Yes, HSS (High-Speed Steel) taps can be used for stainless steel, but with some important considerations:

✅ Why HSS Taps Work for Stainless Steel

• HSS has good hardness, toughness, and heat resistance, which makes it capable of handling harder materials like stainless steel.

• Suitable for low to medium production volumes or manual tapping where cost-effectiveness is a factor.

⚠️ Best Practices When Using HSS Taps on Stainless Steel

1. Use the right HSS grade:
   Choose HSS-E (Cobalt HSS, like M35 or M42) taps for better heat and wear resistance. These are more suitable than regular HSS for stainless applications.

2. Apply proper cutting fluid:
   Stainless steel tends to work-harden. Using high-performance tapping oil reduces friction and prevents tap breakage.

3. Control the speed and feed:
   Stainless steel requires lower cutting speeds to reduce heat build-up.

4. Use spiral flute taps for blind holes and straight flute or spiral point taps for through holes to improve chip evacuation.