Tap and Die cutting paste

[andyF]

Had a quick look throught thr Machine Mart and screwfix catalogues but couldn't find anything.
Can anybody reccomend something to use as a cutting paste when using a tap and die set?

Thanks
Andy

 

[AndyP]

I just use neat cutting oil or any other oil that's available, seems to work OK.

AndyP

 

[Archie]

Trefolex. Evil smelling green goo but it's always done the trick for me.

 

[English Steve]

I generally use Rocol.

 

[fingers99]

Does depend of what you're tapping (and how). Of non specialist products, paraffin is fine for aluminium, mix of paraffin and 3 in 1 for steels (for hand cutting). For (light) machine work Rocol has good rep.

But your local engineer's merchant (as opposed to big shop that sells stuff from China in pretty boxes) will have something to suit.

 

[Hitch]

We use a bio oil. Excellent stuff, even on stainless.

Made by Reca, think its called bio-cut. Pretty much most of our cutting oils are in cans, its more convenient than pastes imo.

 

[HasBean]

Multispec 'Tapping Compound' from Tilgear or Chronos. It's a thicker version of their cutting & tapping fluid (neat) Sure smells better than flippin' Trefolex :full
Find they work a treat (I don't use soluble oils as I don't do a lot of machining, neat oil smells nicer too )
Milk for copper alloys, paraffin for aluminium alloys, SFA for cast irons, Angels Breath for stainless.