do the same, all types of vehicle fluids get drained into a container for misc oiling needs like drill press. Motor oil (car and diesel types), trans fluid, gear oil, etc it all gets drained and mixed together. Zero cost, just a small amount of time to let it drain and then put into the storage container, which is just a used oil bottle. You would be surprised how much oil you can collect just off the residual amount in the bottles.