Best starter Tap and Die set?

[John McA]

Looking for high quality.

Just getting tired dealing with poor results from my old chinesium stuff that I bought. A large quantity set. So, I always have the size but just meh results.
I just purchased a couple of plug taps 1/4 20 from McMaster and they look very good. Using them for a hand truck wheel upgrade. Comparing them to my SAE junk made me realize I need to upgrade my tap and die set.

Have a Vermont 40 piece that does my metric uses. Seems good.

Opinions and comments appreciated
John McA

 

[Noworries]

Well... if you are happy with the VA set in metric get the SAE set... the issue I have with multiple sets is you are also paying for another set of die stocks and tap handles, my advise, as you already seem to have a lot of experience with your SAE set.. buy individual taps and dies in the sizes you often use.

 

[tyyost]

Our friends at Astro make some nice sets for mechanics. https://www.astrotools.com/automotive-tap-die-set-metric.html
If I was starting from scratch I would start there.

I always struggle between keeping the possible sets of tools I need on hand, against ordering singles of high-quality ones from mcmaster. The sets I have range from some Irwin sets, older USA craftsman, to some newer Astro sets I got from a deal on Woot.

They are quality and the ratcheting handle is super handy.

 

[John McA]

Yes.
Gosh. I didn't think of that. I already use my better stocks and handles anyway, i don't need mobility or stand alone. Assumed the sets were cheaper per tap. Doh!
Thank you!

BTW, I purchased a hex ended tap with 1/4 hex fitting. It is a sweet looking plug tap. Can't wait to try it out.

Any thoughts on carbon over HSS?

Thank you,
John McA

 

[sberry]

I will buy a new one across the counter at the parts store on occasion when doing some work. A guy should have a couple 3 1/4 20 and on occasion they get ruined or modified even. You want a set but then add singles from some economical place as needed or used.

 

[bob15]

Why not just continue to buy the 3 piece tap sets from McMaster in the sizes you need?

 

[dubdoc]

I got this great set from Canadian Tire. One fantastic starter kit.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have a couple of general use USA made HSS tap/die sets, but I only use them as a last resort. If I know I'm going to be working on a project I will buy a quality, machine shop tap from McMaster or another industrial supplier ahead of time. Just today I was working on a project that is notoriously hard on taps. With a proper chip clearing tap it was cake. A general use tap would've been an *** puckering chore.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have some misc taps from fastenall and menards. I did get a performance tool brand and they are ok but the handles are junk. if i were to do it again I would probably get Vermont American or irwin

 

[larry_g]

If you want the best then your going to have to stop looking at mechanics and homeowner sets. Me I've finally settled on OSG taps. That said you then need to know the material that you are cutting and get the correct tap that will cut that material. Creating a tapped hole is different than correcting munged up threads. For that you will probably want a thread restoration tap.

Same for thread dies, https://www.mscdirect.com/products/thread-dies
notice there are thread cutting dies, round dies, and rethreading dies, hex.

MSC also has sets but they are not the premium vendors.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Lucid Moments]

I want to pick up a set too, but would use them more for thread repair than for cutting new threads. Anyone have suggestions for that? Right now I mostly make do with a set of thread files but those don't work very well for female threads.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I want to pick up a set too, but would use them more for thread repair than for cutting new threads. Anyone have suggestions for that? Right now I mostly make do with a set of thread files but those don't work very well for female threads.

Use thread chasers. Made for this exact purpose.

 

[M6erfan]

I want to pick up a set too, but would use them more for thread repair than for cutting new threads. Anyone have suggestions for that? Right now I mostly make do with a set of thread files but those don't work very well for female threads.

http://handtools.jawco.com/viewitems/all-categories/rethreading-tap-die-file-sets-2

 

[BiggityBen]

the one and only Gearwrench tool i'll ever recommend is their tap and die set with the ratcheting driver. the best thread chaser is what Snap On rebrands, it's the Lang set.

(for automotive general use)

 

[HenryAZ]

I have Irwin SAE and Irwin metric sets. Probably not the top of the line, but they have done what I needed. Home hobbyist, not production. For 3 most used sizes in different applications, I have also purchased the Irwin 3 tap sets (taper, plug, and bottom). M6 x 1.0, M8 x 1.25, and M10 x 1.50. I tend to use those sets more often than individual taps from the larger set. I need the bottom tap more often than I thought I would, so I work my way through the 3 taps in the set to make a bottomed tapped hole.

 

[Woodtick]

I also have the Gearwrench set,perfect for my occasional diy use.

 

[matt_i]

Mostly have GTD which is McMaster Carr's "house brand" of taps. Every "set" I've ever looked and or used I deemed inferior quality to that baseline - they basically have to be made to a price point.

While I have a few bottoming taps, the workhorse is the spiral-point/gun tap. Thicker cross section and ideal for making thru-holes. They also work in blind holes and work as restorers...I work in a production line where I am approached with this problem every other week, someone has cross-threaded a fastener or chewed the first few threads out of a hole. I gave you the secret sauce above. The rest is just experience which I can't give you

 

[Fluelikesymptoms]

I would highly recommend buying Apex taps in the sizes you use alot. They also make tap holders such as https://apexbits.com/apex-tap-holding-sockets-male-hex-drive-metric.aspx which work really well but you you might consider tacking in place one of the adjustment screws. The downside is that tap holder would be specific to that one tap, which would become expensive. You can even tack a die to the top of it and use it as a die holder for your drill. I don't think I would spend the money on buying an extensive set though, as that would get expensive. I say just get what you use most, there very high quality, you would have to have used the tap for a long time before one ever breaks on you.


That said, I've never used gearwrenches tap and die set, I am curious to the quality of them. I would imagine that they are pretty decent, but you never know

 

[lardy1]

A couple years ago some resellers were peddling NOS Made In USA, NAPA branded sets pretty reasonable. I bought a set but don't cut threads very often.

 

[908Jim]

The big question is what do you need them for?

For general auto repair work, most people are better served with thread "repair" sets that form threads, rather than a traditional tap/die that cuts threads, ultimately weakening them. The Lang tools set seems to be rebranded and resold often:

https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.c...RrQNXwIzbtM7xLxFHC53N-1GBrmfP45saAjjVEALw_wcB

 

[plc268]

Mostly have GTD which is McMaster Carr's "house brand" of taps. Every "set" I've ever looked and or used I deemed inferior quality to that baseline - they basically have to be made to a price point.

While I have a few bottoming taps, the workhorse is the spiral-point/gun tap. Thicker cross section and ideal for making thru-holes. They also work in blind holes and work as restorers...I work in a production line where I am approached with this problem every other week, someone has cross-threaded a fastener or chewed the first few threads out of a hole. I gave you the secret sauce above. The rest is just experience which I can't give you

Yea, the widia gtd taps I bought on McMaster Carr blew all the other taps I've used out of various sets out of the water.

I've been buying my taps piecemeal over time now, and I also buy the seperate taper, plug, and bottom taps. I'm just a home gamer, so I'm comfortable buying a few taps for common sizes and ordering any new tap for uncommon sizes when the situation arises.

 

[John McA]

Original Poster here:

Greetings all,
Thanks for the advice, strategy and tactics..
Yes to the big question what am I using them on?
I use to tap and die alum mostly. Easy peasy. Usually metric. If doing quantity the Vermont stuff was brandished and, served well. $347 for the 40 piece SAE set looks too pricey. I have great handles that make the cheap set handles blush. I have a nice large tap drawer that sits fairly empty. I think i might just purchase pairs a little at a time from McMaster and slowly fill that up as I go along.

I prototype as a hobby. Sometimes I corner myself into providing an architectural detail that I need to engineer and also produce as a one off solution that will never be mass produced yet still exceed life safety requirements, durability, etc.
As of late I have been working with unknown grades of steel. Learning as I go.

So. Here is why I started this thread (sic):
I am making a 1/4 20 threaded blind hole approximately 4 diameters deep in each end of a 1/2" dia. bar. Its an axle for a hand-truck I'm hot rodding with some 8 in. wheels. The plastic wheels folded. I lent the truck out. Doh! Now I need to fix. The replacement wheels I brought out of storage are alum. zerc fittings, roller bearings. Rat Fink Kool.

Gonna stop now to see if USA is going to splash land some space dudes safely.

Good luck,
John McA

 

[lardy1]

The big question is what do you need them for?

For general auto repair work, most people are better served with thread "repair" sets that form threads, rather than a traditional tap/die that cuts threads, ultimately weakening them. The Lang tools set seems to be rebranded and resold often:

https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.c...RrQNXwIzbtM7xLxFHC53N-1GBrmfP45saAjjVEALw_wcB

I use my Jawco thread restorers a lot. I don't use taps and dies for thread restoration since I got it. I run most threads that I'm reusing. It's my own stuff and I'm retired. I can do stuff like that and pretend I'm good at it (which I certainly am not).

 

[jayemm]

I keep seeing it mentioned that using a tap or die removes material and weakens the threads and therefore it's best to use a rethreading set to clean up threads.Just how bad are those threads that need so much material removed as to be unsafe.Maybe the item needs replaced.It's like I keep seeing this"you need a rethreading set" mantra being repeated as if it's gospel.As a DIY ,I find a decent tap& die set is more flexible and sufficient for the occasional thread that needs cleaned up.Actually find way more dirty/gunked threads than damaged.And still have the means to cut threads.If you are actively wrenching alot then I can see a rethreading set,but for the few that I encounter and clean up with minimum material removal,that 50$ (?) for the rethreading set can go for better things.Just my .02.

 

[Sidchrome]

P&N or Sutton’s or Starrett or other good quality tool steel manufacturer.

For thread repair a Die Nut plus a Bottom/Plug tap, would be my recommendation. Just buy the ones you use.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Years ago, I started to put together a set buying individually. I found Hansen tap with a drill bit at a local Surplus tool store (Shelby Mall). That was going good til I needed a tap that I didn't have so I went to Sears and bought a complete SAE set.

Since then, I have bought individual taps/dies for what I need. I keep them in a plastic Plano box with the correct drill bit if I can, along with tap size/drill wrote on the lid.

 

[racinfarmer]

I bought a Irwin 24614 set from Fleet Farm for somewhere around $60, I think. It is a SAE set and have added in metric stuff on an as-needed basis. Right now it is just snowmobile stuff, and those only take like 3 different sizes.

Also have a el cheapo metric set from the usual scum bags as a oh-s set.

I like the idea of buying better quality individuals, but for what I so, I really don't want to wait a day or tree and probably forget what I needed it for anyway.