Metric thread file

[OHMS LAW]

The other day one of my parts changers encounter some boogered up threads on a cv axle hub. Too big for a thread chaser so I called our parts stores to see if they had one on the shelf. The local parts house didn't have one so I called AZ. Then sent me a rat tail file. I was mad so on my lunch break I went to my oreilly where I have been going for years. And they didn't even know what I was talking about. So I pulled it up in my phone with their part number and ordered it.

My question is is this really a niche tool. You'd figure more stores would have this in stock

 

[bobcatdan]

Lang, use to be kastar is the main OEM. Craftsman rebadges them, so sears may have it sitting on the shelf. Online wouldn't be hard to find. Any tool truck worth a damn would have them. I went threw this two deer seasons ago. I needed an axle rethread die. Snappy was hunting. No brick and motar store including Grainger had them. Stuff like this isn't really rare, just stores don't really stock it.

 

[wayne55]

I got one a few years back by ordering through Enco.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

A friend of mine had one he'd been using as a file... didn't even know what it was until I told him it was a thread restorer. I bought the snappy thread restore set a few years back and use it all the time.

http://store.snapon.com/U-S-Metric-...it-Master-Rethreading-U-S-Metric-P641094.aspx

Not a terrible price, and i beleive they're warranteed. comes with the files.

But it sounds like you might need one of these, or the master set. They come in handy if your doing alot of axles. Especially the ones with the peen over nuts. People go overboard with those for no reason.
http://store.snapon.com/Spindle-Rethreading-Set-Set-Spindle-Rethreading-8-pcs--P635201.aspx

 

[4x4gearhead]

I use thread files at work all the time. They have saved my *** more than a few times on large spindles, hydraulic cylinder rod ends. They're worth having.

 

[General Geoff]

I hate you guys, I'd never even heard of thread files before, and now I need a set!

Is this a good comprehensive kit?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T4KRHC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Wrenches of Death]

I use thread files at work all the time. They have saved my *** more than a few times on large spindles, hydraulic cylinder rod ends. They're worth having.

Yep. Another thing that most people don't even think about is that a thread file will also work just as well on LEFT Handed threads!

Amazon had a hell of a deal on the set of American made thread files a few years back at the same time as the once in a lifetime Nicholson file deal.

Ah......those were the days...


WoD

 

[Westly]

"Metric" in the title must mean some kind of thread chaser. I once borrowed from a machinist what he called a thread file. It was a very small flat file and the edges were sharp rather than flat and blunt. With a magnifier I was able to clean up dings on the threads with it individually. Another trick is to just take a regular flat file and smooth off where the dings are; it will let the part go on and there will usually plenty of threads.

 

[Milton Shaw]

3 tread files will just about cover any external thread you will ever see. Two for US threads and one for metric. That gives 16 different US threads per inch and 8 different pitches for metric. They are worth a $million some Saturday night when nothing is open. I have bought one of the external self adjusting ones but really like the file type best.

 

[fitz11]

"Metric" in the title must mean some kind of thread chaser. I once borrowed from a machinist what he called a thread file. It was a very small flat file and the edges were sharp rather than flat and blunt. With a magnifier I was able to clean up dings on the threads with it individually. Another trick is to just take a regular flat file and smooth off where the dings are; it will let the part go on and there will usually plenty of threads.

This whole thread is about thread files lol

 

[NissanTechWill]

If you are a flat rate tech a whiz wheel works wonders on obliterating offending buggered threads LOL.

-Will

 

[Fcvapor05]

I hate you guys, I'd never even heard of thread files before, and now I need a set!

Is this a good comprehensive kit?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001T4KRHC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

That kit should pretty much cover your external thread repair needs for the rest of your life

 

[Alienbaby17]

Definitely a 'must have' tool along with a good tap & die set. The Snap On metric and SAE are available individually also and pretty affordable to boot. I used mine so many times at work I bought another set for at home.

 

[lotsoftools]

I've been meaning to pick up a set for some time. I also saw this http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/...ect=1&p_keyword=threadmate&p_origin=mens-home at Duluth and wonder if it might be handy to keep around.

 

[bob from indiana]

Mcmaster-Carr has them. I keep both metric and S.A.E. in my box. They have saved the day many times.

 

[ctb]

I have both a metric and an imperial thread file made by Gray tools. 8 different tpi on each one. They're a lifesaver when you need them and take up less room in the toolbox than a couple of screwdrivers.

 

[DieselFxr]

I have a set of 3 as well 2 are SAE and one is metric. I have had them for many years 20+ and they are great at cleaning up external threads.

 

[Larey]

The other day one of my parts changers encounter some boogered up threads on a cv axle hub. Too big for a thread chaser so I called our parts stores to see if they had one on the shelf. The local parts house didn't have one so I called AZ. Then sent me a rat tail file. I was mad so on my lunch break I went to my oreilly where I have been going for years. And they didn't even know what I was talking about. So I pulled it up in my phone with their part number and ordered it.

My question is is this really a niche tool. You'd figure more stores would have this in stock

Just remember that all parts stores are different. The one I work at I live by the books/catalogs and enjoy looking for off the wall stuff. I know for a fact that Oreillys does not stock them in store but have them in the distribution centers. If you are looking for weird tools at Oreillys, ask the counter guy to see the tool book that they publish it has a lot of really interesting tools in it. The only reason I know about them is as I have used them on aircraft parts.

Larey

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[humber2]

For inch sizes there is also the 55 degree cut Whitworth option.

Here's a good range....

http://www.blackwoods.com.au/search/thread-files-metric-and-imperial/302028749?c=Product

 

[Trucky]

They're nice to have around... if your work allows their use. Reactor parts = big no no. Random **** that you're making.. sure!

 

[Outlawmws]

"Metric" in the title must mean some kind of thread chaser. I once borrowed from a machinist what he called a thread file. It was a very small flat file and the edges were sharp rather than flat and blunt. With a magnifier I was able to clean up dings on the threads with it individually. Another trick is to just take a regular flat file and smooth off where the dings are; it will let the part go on and there will usually plenty of threads.

No, a chaser is a different tool; this is a square looking file with 8 different thread pitches cut into it as a file. (4 on each end) It's a file.

 

[2oolhound]

A nice feature to look out for when shopping for thread files is to go with a brand that has the teeth on the ends going 90' at a right angle for a 1/2" or so. This allows you to clean up internal threads as well as external threads. A broken tap will do the same thing (as long as the tapered section is totally broke off) but the thread file is longer and easier to control.

 

[decableguy2000]

I have this set and I'm very pleased.

http://handtools.jawco.com/item/all-categories/rethreading-tap-die-file-sets-2/item-1272?


Jeremy

 

[Westly]

Ha ha! Never knew there was such a tool. Looks very useful if you have lots of bunged up threads.

 

[davethorik]

A nice feature to look out for when shopping for thread files is to go with a brand that has the teeth on the ends going 90' at a right angle for a 1/2" or so. This allows you to clean up internal threads as well as external threads. A broken tap will do the same thing (as long as the tapered section is totally broke off) but the thread file is longer and easier to control.

I saw a set of those and they were $$ and a brand i'd never heard of. I am sure they are nice but they seem to be always more than double or triple (or more) the price of Nicholsons or Jaws. Looks like you can be into the 4pc set of Jaws, 2 SAE files 1 Metric file 1 Pipe file for about $40 free ship on ebay. For that price I'd scrounge up some used taps to keep around for chasing threads in holes.

 

[7echo]

Ha ha! Never knew there was such a tool. Looks very useful if you have lots of bunged up threads.

That is the thing with these files. Seems like a lot of guys have never heard of them. But when they learn of them they have to have them. It is such a simple, easy to use, good idea you would think it would be a big DIY kinda thing and every big box would sell them.

 

[Hemlock]

First time I saw one I was blown away. Many times I've cleaned up threads one at a time with a tiny Ray tail file. This is so much better.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Four file set by Nicholson, sold by Amazon, $42.58

Four piece file set of the ones shown above with the internal thread file ends on them. $314.21 sold by Drill Spot on Amazon.

 

[2oolhound]

These guys have the int/ext for about $30 ea. :

https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/39350603/thread-restoring-files

That Nicholson set is hard to beat price wise.

Snappy has a reasonable set too:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?item_ID=644363&group_ID=675361

 

[bwringer]

Indispensable for working on old motorcycles.

It is sort of strange how many people have never heard of such a thing.

People get a bit nervous when you pull out this strange-looking widget and start sawing away at the threads on an irreplaceable bolt or axle...

 

[Mk3Mike]

My Dad had one of those and showed me how to use it when I was a kid. Haven't used one since then but I can think of a few times it would have come in really handy.

Time to add it to the "tool list".

 

[OHMS LAW]

Oh man. Thank you all for your input. Great minds do think alike. I have been busy at work but I was blown away by the responses. I got a cheapo for now but I'm saving up for one last tool buy from my snap on guy from school. I'll be ready next time that's for sure.

 

[kenburkholz]

While you are on the subject of thread files, don't forget, pitch gauges,also metric,and how about internal chasers. Oh by the way, don't forget chasing files for pipe. As long as there have been threads, there have been ways to repair them. Ken.

 

[OHMS LAW]

Who would have thought all this fastener talk would be riveting

 

[PowderKeg]

A nice feature to look out for when shopping for thread files is to go with a brand that has the teeth on the ends going 90' at a right angle for a 1/2" or so. This allows you to clean up internal threads as well as external threads. A broken tap will do the same thing (as long as the tapered section is totally broke off) but the thread file is longer and easier to control.

I've put my three regular Snappys to good use over the years, but wished at times for ones like this instead of a full blown tap/chaser - just didn't know they actually existed. Price is waaaaay out there, but it's something to keep an eye out for.

Found a set for work at the local farm store - gearhead sup was clueless on them as well until I explained (had an immediate need for one anyway) - then the lightbulb switched on...

 

[bczygan]

I wondered what the heck those were!

I'll file this information away for future use.

 

[ajchien]

I must admit I don't really like thread files. Seems like a triangular file always worked better for me. :/

 

[joejeep92]

I got a set of them with my thread chaser set also you may look at the set of spindle thread chasers Matco sells that Kastar makes.

 

[hofferwood]

I have them too-------I even have pictures

 

[Toolhorder]

FYI,

They make axle thread chaser dies as well. I got a set from Matco. Saved my *** an fellow co-workers asses several times after you have to pound a axle shaft through a rusty hub.