Irwin *****. I need a high quality tap holder

[danmcph]

I bought two Irwin tap and die sets. One SAE and one Metric. First usage the tap holder broke with very little force applied. I got the tap holder out of the other set and the exact same thing happened.

Who makes a really high quality tap holder? Also, is there an item that functions like an extension on a socket set for tapping things set deep in a recess?

 

[Packard V8]

Starrett


and the classic Greenfield Tap & Die


are my go-to.

jack vines

 

[Copymutt]

Homemade, very little play.

 

[Snip's]

Buy it once.....

 

[tool_scrounge]

Get a used Greenfield or Starrett on EBay.

 

[seanq]

northern machining makes a nice one

Tap Wrench | Northern Machining Inc

 

[rancherbill]

Send the pic to Irwin and they will send a replacement for sure. They were super hard and brittle. They somehow missed the annealing step.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Lisle makes a set of sockets that fit most small taps in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. With a rachet and extensions they can do just about anything and they are and exact fit to most small taps. Amason has them for about $25 last time I looked.

 

[2Fast]

Maybe Garage Journal should change it's name to 'Rant Central' or 'Rant Journa'l?

Bought this 3-piece set for $96 in 2013, hasn't let me down yet

 

[matthew]

I quite like my Reichel

I like the t-handle style. And I like the piloted spindle, so if I need to be sure I am tapping straight I can put it in the drill press:

REICHEL,1/4-1/2 REICHEL HD TAP WRENCH,1-397-102,KBC Tools & Machinery

REICHEL,1/4-1/2 REICHEL HD TAP WRENCH,1-397-102,KBC Tools & Machinery

www.kbctools.ca

 

[BTL-A4]

I bought two Irwin tap and die sets. One SAE and one Metric. First usage the tap holder broke with very little force applied. I got the tap holder out of the other set and the exact same thing happened.

Who makes a really high quality tap holder? Also, is there an item that functions like an extension on a socket set for tapping things set deep in a recess?

Do you like the "bar" style" or the style that has a chuck and a "T" handle? I have a General Tools T-handle set and it works fine. There is a smaller one and a larger one. My machining sensei told me people have a tendency to really crank on the longer-handled ones like your Irwin (the "bar" style) and break the taps. It looks like you got a defective set. I'd suggest seeing if Irwin will replace them and give them another chance.

 

[rdoty]

I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight T-Handle Tap Ratcheting Wrench. Surprisingly good for $20.


The previously mentioned set of Lisle tap sockets are also really useful.

 

[dutchgray]

I buy vintage tap handles and die stocks because most of the modern options are junk and the ones that are good are very expensive.
I have found buying incomplete vintage tap and die sets has been the most economical way to source them, the rest of the set can be junked if its no good but you usually get some useful taps and dies out of them.

 

[whateg01]

I have a starrett that I use for almost everything. Then I have a couple t handle from enco. I also have a behemoth shop made like copymutt showed. If I had to buy one, I would suggest the starrett.

 

[Firebrick43]

starrett

 

[RoninB4]

Both bar and "T" type have their place. The bar type should be made of steel, those that look like zinc die cast should be avoided as they will break. The ratcheting "T" types I've had just get left in the locked state, I want full control over when I reverse a tap (often important to do) and flipping the lever/knob to reverse direction is needless fiddling to me. For the "T" types, even one made by General used to be good enough, if it's machined steel it will be good enough. Buying used is also a good idea, the good ones are expensive when new. I prefer the bar type for the most part, better feel/leverage, unless it's limited room to work in. The "T" type work better in the lathe/mill for keeping the tap aligned to the axis of the hole. Bar type take up less space in the toolbox. Both should be owned.

 

[cherrybomb]

When using the bar type, remember to keep equal pressure on both handles,the alignment is critical, its also easy to overload the tap.Its also critical to really get a feel of the tapping pressure, when to reverse,and using a lube,Tap Magic is a brand.Different materials will test you and your equipment,but practice teaches a new skill and confidence.

 

[shawhite]

I bought two Irwin tap and die sets. One SAE and one Metric. First usage the tap holder broke with very little force applied. I got the tap holder out of the other set and the exact same thing happened.

Who makes a really high quality tap holder? Also, is there an item that functions like an extension on a socket set for tapping things set deep in a recess?

I had this exact thing happen to me a couple years back with the two Irwin sets I bought. I contacted Irwin and they replaced both. When the new tap handles came in the box said made in China. I decided at that point to replace with starrett. Been happy with the starrett

 

[dutchgray]

When using the bar type, remember to keep equal pressure on both handles,the alignment is critical, its also easy to overload the tap.Its also critical to really get a feel of the tapping pressure, when to reverse,and using a lube,Tap Magic is a brand.Different materials will test you and your equipment,but practice teaches a new skill and confidence.

Also when the cutting edges have just chipped and gone blunt when you are tapping something that is a difficult material and you must reverse out right then otherwise that tap is going ping.

 

[RoninB4]

Also when the cutting edges have just chipped and gone blunt when you are tapping something that is a difficult material and you must reverse out right then otherwise that tap is going ping.

-Good point. I always closely inspect the lead-in teeth of any tap before using it because the lead does most of the difficult cutting. Sharp teeth further back are just there for cleaning up the threads and ensuring proper form/pitch. Chipped edges can also be an indication of an over-stressed tap that might have cracks propagating into a chunk broking off down in the hole. I always grind these taps back to make a bottoming tap that I don't fully trust.

 

[cherrybomb]

Good advice,or we have to have the skill,patience and tools to remove a broken tap

 

[Olafur]

This is a bit of a mystery. I have used great many sets with taps and dies from various brands over the years. From dirt cheap and up. Many of them have perfectly usable taps, some even 'good', but the tap holder is always junk and usually falls apart after minimal use. Why is it so difficult to make these damned things out of decent tool steel?

It seems Irvin tried but judging by the pic in the first post, something odd happened. Never seen this mode of failure before. Too hard and brittle it seems.

BTW, Koken and some others (Irvin?) make adjustable tap holders for socket extension. Never gotten around to get the Koken, it's on my wanted list.

 

[NoahG]

Lisle makes a set of sockets that fit most small taps in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. With a rachet and extensions they can do just about anything and they are and exact fit to most small taps. Amason has them for about $25 last time I looked.

Oh yeah, those things are game changers, my set has definitely influenced a few purchases.

 

[scooby074]

The Starrett are a beautiful thing, like jewelery. I have old Greenfields . But Id buy the Starretts if I was in the market for new.

 

[nadogail]

An adjustable wrench has turned a few taps for me; in a storm, almost any port will do.

 

[Jgaz]

I’ve had these Starrett holders almost 30 years. Large one was bought used but I would pay retail to replace it if it was lost.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Starrett tools are the worlds standard for comparison.

 

[Kuma601]

I have an old General USA T handle for the small stuff so went looking at other potential temptations:

MSC listed this Gearwrench ratcheting as USA made though at $35 that doesn't seem to be a price I'd expect:

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/14847891

I'd love to have Starrett but that's some $ sitting for the occasional use. Just about everything else seems that the COO is India. Between China and India for the more affordable ones is

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Lisle makes a set of sockets that fit most small taps in 1/4 and 3/8 drive. With a rachet and extensions they can do just about anything and they are and exact fit to most small taps. Amason has them for about $25 last time I looked.

I don't use it often, but taps don't hold well inside socket. other than that, no problem.

 

[Steve_P]

I have the Lisle tap sockets, and Starrett as shown four posts up. The Starretts are totally worth it; even if you only use them a few times a year, you will be so happy with them each time; even though they are crazy expensive.

 

[threewood]

Park Tool is well made and has served me for over a decade.

 

[rslaback]

We have the Gearwrench ones that come as a pass through ratchet handle and a tap holder. They work well if you aren't abusive and I really like the ratcheting aspect.

 

[shawhite]

Here is my Irwin.

 

[DHCrocks]

that's some porous looking metal, looks like a sponge. How they got the finish to be so smooth and polished when the inside looks like that is quite an accomplishment.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight T-Handle Tap Ratcheting Wrench. Surprisingly good for $20.


The previously mentioned set of Lisle tap sockets are also really useful.

Very good tool. I have it in two sizes. I bought mine at Princess Auto.

 

[F-22]

I'd go with a German one for this. The Starrett is really nice but the price is ridiculous. The Exact 04965 is 29€ and seems to be made from sintered powder (didn't know they make something like that with such processes, I know they make carbide tools this way). There's also a 28€ version from malleable iron, and a 13€ zinc casting which is probably similar to your broken Irwin.

But personally I most commonly use these:


It's called the Kugelwindeisen (ball tap wrench?). I do not know if they are known in the US. There are 5 standard sizes, every one has 4 different holes to cover all the standard taps. For what I need I usually only use the size 1 and size 2 - and together with the size three that's probably 99% of my needs, those are ~ 15€ each if you buy the steel versions. They are compact and non-adjustable. Since it isn't very complex to make them from steel, and due to their geometry, I believe they are much stronger. The ones I own must be over 50 years old. They don't slacken like a cheap adjustable does...


Same Orion brand also sells a forged steel adjustable tap wrench for 22€. I'm quite confident this tool will perform for a long time just as well as the Starrett...

 

[Grant Gunderson]

For tap wrenches I won’t use anything but Starrett. Nothing else comes close. I also bought a set of Lisle tap sockets for a specific job that a tap wrench wouldn’t fit. They held the tap reasonably well but they tend to load one side of the tap more than the other so not ideal.

 

[threewood]

Here is my Irwin.

Looks like pot metal. I bet if you tried to braze it, the entire piece would melt away.

 

[Ilikeike]

I bought a large new set of Irwin tap/dies for home. I ordered the Sterrett wrench right away, just like I did for the shop tap set.

 

[Mgdoug3]

All of my good tap handles are old USA made General and Greenfield. I have a large tap holder for 1" plus taps and I hate it. It was a cheapy off Amazon. I would like to replace it but I usually don't tap large holes and I can't justify buying a better one for so little use.

I'm happy with my smaller tap holders but if I ever come across a Starrett, I'm buying it.