DIY: Making Thread Cutting Oil for a Pipe

Corn oil makes an excellent thread-cutting oil.

Hammond researched this area extensively and, even back then, he recommended environmentally-friendly compounds. While these compounds are biodegradable, they are a very efficient lubricant for cutting threads on a pipe. There are two types, water-based and oil-based, and both work equally well.

1. Fill your oil can with corn oil, soybean oil or or a mixture of both. Apply liberally to your thread-cutting die as you are cutting the threads on a pipe. This will work equally well on all thread-cutting operations, such as when you are tapping a thread in a hole.

2. Purchase glycerin in any grocery or department store. Glycerin is found in the feminine hygiene aisle, under the vaginal lubricants section. Dissolve the glycerin in water until it is the consistency of about 30-weight oil. Fill your oil can with the glycerin/water mix. Apply liberally to the threads as you are working the thread-cutting die.

3. Open a can of lard, either vegetable- or animal-based. Apply the lard to the die with a stiff paint brush or a wooden craft stick as you are cutting the threads. Saturate the die/thread area thoroughly, and apply often.

Tip

Always apply liberally; it is better to have too much than not enough. Also, if you wish to reuse the oil, let the shavings settle out in your catch pan, then skim off and filter the oils.

Warning

The glycerin/water mix works best for machine cutting. Since machine cutting heats up the pipe more, the danger of the oil catching fire is present. If you are using oil-based lubricant, run the machine at its slowest speed. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy in any machine shop, just in case.