Taping Small Holes

[IP]

Greetings,

Today by chance I wanted to tap some small holes and had run out of my favourite lubrication [WD40] normally used when conducting this task. In frustration I looked for an alternative and came across some purified linseed oil as used by artists................it was superb, brilliant, even better than better........try it out some time.

Regards IP

[Tel]

OK, I will, tho' I normally use Trefolex paste

[Lee]

I have noticed that Trefolex has taken over my favourite cutting oil from CRC it's now Trefolex CDT $6 or$7. a spray can from Blackwoods better than the $16.00 Bunning's used to charge me.

[Tel]

Much better I'd say. I always use the paste - a tin of that stuff lasts for years

[Lee]

I was countersinking some laser cut 3mm holes in stainless steel at work. I normorly use WD 40 or oil this time I tried Rocol cutting fluid. The new countersink wouldn't cut at all I had to wash it of with WD 40 to get it to cut. I will try linseed oil. Raw linseed oil attracts mice is the purified stuff better.

[Tim Bayliss]

How big is small, lads?
I had trouble with Trefolex paste on 7 or 8 BA size taps, I found it tended to hang onto the swarf and jam the tap. Not good with these tiny taps. I came across a fairly thin tapping and cutting liquid called LION in my local woodturning shop (what woodturners do with it I don't know) which is great and I use that for all my hand thread cutting now.
Stainless steel can be really annoying when it comes to cutting fluid. My rule of thumb would be if you've found something that works, stick with it.
Regards,
Tim.

[IP]

I noticed with the linseed oil that the swarf dropped off the tap as I dipped it into the bottle of oil this is a bonus.

I don't know about attracting mice but the smell is very pleasant and the oil is kind to the hands.

Regards IP