advice on a couple tools

[nevertoomanytools]

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer and vendor for individual taps and dies preferably HSS? They'll mainly be used for cleaning threads. I have a china set and am just looking to replace my m6 and maybe a couple others depending on price. I'm also looking for a good T-handle tap driver (ratcheting would be nice) and a good antenna socket set. Does anyone have a recommendation as far as which set is the most complete and contains the most common types?

 

[Wamsutta]

I like Morse taps, dies, and General Tool Co T-handles.

 

[LB-1911]

Can anyone recommend a good manufacturer and vendor for individual taps and dies preferably HSS?

They'll mainly be used for cleaning threads.

I have a china set and am just looking to replace my m6 and maybe a couple others depending on price. I'm also looking for a good T-handle tap driver (ratcheting would be nice) and a good antenna socket set. Does anyone have a recommendation as far as which set is the most complete and contains the most common types?

Staying true to your screen name -



Craftsman 48-pc Thread Restorer Master Kit (Snap-on RTD48 / MAC TRCOMBO-48)

48 Piece Set

Rethreader Taps:

National Coarse: 1/4 -20, 5/16 -18, 3/8 -16, 7/16 -14, 1/2 -13, 9/16 -12.

National Fine: 1/4 -28, 5/16 -24, 3/8 -24, 7/16 -20, 1/2 -20, 9/16 -18.

Metric: 6 -1.00, 8 - 1.25, 10 -1.00, 10 -1.25, 11-1.50, 10 - 1.50, 12 -1.25, 12 -1.50, 12 -1.75, 14 -1.50


Rethreader Dies:

National Coarse: 1/4 - 20, 5/16 - 18, 3/8 - 16, 7/16 in. - 14, 1/2 - 13, 9/16 - 12, 5/8 - 11.

National Fine: 1/4 - 28, 5/16 - 24, 3/8 - 24, 7/16 - 20, 1/2 - 20, 9/16 - 18, 5/8 - 18.

Metric: 6 -1.00, 8 -1.25, 10 -1.00, 10 -1.25, 10 -1.50, 11 -1.50, 12 -1.25, 12 -1.50, 12 -1.75, 14 -1.50


Thread Files:

US Thread Pitch 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24.

Metric Thread Pitch: .75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00, 2.50, 3.00.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Lisle makes an antenna socket set, you can also get the individual sockets off the tool trucks.

You should be able to get the lisle set at most chain auto part stores

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have the craftsman 48 pcs thread restorer set, If I was going to buy a new set of taps and die's I would go with the gear wrench ratcheting tap and die set.
I hope you do realize that a thread restorer is not a tap and die set and vise a versa.

 

[PJNJ]

This is the company that makes the set for Craftsman and others -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003QHQEPE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Probably almost the same price with shipping at Tooltopia -
http://www.tooltopia.com/kastar-hand-tools-971.aspx

I have the set and it works just fine for cleaning and repairing threads.

 

[scissorman]

Like was already said, if you want to cut new threads then you need a cutting tap, if you only want to "clean up" existing threads then you want a thread restorer.

 

[LB-1911]

Jaw Manufacturing Co.* is another source -

Rethreading Tap, Die & File Sets
http://handtools.jawco.com/viewitems/all-categories/rethreading-tap-die-file-sets-2?&plpver=10

Individual Rethreading Dies & Taps
http://handtools.jawco.com/category/individual-rethreading-dies-taps

*http://www.jawco.com/about_us.html

 

[nevertoomanytools]

what is the differerence between those "thread restorer" kits, a taper tap, and a rethreading tap/die?

But yeah I was really looking at just picking up a real nice tap/die in 6mm as that is 99% of what I use then for... I have all the other sizes and rarely use them but have already worn out the 6mm die.

 

[LB-1911]

what is the differerence between those "thread restorer" kits, a taper tap, and a rethreading tap/die?

Start here....

Thread chaser tap or regular tap?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=295282

I'm sure there will be others chiming in later.....

 

[Soslow]

I have a general tools and instruments tap handle from Amazon and it works good for me.