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Guy at my shop swore by WD-40 as tapping fluid

Old timer told me to just use WD-40 instead of actual tapping fluid on aluminum. Tried it on a batch of 50 parts and snapped two taps before I gave up. Has anyone else heard this myth and actually seen it work?
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3 Comments
grant728
grant7289d ago
Right? That stuff is for loosening rust, not cutting threads.
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elliot_miller22
Right? That stuff is for loosening rust, not cutting threads." Yeah, I gotta jump in here a little. WD-40 isn't really made for loosening rust either, it's more of a water displacer and light lubricant. It can help a little with rust but it's not really the best tool for that job. You want something like PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench for rusted stuff, they're actually made to break down the corrosion. WD-40 will help with like a squeaky hinge or protecting stuff from moisture but for cutting or loosening stuck fasteners it's kind of the wrong product.
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sage_morgan75
Right, because using a penetrating oil to cut threads makes perfect sense. Might as well try buttering a bolt to loosen it. WD-40 has its place, but this ain't it. Kind of like using a hammer to screw in a nail, you're just making more work for yourself.
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