Machinists - Threading SS?
 

Can I thread a 6.36 mm/.248 inch stainless steel rod?
I have a new high carbon steel Irwin Hanson hexagon 6mm x 1.00 die for this.
Or will I ruin the die on stainless steel?
Will I need a special die for SS?
I've ground a 45 degree chamfer on the rod but haven't started to thread it yet.
I don't have a lathe, BTW.
Thanks for any info.

I think your stock is too big...

https://www.yamawa.com/en/support/technical/pdf/technical-contents-14.pdf

It should be ~5.8 mm-6.0 mm

Thanks for that.
Will I need a special die for SS...will I ruin the die I intend to use?

You should be fine as long as you use plenty of oil. A HSS die would be better but carbon steel will work ok. If you have to do the whole length you might be better off just buying a piece of all thread.

No full length...an inch or so.
I'll try it and see...this die new was only $8 so we'll see.
Thanks for the input and link.

Thanks to both of you gents.

BTW gents, any input on a good 'bang for the buck' tap/die sets?

What would be the best oil for this? Dark cutting oil or light?

SS is a ba$$$stard to machine. I would buy an M6 SS bolt and cut an inch off the end...

1 Pint of Castrol Moly Dee CF Cutting Tapping Fluid Moly D | eBay

Very good stuff but for a single cut not worth the time or effort. Old timers got by with lard oil, or the more modern equivalent, Crisco.

Get a quality die and use lots of lube and take your time.

I may end up buying threaded M6 rod.
I've got a ton of 1/4" SS rods...3' long...thought I'd use them.
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I'm making supports for a DIY windscreen for my Duc. Hypermotard.
I must have gone through a dozen different ideas with this project.
It's fun but prototyping is time consuming.
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I have some sewing machine oil from years ago that l've been using...works well.

There are a dozen common types of stainless steel available and another 40 or so rare alloys. Which stainless steel are you talking about?

Dunno...I just came across this supply of SS rods.
I've read about 303 & 304.
As far as machineability, 303 cuts beautifully. 304 is miserable...that's the extent of my savvy.

This is not a do or die deal...I have some steel rods I can salvage.
But I'm coming to the end of my few steel rods due to all of the trial & errors.
That's heavy on "errors". ;)
Thought I could delve into my SS rods if needed.

I fab-up a set of support rods that fit and will work, then I get a better idea and those rods won't work so hot.
I'm retired and like to putz & fiddle...ya dig? :)
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SS rods are magnetic, if that means anything.

Just read this on a machinist forum...a hoot! :)
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"Don't laugh until after you have tried this: for threading small diameter (1/2" or less) stainless rod, use plain ole lard. Yep, the cooking stuff. I worked in a textile mill for ten years where there was plenty of SS machining to be done.

We bought lard in the five gallon pails to use with threading and machining, put it on with small paint brushes. Another good product for pumping through coolant systems, and to use by hand, is the Ridgid Dark threading oil.

The lard is incredible on any metal but like mentioned, on stainless it's hard to beat.
Animal fat has a capillary action that loves Iron molecules.
- David"

I used to work somewhere that hydrocarbon-based lubricants on the metal products was a no-no and so everything was animal-fat based. Didn't smell good in August in that shop.

I use 'Tap Magic' for most threading applications (including stainless) in my garage. It works very well. You should have no issues with HSS taps/dies in stainless if you're careful and lube well.

Mix in a small amount of dark cutting oil into mineral oil, a substitute for NuClear cutting oil for SS. We've done that in a pinch. Agreed, Tap Magic is excellent.

No help on your project here but would love to see the results. From a fellow Hyper owner.

Will do.
If I ever finish it...changing my mind about the mounting hardware/struts every 2 hours.
It's crazy-makin'...
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...but fun, just the same. ;)
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Have the rig in my living room where it's 76 degrees...it's 110' in my garage. My house interior looks like my work shop now.
I don't care. :D