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"