djkyle65
Well-known member
Anyone know of a good tap and die set?
Good tap and die set?
- Thread starter djkyle65
- Start date
Merkava_4
Banned
Stuey
Well-known member
Do you have any other recommendations? Irwin's quality seems to be fluctuating too much these days, and it won't be long until they start cheapening the Hanson tap & die line as well.
nightrain00
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2008
- Messages
- 134
I have an older Mac set that is a rebadged Vermont American set. I still see them for sale just the case is different. Never let me down
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
MAD
Well-known member
The Craftsman taps and dies are Vermont American. At least the recent ones are. I think I recall seeing a vintage set that appeared to be from Greenfield T&D.
My Craftsman sets have always done what I have needed at home, but I am not a machinist by any stretch.
My Craftsman sets have always done what I have needed at home, but I am not a machinist by any stretch.
Merkava_4
Banned
I can't get the Union Butterfield link to work for some damn reason. 
http://www.unionbutterfield.com/
http://www.unionbutterfield.com/
Stuey
Well-known member
http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com/http://www.unionbutterfield.com/I can't get the Union Butterfield link to work for some damn reason.
http://www.unionbutterfield.com/
Not just you.
OldSchoolSS
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2008
- Messages
- 204
I picked up a couple sets of Craftsman Branded ones. Not sure who the OEM is, they look nice and were half off. Haven't needed to use them yet though.
Keep in mind that tap and die sets are pretty much inherently junk if you expect to create threads with them. Decent threads on most fasteners are rolled not cut. The only good purpose I can think of for tap and die sets is cleaning the threads on existing bolts (removing old loctite or anti-seize), chasing threads in holes that already have them, and installing helicoils in aluminum. Since they're pretty much a cleaning tool, there's no reason to aggravate over the quality of them unless you've got a set that was hand-made by a guy with a file in Nigeria or somewhere.
I bought this one a couple months back and i am really happy with it. The smaller tap holder could be better, but I thought 90 bucks was very fair for what you get. http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/IRW-24606.html
What are you talking about.
If you use the proper drill bit size, creating threads is very easy and effective. It just takes a little time and technique.Stuey
Well-known member
Umm... okay... sure.
Don't worry, you're not the only one confused about that guy's statements - it doesn't any make sense to me either.What are you talking about.
OldSchoolSS
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2008
- Messages
- 204
Uhm... You're not supposed to use a tap and die set to clean out threads. You should use a thread cleaning set....
Um, thats what re-thread sets are for. I tap new threads in steel and alumiunum all the time. I taped some 1/4" wall DOM tubing for 3/8-16 the other day. About 20 holes all with a MAC tap. No problems there. Sometimes I even stick the tap in my 1/2" drill to thread new holes.
Uncle Buck
Banned
Yea, I know just what you mean man! I cannot think of very many industries, or industrial operations that would rely on something as lowly as a tap to create a thread in a drilled hole, yup, know just what you mean!
charlie_nj
Well-known member
I just bought an Irwin / Hanson 76 piece set to replace my aging mismatched taps and dies. I just got them a couple weeks ago, and have only used them a couple of times so far, but I am quite satisfied with the quality of the set. I got the set from Amazon for $88 somehow. It's $132 now with free shipping. It's U.S made and seems like a good quality set.
buening
Well-known member
The best set ever!
I actually do have this set and it works OK for light duty stuff, but not for any high grade steel cutting. The wrenches are complete **** though, but didn't expect much when I bought them years ago.
I actually do have this set and it works OK for light duty stuff, but not for any high grade steel cutting. The wrenches are complete **** though, but didn't expect much when I bought them years ago.kartracer55
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2005
- Messages
- 5,317
What are you looking for? Making threads or general automotive "maintenance"?
This is a thread "restorer" kit...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942275000P?vName=Tools
Snap On sells one that is strikingly similar, and I must say, this set is an absolute life saver and I highly recommend getting one. It is going to be my next purchase from sears so I can keep one here at the house. This kit is great because it doesnt cut threads (or at least normally doesnt) it kind of reshapes them. Pretty amazing what you can save with it, I use it all the time to clean up crappy bolts.
Again, it won't create threads though, so Im not sure if that is what you want to do.
This is a thread "restorer" kit...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00942275000P?vName=Tools
Snap On sells one that is strikingly similar, and I must say, this set is an absolute life saver and I highly recommend getting one. It is going to be my next purchase from sears so I can keep one here at the house. This kit is great because it doesnt cut threads (or at least normally doesnt) it kind of reshapes them. Pretty amazing what you can save with it, I use it all the time to clean up crappy bolts.
Again, it won't create threads though, so Im not sure if that is what you want to do.
Coach James
Well-known member
Jim, I have the 40 piece version of that C-man set and it works fine. I've cleaned up the damaged threads on three 1/2-13 floor anchors and a couple 1/2-13 bolts in the last couple weeks. And aside from the name on the box, it looks exactly like the set I looked at from Snappy. If you didn't see the names, you could not tell them apart.
Coach
Coach
tatra
Well-known member
i have used taps for years at work and home to chase threads and never had a problem............what is the diff between a tap and thread restorere tool?.............
Merkava_4
Banned
what is the difference between a tap and thread restorer tool?.............
You can't cut new threads with a thread restorer; but other than that, I don't know the difference myself.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
What are you talking about.
Glad to know Im not the only one who was thinking that....
I didn't realize that today's taps and dies were too crappy to cut threads with. So, in my ignorance, I went ahead and tried anyway. Used cutting oil, backed out every 1/4-1/2 turn... and by damn, I cut threads. Not just once or twice either.
I'm calling BS on the whole statement. If you aren't able to cut decent threads, then you DOING IT WRONG!
MAD
Well-known member
i have used taps for years at work and home to chase threads and never had a problem............what is the diff between a tap and thread restorere tool?.............
Thread restorers are less likely to undercut good threads. They are made from softer steel and the taper is designed to "find" the good threads and line up the tool properly. Most often the first few threads are the ones that are damaged and it is easy to start cutting new threads slightly offset from the original ones when you use a standard tap/die to restore damaged threads. There is nothing wrong in most cases with using standard taps and dies to restore threads as long as it is done with care (as long as the tolerance of the tap/die is not sloppier than the original threads in critical applications) .
buening
Well-known member
I will agree with BKM that some fasteners are rolled and not cut. If you use a die on the rolled fastener, it will remove some material. It seems mixed from my experience. Some fasteners are rolled and some are cut.
zuspiel
Well-known member
kartracer55;364609 This is a thread "restorer" kit... [url said:
They are both made by Kastar, so, yep, they are identical. I have the Sears version. Second the recommendation.
VDubJoe
Well-known member
Regarding cutting treads:
Here’s an excerpt from Carroll Smiths fastener book:
{ Any good machinist can make a geometrically correct thread. Trouble is no matter how competent and careful the operator may be, cutting treads across the grain of the metal interrupts the flow of stress through the bolt. This means that not even the best cut treads are going to be first, as strong as rolled treads, and second, as resistant to fatigue as rolled threads. Turning involves tearing metal and leaves rough spots which form perfect stress risers. }
If anyone likes to read and are serious about fasteners and plumbing I highly recommend this book.
Just remember to use the correct part for the required strength.
Joe
Here’s an excerpt from Carroll Smiths fastener book:
{ Any good machinist can make a geometrically correct thread. Trouble is no matter how competent and careful the operator may be, cutting treads across the grain of the metal interrupts the flow of stress through the bolt. This means that not even the best cut treads are going to be first, as strong as rolled treads, and second, as resistant to fatigue as rolled threads. Turning involves tearing metal and leaves rough spots which form perfect stress risers. }
If anyone likes to read and are serious about fasteners and plumbing I highly recommend this book.
Just remember to use the correct part for the required strength.
Joe
riley.m
Well-known member
a machinist i work with in Ak. buys taps one at a time from a company in germany,sorry but the name slips my mind right now,but basically i would ask a quality minded machinist what he or she uses since they tend to use those tools often.