FishingMan
Well-known member
I need a good guided tap wrench for chucking into my mill or drill press for manual guided tapping. Preferably something usa-made and we'll go up to 1/2 inch.
Good guided tap wrench?
- Thread starter FishingMan
- Start date
jsaw
Well-known member
Can you chuck a center and use it to guide the tap?
ruffasguts
New member
I usually just chuck the tap and start it by hand a couple of turns
I do the same, chuck up a tap to start the threads then finish with a tap handle.
Or I use a spring loaded tap guide mounted in the chuck or spindle directly on the tap or the back of a tap handle.
Can't go wrong with Starrett tap handles, still made in the USA. My tap guide is Brown & Sharpe. Beware there are import clones of these. I had one & it was very sloppy compared to the B&S.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005317ZMC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Or I use a spring loaded tap guide mounted in the chuck or spindle directly on the tap or the back of a tap handle.
Can't go wrong with Starrett tap handles, still made in the USA. My tap guide is Brown & Sharpe. Beware there are import clones of these. I had one & it was very sloppy compared to the B&S.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005317ZMC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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matt_i
Well-known member
For some years I have also chucked the tap directly. With a spiral point tap,and up to about 1/2-13 I can generally expect to go thru 1018 and 6061 just by grabbing the OD of the chuck and driving it by hand. I put the mill head in "neutral" for this step. Above that I will go until it won't go any further and then use a tap wrench after that.
Chucking the tap gets it as square and aligned to the workpiece as the pilot hole that was just drilled, assuming one started the hole with something rigid like a carbide spot drill, and didn't let a skinny drill bit wander around on a rough or inclined surface.
I have a tap guide somewhere. Starting on the lathe takes more feel as one has to spin the chuck by hand while trying to maintain a neutral feed with the tailstock ram. It takes a little practice to get it correct, done by "feel".
Chucking the tap gets it as square and aligned to the workpiece as the pilot hole that was just drilled, assuming one started the hole with something rigid like a carbide spot drill, and didn't let a skinny drill bit wander around on a rough or inclined surface.
I have a tap guide somewhere. Starting on the lathe takes more feel as one has to spin the chuck by hand while trying to maintain a neutral feed with the tailstock ram. It takes a little practice to get it correct, done by "feel".
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slowtwitch73
Well-known member
I just bought one off Ebay, cnc'd in USA with hardened nose 12 bucks delivered. Guy doesn't haven't any up now but if you search for "spring loaded tap guide usa" he will post more when he does another batch.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I just power tap everything up to about 5/8". Use a Jacobs Superchuck, they grip 10x better than the plain bearing chucks.
If you're not confident in your tapping, you can still chuck the tap in the machine, just put rods in the chuck key holes on the chuck to act as wrench handles.
A spring loaded center held in the chuck also work if you want to use a tap handle.
I have mostly older tap wrenches. Starrett, Card, Greenfield, CTD, and a few others.
If you're not confident in your tapping, you can still chuck the tap in the machine, just put rods in the chuck key holes on the chuck to act as wrench handles.
A spring loaded center held in the chuck also work if you want to use a tap handle.
I have mostly older tap wrenches. Starrett, Card, Greenfield, CTD, and a few others.
OP
FishingMan
Well-known member
It looks like power tapping has already been suggested, but here is a link to my video showing how it's done.
Power Tapping in the Mill
Tom
Power Tapping in the Mill
Tom
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OP
FishingMan
Well-known member
Good video Tom. I need to find a tapomatic head for my mill.
One of the issues I have with this vid is that he skips the step of champhering the drilled hole before tapping. Champhering after tapping can lead to peeled threads at the top of the hole. Champhering before threading helps to guide the tap. Either way the champher is necessary.
lg
no neat sig line
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I love your videos; invaluable for people looking to learn the fundamentals! Glad to see you are on Garage Journal.
I have a thing with chamfering holes too, but the real reason for it, I was taught, Is for when you torque the fastener, it can (does) raise the material around the hole, which can cause it to distort into the matting part, if there is one.
I agree 100%. If the hole is not champhered the material around the top of the hole can crater up.
lg
no neat sig line
MFolks
Well-known member
https://biggatortools.com/v-tapguide-faqs Drilling and tapping guides.
Tom......Love your videos. I gotta ask why did you stop ?
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Here's the one I got off Ebay.. made in USA 12 bucks shipped. No affiliation.. just a satisfied customer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-loa...824300?hash=item522dddbaec:g:Lc8AAOSw1Udc0Je~
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-loa...824300?hash=item522dddbaec:g:Lc8AAOSw1Udc0Je~
OP
FishingMan
Well-known member
Thanks for the links and info guys.
I do all my chamfering after tapping with a cordless drill to save time. I'll pre-chamfer if I'm hand tapping to help start the tap, but when power tapping with a spiral point tap I've never found it to be necessary.
Tom
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Thanks.
I got involved in a startup company a while back and there just wasn't time to keep them up. Now the company is sold and I'm retired, so as soon as I get used to the new lifestyle and catch up on all the unfinished projects, I plan on starting up the videos again.
Tom
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I have several spring loaded tap followers but actually prefer this one. Here is mine in use at 2:05 and 8:12 in this video.
LFA/Reichel Hardware 51412 1/4-1/2-Inch All Steel Machinist Tap Wrench with Guide and Sliding Handle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006VA7AJC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
LFA/Reichel Hardware 51412 1/4-1/2-Inch All Steel Machinist Tap Wrench with Guide and Sliding Handle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006VA7AJC/?tag=atomicindus08-20
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86turbodsl
Well-known member
I power tap if in the mill. It's the best way.