Looking for an odor free / or low odor tap fluid ?

[JimPghPA]

Is there any product to replace Tap-Magic for Aluminum that does not get into your clothes and smell? Tap-Magic works well when drilling or taping Aluminum. But my bench with the combination lathe and mill is in the cellar, and sometimes other people in the house complain about the odor of Tap-Magic. And I would rather not have to put up with the odor when doing a long project.

I know any oil is better than just using nothing when drilling or taping.

What are other people using instead of Tap-Magic?

 

[Shannow]

I've filled my oil can with chain and bar oil recently, and have been using it on everything, including tapping and drilling.

 

[Hirev]

You might give Anchorlube G-771 a try. It works fairly well for tapping aluminum.

 

[JimPghPA]

Thanks. McMaster-Carr has Anchorlube. I probably should have looked there first.

Thanks again.

 

[Gearhead113]

Rapid-tap is a cheap, readily available, heavy cutting fluid that you could try. It does leave a slight odor when burned, but not nearly as offensive as tap magic.

I would suggest trying a water soluble oil. The good ones, when mixed right "shouldn't" promote rust. Ballistol makes a good cutting fluid.

 

[Cujet]

Tap Magic is quite a good product. I've not found any other conventional product that works as well in aluminum. I recently set up a base for an 11 Celestron Telescope. Tapping the aluminum with fine threads (required fine pitch, unfortunately) and I tried Kerosene, cutting fluid and then Tap Magic. Guess which one produced usable threads?