I use paraffin wax on my taps. I wear gloves and I heat the part to
about 170 degrees. If you can mount it on a mill,lathe or drill press
keep it all nice and straight.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [AR] Tapping holes in SS 316
From: Robert Watzlavick <rocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, August 04, 2015 4:47 pm
To: "arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
I need to tap some #4-40 holes in an SS 316 valve body (Swagelok
SS-4P4T) for a bracket. I'd really like to avoid breaking the tap so
any tips? I usually use SS 304 and aluminum so I haven't worked much
with the harder stainless steels. The tap is HSS and I was just going
to use Tap Magic for the cutting fluid. If I have to, I can drill all
the way through the body and put a nut on the other side but I'd rather
use a threaded hole.
-Bob