No Tapping fluid available, any suggestions for a substitute?

[mr.smartass]

Went to Sears and Wal-mart (only places open at the time) but neither had any type of cutting or tapping fluid or oil... I'm just wondering if there is anything thing else I could use as a substitute, I've got to drill a few 3/8 holes into some flat 1/4 inch plate, I've already got a cobalt drill bit from sears. Any Ideas?

 

[garlicbreath]

motor oil works for me.

 

[Slapperbar]

Any light oil with a high smoke temp.

 

[Corey 78K5]

ATF works excellent.............

 

[454k30]

motor oil, gear oil, lucas oil, something that doesnt catch fire instantly.

 

[k20]

Ive used marvel mystery oil & WD40, though the wd40 evaporates too quick.

 

[sandawgk5]

I have WD-40 but gear oil works well also. It kinda stays put.

Ira

 

[Slapperbar]

Tap Magic.

 

[BB402Blazer]

I would assume that an auto parts store would carry cutting oil before walmart and sears would.

 

[mr.smartass]

yeah well it was late and the autoparts stores were closed. I stepped up through a few bits but once i got to the bigger ones i could not get it to drill any more, I'm using a drill press, are the rpms to low or what??? I had to find thinner metal...

oh yeah and who carries tap magic or something like that? I haven't seen it at any parts stores...

 

[Confedneck79K30]

pb blaster! high flashpoint and works great

 

[Slapperbar]

Try about 900-1000 RPM.
Granger or MSC

 

[Confedneck79K30]

900-1000rpm? its for tapping holes, right? you dont tap at 900 rpms... and my cordless drill never smoked out with blaster, and i cut 1/2" holes in 1/4" plate...

 

[Slapperbar]

Drill at that speed.

 

[gmc4cw]

do you really need anything to drill such a small hole through such thin material? I would think that starting with a smaller bit like 3/16th and then going to 3/8 would be enough. I use tapping fluid for just that, tapping. or am I missing something?

 

[Slapperbar]

Usually for drilling you need to cool the drill bit to keep from fooking it up on stainless or thicker materials.

 

[Jimbo*]

If it wouldn't drill anymore, either your bits were dull, or the metal "work hardened", that is to say it became harder through the repeated heat/cooling of drilling consecutively larger holes. You need to increase step size and also increase rate of feed.
Jimbo

 

[Confedneck79K30]

could always use a torch or plasmakutta and blast a hole then use the drill to clean it up...heh

 

[garlicbreath]

could always use a torch or plasmakutta and blast a hole then use the drill to clean it up...heh

Oh yeah, drill bits LOVE to clean up those holes!

 

[Confedneck79K30]

sry meant the drill w/ a carbide burr..