Ideas to hold taps and dies?

[Chief919]

I have been piecing together a tap and die set from flea market and antique mall finds (antique malls are a GREAT place to nice nice older USA made taps and dies cheap!).

My one issue is storage ideas. Obviously I don't want them just dumped in a pile, obviously, and would like a way to have them organized.

So far I am leaning toward a tackle box setup with removable trays, like this.

Also does anyone know a good source for small plastic tubes or boxes to store individual taps in, or a small number like 2-3?

 

[woody 73]

I know this is way out of your price range but I like the following product:

https://www.huot.com/products/produ...spenser-cabinets/tap-dispensers-the-original/

On the other hand a cheap place is to find a bait & tackle shop near you and buy a few of their tackle boxes when they go on sale.

hope that helps you out.

 

[larry_g]

I really like these,

http://www.penntoolco.com/tap-and-drill-stands/

lg
no neat sig line

 

[WhoWhatNow]

No help with dies but I really like these:

https://www.huot.com/products/product-category/drill-tap-reamer-indexes/tap-drill/

Keep your taps and drills in the same place.

 

[gloy]

I had the same storage problem. I found these Irwin storage boxes at www.midwayusa.com, in their gunsmithing supplies. I bought three of them about a year go for $7 each, but I see they have gone up.

They were made for round dies, but it was easy to use a heat gun on the pockets and press a hex die in, reforming it.

One of many options for you.

 

[6PTsocket]

The drawers are not particularly rugged but the Akro-Mils cabinets like the 64 drawer for around 28 bucks, have all those dividable drawers. The case is steel but the drawers are plastic. There is a carry handle. Great for the shop but not for travel, the drawers will dump. It is a lot easier to find a tao or die in a marked drawer than a tap and die case. and you can rearrange rhe drawers for a new size. The Hanson cases are rugged. If you google "empty Hanson case" there are quite a few sources for various styles , besides Midway. The Midway case looks like the best design for a lot of small stuff.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[d.mcfarland]

What if you make your own wood divider out of the thin cuts of wood available at Home Depot or Lowes?

 

[rq375]

The drawers are not particularly rugged but the Akro-Mils cabinets like the 64 drawer for around 28 bucks, have all those dividable drawers. The case is steel but the drawers are plastic. There is a carry handle. Great for the shop but not for travel, the drawers will dump. It is a lot easier to find a tao or die in a marked drawer than a tap and die case. and you can rearrange rhe drawers for a new size. The Hanson cases are rugged. If you google "empty Hanson case" there are quite a few sources for various styles , besides Midway. The Midway case looks like the best design for a lot of small stuff.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I use the Akro 10164 cabinet, the dividers are 40716, label maker to mark sizes. If you are going to transport it you do need to tape a piece of cardboard to the front of it.

 

[Chief919]

Thanks folks, lots of good ideas here!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I use Huot indexes for taps as well. For dies I just use flat Plano type things. I never use dies, so they just stay buried in the drawer...

 

[Packard V8]

In forty years of trying different storage media, the best I've found for taps and dies is the most obvious; the 7-drawer Kennedy machinist chest. It has small, felt lined drawers and is indestructible. I find them on craigslist and at garage sales for $25 - 50.

jack vines

 

[NUTTSGT]

Before I bought regular tap/die set, I started to buy individuals from a place that used to have close out lots and surplus stuff. They had Hansen taps with the appropriate drill bit in a package. Every time I went I grabbed a couple. I started to put them in a plastic Plano part box, similar to what the OP mentions. I would write on the lid with a Sharpie, Tap size, thread and drill size.

 

[Wamsutta]

A block of hardwood and a plunge router. You could make an entire hobby out of it.