inexpensive tap & die set

[ct111]

can someone suggest a decent tap & die set sae & metric for diy home use mostly for retapping stripped threads and such . no real heavy duty use. but dont want any junk either. thanks

 

[kmacht]

Tap and dies are one of those tools where you get what you pay for. The cheaper ones don't seem to be hardened / tempered correctly and have a tendancy to break (usually in a very inconvenient spot). If I were you I would just buy the taps in the sizes that you need as you need them.

Keith

 

[Catamount]

+1

Until you break a tap off 1/2 down a hole you will not understand. Buy the best you can afford!

 

[richfinn]

I,ve been a tech for 25 years and I get by with 5 metric taps and dies/2 spark plug chasers/a thread file/set of metric drill bits and a pitch gauge. They are all decent quality (Dormer) and I use a variety of drives like tap sockets/ratcheting tap wrenches and my dies are hex so I can use sockets/spanners on them. I went this route after using my bosses Snap On set (the taps and dies were good quality but the drive tools sucked) apart from the few metric sizes we actually used in that set, everything else was useless to us.

 

[concealer404]

The most expensive sets at HF are actually decent for light-duty use. NOTE: THE MOST EXPENSIVE SETS. Don't bother with the cheap ones.

http://www.harborfreight.com/45-pie...ide-coated-alloy-steel-tap-die-set-41452.html

That set. SAE is also $90.

Otherwise i agree with everything said so far. Tap and Die sets are one of those things you don't cheap out on.

 

[admranger]

I have found the thread chaser sets to be more useful than a tap/die set. Sears is where I got mine (online). It has seen 100x more use than my many tap/die sets.

Also, I concur with the don't buy cheap taps/dies. You will (and I have) regretted it.

 

[Justin1776]

Irwin hanson makes a nice set

http://www.tooltopia.com/irwin-hanson-vise-grip-26376.aspx

 

[shoturtle]

I got a set made in taiwan for 25 dollars for each. If you do not use it that often, it may not be worth getting something more expensive. Here are 2 that should do the job.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPR3WK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NQ176C/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[fivespdcat]

I have found the thread chaser sets to be more useful than a tap/die set. Sears is where I got mine (online). It has seen 100x more use than my many tap/die sets.

Also, I concur with the don't buy cheap taps/dies. You will (and I have) regretted it.

+1, a general home owner does not need a tap and die set, especially in both sae and metric. Pick up the chaser set for $50 and save the cash…

 

[bobcatdan]

Irwin sets are what I would recommand. They are still USA and are the supplier for the the tool trucks. Some guys here will whine that they are not up to machinist standards, but they hold up fine for mechanics. Depending on what you are doing, a retread kit maybe all you need. Do you want to cut threads or just clean them up?

 

[hickmlg09]

Have you checked out pawn shops and flea markets? Maybe ebay?