CLINK! Broke (another) tap. Wisdom?

[HoosierBuddy]

Check out p/n 2523A448.)
Good luck!

I wanted to report back to everyone that I got the "gun tap" cyato references here from McMaster Carr and I love it.

I had to tap 4 each 5/16 fine thread holes in 1/4" aluminum and it is just as cyato suggested. I chucked the gun tap up in a cordless drill and did all 4 in less than a minute. No backwards action necessary. Just spin it through the drilled hole at a slow speed and bam...done.

Thanks cyato!

Phil

 

[cyato]

Hey Phil,

I'm really glad you tried it out! Much better experience than your previous tapping attempts huh? BTW, the cover plate you posted looks great!

And to answer flippin's earlier question, the taps we got from McMaster are from Widia. Never heard of them but US made and great quality.

What brand were the ones you got Phil? We buy lots of stuff from McMaster and always get top quality stuff.

Chris

 

[RAYJAY]

BTW TapMagic cutting oil works well, the old "toxic" formula was the best.

all the toxic stuff worked better

 

[KenS]

No. I milled it out of 1/4" 6061 aluminum

Since you used a mill, did you try a spring-loaded tap guide? Best $10 you'll spend (you can easily make your own) and can be used with a mill, drill press, lathe or dedicated tap stand.

I use Tap Magic but I've heard of very good results using WD40 as cutting fluid with aluminum. Result is a well-formed threaded hole square to the surface. Tap breakage is almost nil as long has you break and clear the chips.

Spring-loaded tap guide in action in a mill...

...and another one in a mill...

...taping hole for rifle gunsight...

...one in a drill press...

...and on a lathe.

This one is made out of spring-loaded punch.