Thread Cutting Oil

[PoorUB]

I have used all sorts of thread cutting oil, Tap Magic for one, some others I forget. The other day I was taping some holes and was out of cutting oil. I tried a couple regular oils that were handy, and then tried some 80w-90 gear lube and was mildly shocked as how well it worked. Since then I have tapped cast iron, steel and aluminum using the 80w-90 weight and was similarly impressed. I doubt I will spend money on a specific thread cutting oil and continue using gear lube..

 

[Rinspeed]

For aluminum I miss the old Tap Magic that had Trichlor in it. Wasn't very good for you but it sure worked well.

 

[alfadan]

I tried it a couple times using hand taps and was happy how it worked. I thought the EP additives would work well and might be onto something.

 

[BiggityBen]

i rarely need to tap new threads into something, but when i'm just fixing threads it seems any old oil is fine. my old shop had whatever the CRC tap/drilling oil product is and i never cared for it at all. i will keep your suggestion in mind for future

 

[mooman]

Rapid Tap for the win!

New Rapid Tap | Relton Corporation

www.relton.com

 

[Wamsutta]

Rapid Tap for the win!

New Rapid Tap | Relton Corporation

www.relton.com

I didn't know they had a paste; that's interesting.

 

[LopezBart]

For single pointing steel on the lathe or using a tap, it's hard to beat a pipe threading oil - Mitee, Ridgid, etc. I'm not fond of the smell of gear oil. For aluminum, tap magic, tap-matic, etc. seem to work best. For cast iron, either dry or a bit of kerosene seems best to me. I've never used a tapping lubricant on brass/bronze. Other stuff, I drag out Machinery's Handbook.

 

[teagueo]

Castrol Moly-Dee is stinky stuff, but works pretty well on tough materials.

 

[seber]

The best I ever used is lard oil. But I'm going to try gear oil. Viscocity and lubricity would be similar.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Ridgid dark oil

 

[NUTTSGT]

Depending on what it is, anything from WD40 to 15W40 in the squirt bottle.

 

[Steve_P]

There is a Project Farm test on this, I think with drilling? Tap Magic did very well. I still do use a lot of the Oatey though... 80W-90 just effing reeks, no way I'm using that for anything but the original purpose. My shop is in the basement of my house...

 

[Dagny]

2nd ridgid dark but I do mostly black pipe lp and air lines.

 

[scooby074]

Rapid Tap. Works good and provides that "Olde machine shoppe smell"

 

[LopezBart]

The best I ever used is lard oil. But I'm going to try gear oil. Viscocity and lubricity would be similar.

Note that 600W steam cylinder oil is about 5% lard oil... this oil is also safe for yellow metal bearings, so is often spec'd for rotary tables and the like.

 

[tarmy]

Ridgid dark oil

Yep…

 

[midshipmen89]

I've been having a great experience with Anchor Lube recently - local welding supply started carrying it, and it's doing great for drilling mild steel, stainless, aluminum, aluminum/magnesium alloy transmission case, and broken fasteners. Haven't tried it on tool steel yet.

 

[PoorUB]

I am aware of all the great cutting oils, I was just somewhat amazed how well 80w-90 worked, and pretty much all of us have a jug of it in the shop.
My thoughts are I may never buy cutting oil again, as I have a few bottles of 80w-90. With my luck the can of dedicated cutting oil gets knocked over and when I need it, it is leaked all over the drill press and then what do I use? I have had some that separated and got tossed. I have tried 10w-30 and 10w-40, I had 20w-50 around for a while, WD40, transmission fluid and other oils and none of them works as well as 80w-90 gear lube. I can not say that any thread cutting oil I have purchased was any better.

 

[Wyoming09]

I've had really good luck with Union Butterfield. It seems to stay where you want it pretty well.
I don't do a lot of tapping so the one bottle is lasting quite a long time.

 

[Jswain]

If you want to try what you probably already have on hand. I've been using 50/50 used ATF & crisco shortening say 4tbsp each, then a couple tablespoons of melted wax in it and mix together.

I was going to try lard first but internet says the crisco shortening won't spoil as quick as the lard and it doesn't smell, and I had some in the cupboard already.

Goes on with a brush like a thick paste & stays on the drills & taps, as the drill heats up it melts in. Works really good and doesn't make a mess. I find it works just as good as rapid tap

 

[paulsomlo]

I've been having a great experience with Anchor Lube recently - local welding supply started carrying it, and it's doing great for drilling mild steel, stainless, aluminum, aluminum/magnesium alloy transmission case, and broken fasteners. Haven't tried it on tool steel yet.

And it doesn't smoke.