Looking for a nice under $200 Tap and Die set.

[bassJAM]

I have a 50 piece inch/metric Craftsman set I bought in the early 2000's, and it's more than served my needs. The couple taps I've broken were 100% my fault of trying to go too fast, and I've replaced those with Irwen sets. For a weekend warrior like myself who might only need a tap or die a 2-3 times a year a "set" is plenty good enough. If you have a project where you'll be cutting dozens or more of a specific size it's probably worth getting a better tap or die for that job, but an affordable set will clean out a lot of messed up threads and cut a few new threads for a lot less money.

 

[bob15]

Angry much? No need to call me names.

Top results on Amazon.com searching "Starrett Tap Handle", so maybe I should have said $51.62 to $165.87 to be more accurate....



The grand comment is if you tried to buy all the pieces of a regular set in singles...average 100 piece tap and die set, $10/piece on average = $1000. Makes no sense buying singles to have on hand all the variety a regular joe would want. 99% of people using taps at home are not making new holes, they're chasing stuff or fixing stuff and don't know the sizes they'll need in advance. I sure as hell don't want to have to order and wait a couple days to get the single tap because I ran into a size I don't have when repairing a lawn mower or something.

You sound like the guy who would say only Snap-On tools work and anything else is a waste of money. Might as well just buy sockets in singles too right? No point in getting any socket set since they're all **** unless you buy them the most expensive way possible and if you don't do that, they will all break and not turn the bolt.

Called you a name? Seriously? And your grand is still way out of line, not to mention a $165 tap handle that even your precision set doesn't even go up to. So lets stay within apples-to-apples. Now, go to one of the website sites and see what a 3 piece set really costs......hint: smaller machine screw sizes ~$15, larger sizes ~$ 20.

Or here is a nice set and a far cry from for grand (again): https://www.mcmaster.com/82955A11/?SrchEntryWebPart_InpBox=

Never said I only use Snap On...in fact, if you ever read my posts, you would have learned years ago that a majority of my hand tools (wrenches, sockets, extensions, etc) are from a company that has been out of business for over 20 years. And if I were buying new, I would buy Wright....

 

[ItsNemo]

Called you a name? Seriously? And your grand is still way out of line, not to mention a $165 tap handle that even your precision set doesn't even go up to. So lets stay within apples-to-apples. Now, go to one of the website sites and see what a 3 piece set really costs......hint: smaller machine screw sizes ~$15, larger sizes ~$ 20.

Or here is a nice set and a far cry from for grand (again): https://www.mcmaster.com/82955A11/?SrchEntryWebPart_InpBox=

Never said I only use Snap On...in fact, if you ever read my posts, you would have learned years ago that a majority of my hand tools (wrenches, sockets, extensions, etc) are from a company that has been out of business for over 20 years. And if I were buying new, I would buy Wright....

You called me a "keyboard commando", typical insult when you think you are superior for whatever reason.

Ahh look a set, better deal than buying singles, go figure. Using your 3 piece or singles example...how much would it cost if you wanted all the common metric and standard taps and dies in those sizes? Say from M3-M14 and 4-40 through 5/8". Go ahead, do the math, I'll wait. Hint: It's more than $1000. Hence the set is the better approach if you need a variety on hand and not just singles to do a specific job.

Also it was a range of prices not just $165, I said $75-125 initially which is right in line for a tap handle single. Learn to read.

The Snap-On thing was an example of the absurdity of buying single taps, an analogy to put it into easier to understand terms, common technique when explaining something to someone who doesn't understand.

 

[JOE.G]

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

redirect.viglink.com

What brand are the Tap's in this set? I like that it has the drill bits as well, This would be considered a high quality set?

 

[Mandres]

Mcmaster never discloses the brand, but you can be assured they're top quality. Probably greenfield.

That said, what homeowner wants to spend $500 on a set? My recommendation is this set from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SG6C4A4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
That gets you the common sae sizes and the bits to match. And/or get the metric set depending on your needs. Then get a 0-1/4 tap handle (the starrett is ~$30 and really nice, and a 1/4 - 1/2 tap handle (harbor freight has a nice Taiwanese model for ~$20). Add a set of cheap dies if you need em, because if those break it doesn't ruin your whole day like a tap will.

Thats what I did at least

 

[bassJAM]

Mcmaster never discloses the brand, but you can be assured they're top quality. Probably greenfield.

That said, what homeowner wants to spend $500 on a set? My recommendation is this set from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SG6C4A4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
That gets you the common sae sizes and the bits to match. And/or get the metric set depending on your needs. Then get a 0-1/4 tap handle (the starrett is ~$30 and really nice, and a 1/4 - 1/2 tap handle (harbor freight has a nice Taiwanese model for ~$20). Add a set of cheap dies if you need em, because if those break it doesn't ruin your whole day like a tap will.

Thats what I did at least

Having the bits like that included is really nice. While I have a set of taps, often I need to go buy bits one at a time to match up.

 

[mikegt4]

Mcmaster never discloses the brand, but you can be assured they're top quality. Probably greenfield.

That said, what homeowner wants to spend $500 on a set? My recommendation is this set from amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SG6C4A4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
That gets you the common sae sizes and the bits to match. And/or get the metric set depending on your needs. Then get a 0-1/4 tap handle (the starrett is ~$30 and really nice, and a 1/4 - 1/2 tap handle (harbor freight has a nice Taiwanese model for ~$20). Add a set of cheap dies if you need em, because if those break it doesn't ruin your whole day like a tap will.

Thats what I did at least

McMaster will tell you the brand if you ask. I agree they are probably Greenfield, McM always sells the top quality brands.

If McM listed the supplier for every item or even a fraction of their items they would have to redo their website every day. The hard copy catalog would be obsolete before the ink dried. I can see their point of not publishing the supplier.

 

[larry_g]

At the end of the day, it’s not my money, or my parts. I really don’t care.

If I only tapped one hole a year, I’d still get good taps.

It’s not about “getting away” with a cheap set. It’s not about using it once or twice a month.


It’s about snapping off a cheap tap down in a hole because you cheaped out and bought ****. It’s about getting furious when your tap breaking causes you HOURS of extra work because you tried to save a buck.

Do what you will. I give no fucks.

My brother has a saying," Don't confuse me with facts, my mind is made up." I'm thinking your arguing against this at this point. It's up to the OP to separate the wheat from the chaff at this point.

Me, I can't afford cheap tools.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[shawhite]

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

redirect.viglink.com

What brand are the Tap's in this set? I like that it has the drill bits as well, This would be considered a high quality set?

Pretty sure that set is Irwin/Hanson but you can find it relabeled by several tool trucks.

IRWIN Tap And Die Set with Drill Bits, Machine Screw/SAE/Metric, 117-Piece (26377) - Hex Shank Drill Bits - Amazon.com

IRWIN Tap And Die Set with Drill Bits, Machine Screw/SAE/Metric, 117-Piece (26377) - Hex Shank Drill Bits - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[shawhite]

Even though Irwin sets say made in USA some of the handles are made in China and you can quickly tell however they will warranty them with another made in China handle if it happens to break. I can see both sides of this discussion. A lot of DIY guys have probably never used a quality HSS tap or die and can’t understand the difference so they tend to gravitate to the sets. The guys that have experience with quality taps and dies can’t fathom using anything less because there is a night and day difference. I made the mistake of buying a set first and replacing the most used taps with quality HSS taps but if I had to do it over I would get an empty case of my choosing and quality handles and fill in as needed.