Decent Metric Tap & Die Set?

[6PTsocket]

I agree completely on every point you make. A broken tap can quickly make a part junk. Unless you want to use the EDM process to burn it out...... And good luck with that.

I broke my share of taps when learning how to machine many years ago.

I bought a Hanson tap and die set for home back in the 80's and it has never let me down. I hear they are made in China now. So I can't speak to the current quality. I still have all of the original taps and dies except for the 1/4-20 and 3/8 -24 which have been replaced from excessive wear. I use it less and less as time goes on as more and more stuff is metric.

I have no problem replacing a stripped M5 with a 1/4-20 if space allows. I have even replaced an M6 with a 1/4 -20 but you do give up some thread engagement. Use your judgement on that one.

I understand the theory in using a thread chaser which forms a thread vs. a tap which cuts a thread. I once used a chaser in a blind hole on a VW alum. ****** and it made it worse. I don't know why? I have since always use taps to clean internal threads and I have never had any issues.

Keep in mind If a thread is very damaged you need to drill and tap larger or helicoil it.

I once made the mistake of using Tap Free on aluminum and it started to smoke and turn black. That was in the 80's. All the tapping fluids I see now say approved for both steel and alum. Is Aluma Tap still around?

I don't know about the store but Aluma tap is still around on my bench, next to the Tap Free. I have some universal stuff too. I forget the brand


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[PelicanPines]

i get a kick out of everyone who says buy a couple taps in the size you need.

ok, what size is that? .

Well... it takes me 10 minutes round trip to the local store... worse case... Amazon will have it to me in two days. I have enough stuff going on that putting a job down isn't an issue... but the 10 minute solution pretty much has me covered.

 

[6PTsocket]

I can tell you what you don't need. The 9 and 11mm in those sets is useless. Go on line and see if you can even buy nuts and bolts in those sizes. The holders are usually junk and should be replaced, anyway. In those sets that go past 12mm you will rarely use the big ones unless you work on stuff bigger than cars and light trucks. If you use a size heavilly you might want to buy the taper, plug and bottoming taps for that size. As I reccomend buying quality, and like most have to watch my expenses. I would rather spend it on good stuff than a complete set with sizes i will never use. I guess it is,a matter of experience to know what you need. I was mounting a wall light fixture and came across 4mm-.75. I found taps and dies. Try and find any nuts and bolts for sale in that size.

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[MotoCARR]

Great info everyone!

 

[nbpt100]

There is something to be said about having an organized storage box like the Irwin set shown earlier. It helps you find stuff fast and if something is not put back you can see it right away. I see how some are knocking the quality of it because of COO. I can't speak to it but I have purchased some separate Irwin metric taps in the past few years and they seem ok. When you are buying at a retail hardware store your brand options are limited. It is usually Irwin or the Ace/ Master Mechanic house brand which I thought were made by Vermont America, if they are still around. Probally all made in China.

I agree some metric sizes you may never use but that would not be a deal breaker for me if the price and quality were good.

All of my metric taps and dies have been purchased piece mail and stored are in one box. At this point I really don't know what I have. I have to fish through it.
I just thought of it but I could buy a tap index that stores the tap and drill. I just looked and on line they start around $20.

 

[nbpt100]

I don't know about the store but Aluma tap is still around on my bench, next to the Tap Free. I have some universal stuff too. I forget the brand


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I just looked at what I have is a small can of Cool Tool that a sales rep gave me 20 years ago. It is a life time supply for home use. It says good on all ferrous and non ferrous metals. You may give up something with the universal tapping fluids but it beats having to keep two types on hand. I only use it when making a new thread. When chasing I do it dry or use what ever lubricant is in reach.

 

[pstemari]

I've got, yeesh, four Huot tap indexes for SAE machine screw sizes 0-12, for taper, plug, bottoming, and spiral point, an index of spiral points in 1/4"-1/2", a Chicago Latrobe metric tap and drill set in a Huot index, and finally a tray I 3d printed that holds most of the button dies.

I still have a bunch of loose taps :-(





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[T45]

I've got, yeesh, four Huot tap indexes for SAE machine screw sizes 0-12, for taper, plug, bottoming, and spiral point, an index of spiral points in 1/4"-1/2", a Chicago Latrobe metric tap and drill set in a Huot index, and finally a tray I 3d printed that holds most of the button dies.

I still have a bunch of loose taps :-(

Thats a great setup with quality gear.

 

[hondacivic247]

I bought a set of used Vermont american SAE tap and dies off ebay, it's a older set that i believe is carbon but they do work well I had a larger tap and a big tap wrench and was really turning it and it cut and never snapped.

 

[bdelmar2]

I got the 117 piece mac set from craigslist for $100.

I gather its made by Irwin and sold under a lot of other names.

It was in perfect shape with only one or two taps ever having been used from the look of it.

On occasion I see the same set on CL for about the same price give or take, in varying degrees of condition.

You can replace a tap/die or two if they are missing, but individual prices are pretty high compared to the set.

Amazon has the same set for $207 ish.

A couple months ago I saw a huge collection of random taps for $50, but it was too far away from me to justify driving when I didn't actually need them. I would guess a couple hundred at least, probably more, and quite a few larger ones from the look of them.

I don't know if its my area, or just my luck, but I rarely see decent stuff on CL and its even more rare for it to have a reasonable price, but once in a great while I will spot a good deal.

Its worth watching if you have the luxury of time and some patience.

 

[jdlong]

Well... it takes me 10 minutes round trip to the local store... worse case... Amazon will have it to me in two days. I have enough stuff going on that putting a job down isn't an issue... but the 10 minute solution pretty much has me covered.

Completely agree. The OP is looking at a $16 tap and die set. People must be missing that part. All we're saying is spend that kind of money on individual quality sizes you need.

 

[udderlyoffroad]

If it’s thread chasers you need, y’all know you can make one from a bolt with some grooves filed into it, perpendicular with the thread? A little hokey but if you haven’t got the right size tap or thread chaser, this trick will save your bacon.

Brake caliper bolts with some weird fine metric threads (M14x1.5 anyone?) are a classic example of this. The right size tap or thread chaser would cost many beer-tokens, and for the home gamer just not worth it. But, order 3 new caliper bolts instead of 2 (which are about 2 bucks each) and file some grooves in, and you can clean up the female thread, removing the old thread lock and crud without issue.

 

[nbpt100]

If it’s thread chasers you need, y’all know you can make one from a bolt with some grooves filed into it, perpendicular with the thread? A little hokey but if you haven’t got the right size tap or thread chaser, this trick will save your bacon.

Brake caliper bolts with some weird fine metric threads (M14x1.5 anyone?) are a classic example of this. The right size tap or thread chaser would cost many beer-tokens, and for the home gamer just not worth it. But, order 3 new caliper bolts instead of 2 (which are about 2 bucks each) and file some grooves in, and you can clean up the female thread, removing the old thread lock and crud without issue.

Nice idea when in a pinch. You are right about brake caliper bolt threads....Very odd size. I bet they do it to prevent some yahoo from using a cheap grade 2 bolt in place.

 

[bdelmar2]

Completely agree. The OP is looking at a $16 tap and die set. People must be missing that part. All we're saying is spend that kind of money on individual quality sizes you need.

The last single tap I bought down the street at the local small hardware/lumber store was right around $20.

Don't recall the exact size, but it wasn't a large one, something around 3/8" or so. Don't remember the brand either, but it was a decent one as far as quality goes.

I'm sure I could have gotten it for maybe half that or so on amazon, but amazon isn't down the street. Ok, I guess that's not true as I am in an amazon prime now area, but I haven't looked to see if they have tools available.


Quick look on CL gives:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/tls/5842579156.html

Older Craftsman 76 piece set, $65.

Some light surface rust, mostly on the driving tools, Nothing a little wd-40 wouldn't fix, look to be all there and in good, almost unused, shape.

Might even get it for $50.

 

[K-Dog]

i get a kick out of everyone who says buy a couple taps in the size you need.

ok, what size is that?

you most often don't know until it is too late. that is like going out and buying a 1/2 and 9/16 wrench because they are pretty darn common. doesn't do you damn bit of good when you need a 10mm, 12mm, or 5/8. if you think you need tap and dies, get a smaller sets of sae and metric or a combo set and then you at least have a decent chance of having what you need.

In auto body, I have only ever used these four
5mm .8
6mm 1.0
8mm 1.25
10mm 1.25

 

[pstemari]

Re: Decent Metric Tap & Die Set?

In auto body, I have only ever used these four
5mm .8
6mm 1.0
8mm 1.25
10mm 1.25

Which you can pick up in R&N from KBC for about $35.

http://www.kbctools.com/products/CU...TED TAPS/METRIC SPIRAL POINTED TAPS/1735.aspx

More than $16, granted, but US made from HSS and a lot easier to use than the carbon steel junk Irwin puts in hardware stores.

 

[nbpt100]

In auto body, I have only ever used these four
5mm .8
6mm 1.0
8mm 1.25
10mm 1.25

It depends what industry you operate in. An electrician will mostly use a 6-32 or an 8-32.

I use mostly SAE on OPE and metric on Autos. Those threads you listed are very common on cars but some times I use a M12 tap or die of varying pitches on wheel studs or nuts. Some cars use M13.

A plant mechanic who services a variety of machines made in different counties would likely need a full set.

A tool and die maker for sure needs a full set.

As someone who works on a variety of machines and fabricates a few things now and then I have comfort in knowing a have a full set of SAE and many of the popular metric sizes.

 

[6PTsocket]

As I said before, you have to look at your own situation You have a pretty good idea what you work on. and there are some sizes that are so obscure that you cannot even find hardware on line in that size. Find. anything in 7mm or 9mm besides taps and dies. Find a single nut or bolt in mm 4-.75. They are in lot of sets. I have seen 1, 1.25, and 1.5 pitch in 10 mm. Most people use taps far more than dies.

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[ecotec]

I have a counterpoint about the Irwin/Hanson taps and dies... I am not a big fan.

All my newer taps and dies that are marked Hanson are laser etched. I prefer stamping. You can still read the stamping on my taps and dies that were made before I was born. I think that laser etched taps are a future nightmare.

 

[ecotec]

I've got, yeesh, four Huot tap indexes for SAE machine screw sizes 0-12, for taper, plug, bottoming, and spiral point, an index of spiral points in 1/4"-1/2", a Chicago Latrobe metric tap and drill set in a Huot index, and finally a tray I 3d printed that holds most of the button dies.

I still have a bunch of loose taps :-(





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I am in love with your tap and die drawer! The die storage you 3D printed is awesome! The quality of everything you have is top notch.

I have about $10 into all my taps and dies. I bought a giant box (including some giant ones I will probably never use) of SAE taps and dies fo $5. I still need a decent set of Metric taps and dies.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I've had good luck with Irwin made SO and also Japanese Century Taps

 

[cheechi]

I have several of those Century dies also. For singles, I think they are the best value around if you are buying new.

Most of my taps & dies are Vermont American NOS, USA made. The rest are a mix of Irwin, HF, and Century. I don't break them very often but I would say there isn't any more likelihood of one of these brands than another of the 3. Like I said if you are harder on things the HF may not be for you but I have no issue with them and I use them as chasers if they happen to be more convenient than the restorer set is.

 

[GeorgeFromPa]

http://www.bgstechnic.com/products/detail/4488