Cutting / tapping oil

[Karl TearParticipant @karltear46470]

Hi

What is everyone using for tapping drilling lubricant ?

At work we use rocol but for a hobbiest. Any alternatives ?

I came across a product on ebay called trillion. Anyone used it ?

karl

[Karl TearParticipant @karltear46470]

What oil do you use ??

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Try buying Rocol these days, make sure you,re sitting down when you hear the price !

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

Second that – Rocol (the brown stuff – smell a bit sulphurous)

[colin branniganParticipant @colinbrannigan54160]

Trefolex and Dormer Super Cut are my choice

Colin

[Alan Johnson 7Participant @alanjohnson7]

A local machine shop recommended to me to use Canola Oil. AKA Canada Oil and Rapeseed Oil. It is biodegradable, therefore no disposal problems. It is very cheap, and available in the supermarket. I have used it, and it works very well.

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I've always used Trefolex cutting compound (the 'green' stuff) since first introduced to it at evening classes 20+ years ago.

I purchased a 500gm tin many years ago – and just keep a small amount in the little jam jars that usually come with cream teas (I do take the jam out first). I use it mainly for tapping and screw cutting (with dies) but also when hacksawing and reaming. It works very well – and is simple to apply by just dipping the tap in it – or wiping a little on other things with the end of a wooden tea/coffee stirrer (motorway service stations supply them for free in normal times). It 'flows' when warm and you don't need very much.

Regards,

IanT

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

For tapping I use a copy of the Rocol the RTD paste made by Exol. It looks and performs the same, whilst tapping or using a die I also spray a tapping/drilling lube from a spray can which seems to ease the effort required.

[Andrew EntwistleParticipant @andrewentwistle]

+1 for Trefolex for hand tapping/cutting and Rocol RTD for machine work.

Andrew.

[Anonymous]

I try and avoid cutting compound for hand tapping as it's a PITA to remove from the hole and tap. But if needed for tough materials and/or large taps I use Rocol RTD. For machine tapping on the vertical mill dry or a squirt of WD40, especially for aluminium. Machine tapping on the repetition lathe uses flood soluble oil, simply because it's there.

Andrew

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I use RTD for tapping & threading generally, but have used WD 40 for aluminium ( Aloominum for our friends across the pond ). Do also use neat cutting oil as well on smaller taps & dies. As above there have been many alternatives where needs must, Lard, tallow cooking oil, ( IIRC I've seen somewhere someone used full fat milk.. ?? ) I have some Cetus 9 soluble oil for flood cooling but that has been relegated to a back shelf somewhere as it is extremely rare that I need flood cooling on the stuff I do. As for parting off I tend to stick to WD 40 or light hydraulic oil ( SAE 32 ) brushed on,suits me fine, horses for courses I s'pose.

George.

[Martin CargillParticipant @martincargill50290]

For drilling steel diesel fuel oil makes a good lubricant, and at the present time it is cheaper than it has been for some time. Be careful not to let it remain on your skin though as it can cause dermatitis

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

Machine mart do a 1 litre bottle. I found it very good. Smokes a bit though.

Steve.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

CT90 for steel, only because it's what my local emporium stocks rather than scientific selection. Bit pricey, but it seems to work better than DIY alternatives, and a bottle lasts ages.

White paraffin or WD40 for Aluminium. Diesel is too obnoxious for me!

Almost anything greasy or oily is better than nothing. The advantage of CT90, Rocol and Co is they contain high-pressure lubricants and are human and machine friendly. As cutting agents I've no idea if they're ten times as good or only slightly better than bacon fat, but at least they don't go rancid!

Dave

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Steviegtr on 18/04/2020 15:31:35:

Machine mart do a 1 litre bottle. I found it very good. Smokes a bit though.

Steve.

I thought machine mart sold their own branded version, not this one? I don’t usually tap fast enough to make it smoke, but I suppose they will all will burn if heated sufficiently…

This one appears to be available over the net in a plain tin with no markings? Surprising, that?

Try it and see – they can supply as little as 50g…

I am using CT-90 currently.

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Never found anything better than Rocol. Prefer the liquid to the paste for taps and dies.

[David George 1Participant @davidgeorge1]

Try Kutamatic liquid is great about £13.00 a 500 Ml and lasts for ages.

David

[SteveWParticipant @stevew54046]

I just use a dab of grease especially in blind holes so the swarf is expelled but for what I do I think anything a bit oily works. Wd40 is convenient. I don’t worry…

[Author]

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