Good Tap and Die sets - Metric and English

[thepumpguysc]

Theres a 74-76pc Irwin set on the Charleston Sc craigs list for 100.00!!!!

 

[wmasmith]

Theres a 74-76pc Irwin set on the Charleston Sc craigs list for 100.00!!!!

Looks like it got listed again in Summerville.

 

[Mace Canute]

As an alternative...Ask Santa to bring you quality comprehensive drill bit indexes and some quality cutting fluid and a quality set of tap and die braces...then assemble your actual taps and dies piece meal as you need them...with about any "set" there will be items/sizes you use often and others that will rarely if ever be required by the average DIYer...and they raise the cost of full sets...

When dealing with taps there will be breakages (especially with small ones)...buy two at a time if the project is time critical and there are a lot of holes to thread etc.

Personally I use dozens of different taps dozens of times a year but I have only ever used a couple of different dies (making custom joysticks)...so another reason buying pieces rather than sets has worked for me.

This is very good advise. Buying piece meal allows you to buy high quality taps and/or dies that get used the most and for the odd usage cheaper/lower quality (but not crap!) taps will usually do. You have to remember, a cheap and crap quality tap (and maybe die) sooner or later is going to be the most expensive tool in your shop. If you have never used a high quality tap, buy one just so you can see first hand what a difference it makes. The smaller you go in size the more this becomes important.

 

[powerscol]

This is very good advise. Buying piece meal allows you to buy high quality taps and/or dies that get used the most and for the odd usage cheaper/lower quality (but not crap!) taps will usually do. You have to remember, a cheap and crap quality tap (and maybe die) sooner or later is going to be the most expensive tool in your shop. If you have never used a high quality tap, buy one just so you can see first hand what a difference it makes. The smaller you go in size the more this becomes important.

Please enlighten me as what are the high quality taps/dies (materials, coatings, brands, etc). I know nothing about this. What should I look for. I may go this way as in searching through my tools I already have 6 (different brands on 4) and a tap handle that fits 4 of them. As I already have the good drill bits, perhaps this is the way to go. Ill just need to plan ahead and organize what I have so I know at a glance. Also on the cutting fluid - I have used mortor oil and WD40, etc. Is there a difference?

Thanks - Keith

 

[downsizingnow48]

Please enlighten me as what are the high quality taps/dies (materials, coatings, brands, etc). I know nothing about this. What should I look for. I may go this way as in searching through my tools I already have 6 (different brands on 4) and a tap handle that fits 4 of them. As I already have the good drill bits, perhaps this is the way to go. Ill just need to plan ahead and organize what I have so I know at a glance. Also on the cutting fluid - I have used mortor oil and WD40, etc. Is there a difference?

Thanks - Keith

I use black plumber's cutting oil for most things. For threading I use TapMagic. For aluminum I use WD40.

 

[Mace Canute]

Please enlighten me as what are the high quality taps/dies (materials, coatings, brands, etc). I know nothing about this. What should I look for. I may go this way as in searching through my tools I already have 6 (different brands on 4) and a tap handle that fits 4 of them. As I already have the good drill bits, perhaps this is the way to go. Ill just need to plan ahead and organize what I have so I know at a glance. Also on the cutting fluid - I have used mortor oil and WD40, etc. Is there a difference?

Thanks - Keith

A couple of the good brand names are OSG, Butterfield, Morse and Reiff & Nestor. There are other too of course. Pretty well any industrial supply shop will carry the better quality ones.

downsizingnow48 does the same as I do.

 

[powerscol]

A couple of the good brand names are OSG, Butterfield, Morse and Reiff & Nestor. There are other too of course. Pretty well any industrial supply shop will carry the better quality ones.

downsizingnow48 does the same as I do.

Thanks for the brand to look for.

Currently most stores here carry Craftsmen or Ace brand, and IRWIN. There may be others. Ill haft to keep and eye out or plan ahead - like I would do that :confused3::laughing:. I'm usually hiney deep into the project and remember I need it now.

Thanks for the information folks.

 

[JRobyn]

IMHO, what makes a GOOD tap (especially) is the metallurgy. It's tricky to get just the right combination of soft enough to be able to machine the tap threads properly, hard enough to cut well without wearing, and tough enough to not be prone to snap off. So, the very best quality tool steel combined with very precise heat treatment.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks for the brand to look for.

Currently most stores here carry Craftsmen or Ace brand, and IRWIN. There may be others. Ill haft to keep and eye out or plan ahead - like I would do that :confused3::laughing:. I'm usually hiney deep into the project and remember I need it now.

Thanks for the information folks.

I believe both Ace and Craftsman are carbon steel taps/dies. High speed steel is both harder and tougher. The Alloy steel "Pro sets" from Harbor Freight give this advantage at almost the same $ as the name brand carbons. ... Name brand High Speed steel is a step up from the HF alloy steel items. Some of that is superior material. The rest is more precise sharpening. They are very expensive, esp in sizes above 1/2".

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

IMHO, what makes a GOOD tap (especially) is the metallurgy. It's tricky to get just the right combination of soft enough to be able to machine the tap threads properly, hard enough to cut well without wearing, and tough enough to not be prone to snap off. So, the very best quality tool steel combined with very precise heat treatment.

This. the absolute best taps ($$$) are usually Emuge. But I usually buy OSG on sale when I can find them.