White spirit in cutting/tapping oil recipe ?

I've tried several tapping lubricants with mixed feelings about the results. The latest is white tallow for lubrication and etc off ebay. I had to replace a piece of glass in a multifuel fire and when I undid the fixing it just snapped off so drilled and tapped a 4BA hole in where it was. The previous fixing looks like 3/8 whit. It's the first time I have tried the tallow - a nice finish in what is probably rather crap cast iron. It snapped off ever so easily.

At work I always used tallow but there is no way of knowing what was in it. Some one had some sperm whale oil. That in the past was thought to be the best - or so I am told.

John

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Mineral turpentine as opposed to turpentine oil

Turpentine oil as used by artists is relatively expensive compared to the mineral substitute, (Although they are not really similar). Turpentine Oil mixed with boiled linseed oil and a little beeswax then gently simmered in a pot til it darkens to taste. makes a good old style Oil finish for wood. You must simmer it over a low heat, outside. the fumes will permeate the building if you do it inside and you will be very unpopular. It is inclined to catch fire while it is cooking so have a lid ready to cover the pot and extinguish it if it does.

For firearms and furniture where you want a glow not a shine.

A small amount on a cloth rubber then lots of elbow grease repeated daily for a few weeks and you will be amazed..... I said a (Small amount) rubbed in until its gone for each coat. It is fairly waterproof and can take a shower or two without discolouring like shellac. The wood will glow.

Oh and don't leave the used cloth rubbers lying around the workshop, Its rare but they can spontaneously combust.

Apart from cleaning paint brushes a good use for mineral turpentine is removing the sticky residue left by the labels suppliers insist on plastering all over goods, some are quite hard to get off.

Regards
John

Linseed oil is the worst one for spontaneous fires.

Not tapping fluid but similar chemistry- does anyone know what the petrol additive is for "preserving" modern petrol ?

My advice would be avoid methylated spirit as it evaporates quickly leaving only the gooey oil. (it is after all just alcohol). White spirit is also going to evaporate rather quickly. Same will apply to petrol, bbq lighter fluid, or anything with 'ether' or 'naptha' in the name. Paraffin is going to be better as it stays around longer.
Olive oil being plant derived will likely be food for bugs and moulds and they naturally thicken and will cause a lot of drag. Ditto homebrew tapping agents using lard or tallow though you are more likely in that application to have cleaned them off.
I wouldn't want regular EP90 in the workshop as all the normally available ones contain additives that stink to high heaven. For a thin oil I suggest forgetting the mixtures and using pre-owned automatic gearbox oil (that's not car engine oil, not diff oil, not transfer box oil) and some versions almost seem to have had perfume added.

You could always just buy some Rocol RTD and save all the guessing work, skin complaints, fires, cancer etc.

.

+1

... I have never found, or needed, anything better.

MichaelG.

White Spirit can badly damage the paint finish on machinery, depending what type of paint was used (I expect).

Edited By V8Eng on 11/11/2015 18:49:33

Having read a letter in ME or MEW some years ago about a cutting fluid used by an old toolmaker.This he called Angels Breath,made up of 1 part genuine turpentine 2 parts white spirit 3 parts olive oil.This is the the dog's whatsits.I have used it since reading the article and have not broken a tap or drill since,it als gives a super finish on finish turning.

Frank

Eucalyptus oil for removing the adhesive from sticky labels etc - and it smells nice, too.