taps and dies are generally over looked as tools until you find you've screwed up threads, but the longer you play in the hobby the more you tend to clean out threads with a tap or die before assembling components thru past experience, that experience showing you it tends to prevent problems
keep in mind thread chasers are not TAPS, they are designed to straiten bent threads and clean them without cutting or removing metal, while taps actually cut threads and remove metal.
your local pro-tool supply stores will generally have a wide selection but don,t be surprised at the prices for the better sets, and be aware the cheaper sets are just that..cheaper, and usually not in a good sense!
you generally get what you pay for and taps and dies run from pure crap imported from over seas (INDIA/CHINA) that tend to cost well under $100 for a 40 piece set, too high quality American or German made sets easily costing $300 plus, yes the more expensive sets ARE WELL WORTH IT if you are doing an almost constant repair and assembly, the cheap crap tends to break and cause almost as much grief as its supposed to cure!
One neighbor of mine ,he found two rather extensive sets,SAE/METRIC TAP & DIE SETS MADE IN EUROPE NOT CHINA, at a yard sale,that were for sale, where a widow was moving after selling her home,
the garage was being cleared out, and it was rather obvious she had no clue what the stuff was,
that the tools had a bit of surface rust on only a few pieces and one or two missing pieces but he only paid a negotiated $130 for both sets.
I hope I can slip him a few bucks extra profit and get the stuff as he has as much use for it as a pelican has for snow shoes as he can,t and won,t,
even attempt to do an oil change, he simply bought the stuff because hes seen similar stuff around my shop and realizes its not cheap, and he got it at a bargain price.
http://www.jegs.com/i/ARP/070/911-0006/10002/-1
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-110-pc-sae-and-metric-tap-and-die-set.html
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-107-...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
if you use taps youll need several sizes of tap holder t-handles
Lisle 70500 Tap Socket Set (this square drive socket set, socket set allows you to use swivels and ratchets on thread taps)
if youve ever chased threads in a block thats still in a car you have very likely found the typical taps T-handle can have clearance issues
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-70500-...65953&creativeASIN=B0002SRFOE&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.c...SKUs&msclkid=51e6168ce34c1039d01d4b9e7013b0f7
THESE ARE THREAD CHASERS NOT TAPS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE METAL
the plews 50-347 I bought last year at that auto parts store, is still working fine so for the $15 I paid its been worth the price
https://www.tooltopia.com/plews_lubrimatic-50-347.aspx
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0MG-0023-00016
OH! in case your curious
I own TWO now , I bought a second one several month later, too use for cutting oil when I use the MILLING MACHINE or DRILL PRESS
as MMO, works buts its not ideal cutting oil for drill bits and end mills
http://www.amazon.com/CRC-SL2512-Solubl ... r+drilling
http://www.imperialinc.com/pdf/I_Tap&DieChart.pdf
http://www.baystatetoolsupply.com/index ... x&cPath=68
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductDispl ... ogId=12605
https://mdm6121.800cart.com/?product=R173-ETDS110M
http://www.toolsnow.com/browse.cfm/4,1559.html
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 515x00001c
http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp? ... 1235354814
http://www.wttool.com/category-exec/cat ... p_Die_Sets
WIDGETMASTER POSTED THIS INFO
"Types of Taps
Spiral Point Taps— Also known as gun taps, they have an angular point that shears and shoots chips out ahead of the tap. This keeps chips from clogging the flutes, thus reducing tap breakage. Spiral point taps are generally stronger than hand taps and can be run faster with less power. Use them in through-holes and holes two diameters deeper than the required thread length.
Hand Taps— Have straight flutes for hand and machine threading. Although most are used in machine operations today, the traditional name "hand tap" lives on.
Spiral Flute Taps— Also called helical flute taps, the spiral flute uses a lifting action to remove stringy chips that form when tapping soft materials such as aluminum, brass, copper, and magnesium. Use in deep holes, blind holes, and holes with a keyway or gap.
Pipe Taps— Use for internal threading of pipe, pipe fittings, and holes in which you'll be assembling threaded pipe.
Specialty Taps— Include thread forming, extension, nut, ACME tandem, and combined taps and drills.
Materials
Most taps are made of high-speed steel in grades M-1 and M-7, which are for use in a variety of applications on ferrous and nonferrous materials. High performance taps are made of premium high-speed steels and work well on stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and other exotic metals. Premium steels add abrasion and heat resistance for longer tap life and better tap performance. These taps also have a special cutting design for lower machine power requirements, better chip removal and coolant flow, better thread finishes, and closer tolerance pitch diameter size. Use carbide taps for highly abrasive materials such as cast iron and aluminum. Also excellent for use on cast brass, cobalt chrome alloys, copper and copper alloys, fiberglass, and soft plastics. Carbon steel taps are for jobs that don't require the accuracy of high-speed steel taps and don't need resistance to heat and abrasion (such as in some hand-tapping jobs).
Surface Coatings Coatings improve tap life by as much as 300 to 800 percent over uncoated (bright finish) taps. They also improve the part's surface finish and let you use faster cutting speeds.
TiN (Titanium Nitride)— This gold-colored coating works with a variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Not for wrought aluminum and titanium alloys. TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride)— Harder, tougher, and more wear resistant than TiN, TiCN is becoming increasingly popular. Works in a variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Color is blue-gray violet.
Surface Treatments
Chrome Plating— Adds hardness to tap threads, improves lubricity, reduces loading, and offers cool cutting. Use on a wide variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Silver color.
Oxide— Prevents buildup or welding of workpiece materials on tap surfaces in ferrous materials. Reduces friction between tap and workpiece while providing a porous layer to hold lubricants. Avoid use with nonferrous materials. Blue-black color.
Oxide Over Nitride— Use on ferrous materials, high-temperature alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, free-machining steels, iron, high-tensile steels, and stainless steels. Blue-black color.
Nitride— For use on both ferrous and nonferrous abrasive materials that dull taps. Improves surface toughness of the tap. Use on aluminum, cast iron, brass, bronze, die castings, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Colorless.
Tapping Fluids
The use of tapping fluids is highly recommended for best tapping results. Using tapping fluids increases tap life and production, provides more efficient control of chips, and reduces the frequency of tap resharpening. Fluids are more effective if applied under pressure. Using a top and bottom stream of fluid is desirable when tapping horizontally where the tap is stationary and the part revolves. Do not use a lubricant with hard plastics. Use compressed air to remove chips.
Hope this helps! "
keep in mind thread chasers are not TAPS, they are designed to straiten bent threads and clean them without cutting or removing metal, while taps actually cut threads and remove metal.
your local pro-tool supply stores will generally have a wide selection but don,t be surprised at the prices for the better sets, and be aware the cheaper sets are just that..cheaper, and usually not in a good sense!
you generally get what you pay for and taps and dies run from pure crap imported from over seas (INDIA/CHINA) that tend to cost well under $100 for a 40 piece set, too high quality American or German made sets easily costing $300 plus, yes the more expensive sets ARE WELL WORTH IT if you are doing an almost constant repair and assembly, the cheap crap tends to break and cause almost as much grief as its supposed to cure!
One neighbor of mine ,he found two rather extensive sets,SAE/METRIC TAP & DIE SETS MADE IN EUROPE NOT CHINA, at a yard sale,that were for sale, where a widow was moving after selling her home,
the garage was being cleared out, and it was rather obvious she had no clue what the stuff was,
that the tools had a bit of surface rust on only a few pieces and one or two missing pieces but he only paid a negotiated $130 for both sets.
I hope I can slip him a few bucks extra profit and get the stuff as he has as much use for it as a pelican has for snow shoes as he can,t and won,t,
even attempt to do an oil change, he simply bought the stuff because hes seen similar stuff around my shop and realizes its not cheap, and he got it at a bargain price.
http://www.jegs.com/i/ARP/070/911-0006/10002/-1
http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-110-pc-sae-and-metric-tap-and-die-set.html
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-107-...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
if you use taps youll need several sizes of tap holder t-handles
Lisle 70500 Tap Socket Set (this square drive socket set, socket set allows you to use swivels and ratchets on thread taps)
if youve ever chased threads in a block thats still in a car you have very likely found the typical taps T-handle can have clearance issues
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-70500-...65953&creativeASIN=B0002SRFOE&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER
https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.c...SKUs&msclkid=51e6168ce34c1039d01d4b9e7013b0f7
THESE ARE THREAD CHASERS NOT TAPS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE METAL
the plews 50-347 I bought last year at that auto parts store, is still working fine so for the $15 I paid its been worth the price
https://www.tooltopia.com/plews_lubrimatic-50-347.aspx
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0MG-0023-00016
OH! in case your curious
I own TWO now , I bought a second one several month later, too use for cutting oil when I use the MILLING MACHINE or DRILL PRESS
as MMO, works buts its not ideal cutting oil for drill bits and end mills
http://www.amazon.com/CRC-SL2512-Solubl ... r+drilling
http://www.imperialinc.com/pdf/I_Tap&DieChart.pdf
http://www.baystatetoolsupply.com/index ... x&cPath=68
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/ProductDispl ... ogId=12605
https://mdm6121.800cart.com/?product=R173-ETDS110M
http://www.toolsnow.com/browse.cfm/4,1559.html
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 515x00001c
http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp? ... 1235354814
http://www.wttool.com/category-exec/cat ... p_Die_Sets
WIDGETMASTER POSTED THIS INFO
"Types of Taps
Spiral Point Taps— Also known as gun taps, they have an angular point that shears and shoots chips out ahead of the tap. This keeps chips from clogging the flutes, thus reducing tap breakage. Spiral point taps are generally stronger than hand taps and can be run faster with less power. Use them in through-holes and holes two diameters deeper than the required thread length.
Hand Taps— Have straight flutes for hand and machine threading. Although most are used in machine operations today, the traditional name "hand tap" lives on.
Spiral Flute Taps— Also called helical flute taps, the spiral flute uses a lifting action to remove stringy chips that form when tapping soft materials such as aluminum, brass, copper, and magnesium. Use in deep holes, blind holes, and holes with a keyway or gap.
Pipe Taps— Use for internal threading of pipe, pipe fittings, and holes in which you'll be assembling threaded pipe.
Specialty Taps— Include thread forming, extension, nut, ACME tandem, and combined taps and drills.
Materials
Most taps are made of high-speed steel in grades M-1 and M-7, which are for use in a variety of applications on ferrous and nonferrous materials. High performance taps are made of premium high-speed steels and work well on stainless steel, nickel-based alloys, and other exotic metals. Premium steels add abrasion and heat resistance for longer tap life and better tap performance. These taps also have a special cutting design for lower machine power requirements, better chip removal and coolant flow, better thread finishes, and closer tolerance pitch diameter size. Use carbide taps for highly abrasive materials such as cast iron and aluminum. Also excellent for use on cast brass, cobalt chrome alloys, copper and copper alloys, fiberglass, and soft plastics. Carbon steel taps are for jobs that don't require the accuracy of high-speed steel taps and don't need resistance to heat and abrasion (such as in some hand-tapping jobs).
Surface Coatings Coatings improve tap life by as much as 300 to 800 percent over uncoated (bright finish) taps. They also improve the part's surface finish and let you use faster cutting speeds.
TiN (Titanium Nitride)— This gold-colored coating works with a variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Not for wrought aluminum and titanium alloys. TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride)— Harder, tougher, and more wear resistant than TiN, TiCN is becoming increasingly popular. Works in a variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Color is blue-gray violet.
Surface Treatments
Chrome Plating— Adds hardness to tap threads, improves lubricity, reduces loading, and offers cool cutting. Use on a wide variety of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Silver color.
Oxide— Prevents buildup or welding of workpiece materials on tap surfaces in ferrous materials. Reduces friction between tap and workpiece while providing a porous layer to hold lubricants. Avoid use with nonferrous materials. Blue-black color.
Oxide Over Nitride— Use on ferrous materials, high-temperature alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, free-machining steels, iron, high-tensile steels, and stainless steels. Blue-black color.
Nitride— For use on both ferrous and nonferrous abrasive materials that dull taps. Improves surface toughness of the tap. Use on aluminum, cast iron, brass, bronze, die castings, magnesium, zinc, and copper. Colorless.
Tapping Fluids
The use of tapping fluids is highly recommended for best tapping results. Using tapping fluids increases tap life and production, provides more efficient control of chips, and reduces the frequency of tap resharpening. Fluids are more effective if applied under pressure. Using a top and bottom stream of fluid is desirable when tapping horizontally where the tap is stationary and the part revolves. Do not use a lubricant with hard plastics. Use compressed air to remove chips.
Hope this helps! "
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