Tapping 446 Stainless

[donnaj]

We are having problems tapping 446SS. We are trying to tap 1/2" NPT in 1.125 Round Bar. Can anyone suggest where I might be able to find information on tapping this material? We have scrapped parts and our tooling salesman sent us a tap that they thought might work but it didn't.

 

[saberblue]

You will want to look at a heavy duty sulfur chlorinated tapping compound to reduce the forces necessary to drive the tap -- I would look at something like TRIM Tap Heavy if you must be Cl and S free look at Tap NC -- here is a link that will give you more information

http://www.masterchemical.com/na_en/fluid_products/ctgf/show_category.php?catid=5

A.R. "Andy" Nelson
Engineering Consultant
anelson@arnengineering.com

 

[donnaj]

We were using a sulfur chlorinated compound made by Exxon but they have changed the formula recently. We have always had trouble tapping this particular material for some reason...but this time it is really giving us a hard time. We are going to order a different tapping compound as you suggest and see if that helps.