Quality Thread Chaser Recommendation

[finallyflying]

I need a good quality thread chaser tap (not a cutting tap- a chaser tap). What is the best quality tool brand for one of these. Will be used on cylinder head threaded holes.

(No Harbor Freight junk please, I’m looking for something well made to precise tolerances and will last a while)

Thanks!

 

[rlitman]

The Lang / Kastar version is the OEM for all of the big names (from Snap On to Craftsman).

 

[_Riddle]

Lang or Kastar kit hands down.

 

[lardy1]

Jawco is great also.

 

[ItsNemo]

Pretty much wherever or whoever you can find this set with, doesn't matter who brands it, they're all the same:

 

[lis2323]

Pretty much wherever or whoever you can find this set with, doesn't matter who brands it, they're all the same:

Agreed [emoji106]




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[wafrederick]

Lang and there is another brand made in Israel that is good too

 

[M6erfan]

Jawco is the original, and the brand I prefer for thread chasers. I have both C'man branded Lang/Kastar and Jawco, the Jawco seem better quality.

 

[macgee]

I can recommend the Kastar version. I have the craftsman USA made version, it’s identical to snap-on’s/they're the same.

I use mine almost every single day for the past four years and still going very strong. I also have the older original Jawco version thread chasers, they are good and nothing wrong with them but just find it I prefer using the Kastar.

totally agree about getting a good set to invest in and it’s one of the very first set of tools that I recommend anyone getting for their shop. They are so useful

If you need to replace one of the pieces, you can either get them inexpensively on snap on trucks or you can also find them on McMaster Carr website but not sure who makes those but they are good.

 

[shawhite]

These retreading dies have bailed me out more times than I care to count. I also have the snap-on set linked above but the Murray’s are a life saver when the end of a stud gets dorked up

https://www.threadtoolsupply.com/murray-tools-thread-repair-system.html

 

[ZRX61]

The one I have with a Craftsman label is identical, owned it for years, no issues. & my background is restoration so it gets used a LOT

Pretty much wherever or whoever you can find this set with, doesn't matter who brands it, they're all the same:

 

[pontoon]

Random question... I use this with an impact. How bad is that? It’s not actually getting impacted, just using the impact to spin it faster.

 

[ChefRex]

Random question... I use this with an impact. How bad is that? It’s not actually getting impacted, just using the impact to spin it faster.

Just no. I have a SO and a Mac set, the same.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Random question... I use this with an impact. How bad is that? It’s not actually getting impacted, just using the impact to spin it faster.

I wouldn't do it on a real impact gun, now my m12 1/4 impact driver - sure.

 

[ItsNemo]

Random question... I use this with an impact. How bad is that? It’s not actually getting impacted, just using the impact to spin it faster.

For the first trip down the threads I do it by hand so I can feel where the threads need lovin'...but then ya, I pull out the impact to spin it on/off a couple times to speed up the cleanin.

 

[Danglerb]

This isn't a muscle through the hard spots job, but a back off, clean the debris off the tool and try again slow.

 

[pontoon]

Forget I said anything haha. And for the record it’s an electric impact so and I’m using the trigger at its slowest speed in a fairly clean bolt usually. If the threads are more screwed up I do it by hand.

And yeah, horrible idea, don’t do it.

 

[lardy1]

Here's my set of Jawco.





There's another thread somewhere that talked a lot about who manufactures the different brands and who rebrands them. If I remember from my research, Jawco manufactures their own.

 

[M6erfan]

Here's my set of Jawco.





There's another thread somewhere that talked a lot about who manufactures the different brands and who rebrands them. If I remember from my research, Jawco manufactures their own.

Yes, Jawco is the original thread chaser. They supplied Snap-on back in the day, then S-o decided to make their own. That didn't last long, so S-o went to Kastar as a supplier. Kastar/Lang are now OEM for just about everyone.

Like I said I own both. In use, both Jawco and the Lang/Kastar variants work fine but the Jawco's seem higher quality IMO. The Jawco thread files are much higher quality than the Kastar/Lang.

Jawco is a family run business with excellent customer service. I'll continue to buy from them as the need arises.

https://jawco.com/

 

[LB-1911]

I need a good quality thread chaser tap (not a cutting tap- a chaser tap). What is the best quality tool brand for one of these. Will be used on cylinder head threaded holes.

(No Harbor Freight junk please, I’m looking for something well made to precise tolerances and will last a while)

Thanks!

As previously mentioned -
JAW Manufacturing Co

All Rethreading Tap, Die, & File Sets

 

[decableguy2000]

I have the Jawco set as well. It has done every thing I needed it to do. I also have a set of the split dies, military surplus. they work really well when the end of the threads are damaged.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I have a craftsman set that also looks like the snap on set. It is made in the USA and works well. If you have a buggered thread on a bolt or stud don’t forget that you can use the thread files that come with the kit. I found it’s the best way to clean up buggered threads.

I can’t tell you how many people ask me what they are when they see me use them.

 

[toddmorr]

If you have a buggered thread on a bolt or stud don’t forget that you can use the thread files that come with the kit. I found it’s the best way to clean up buggered threads.

curious why this is so? as opposed to the taps/dies..

i use the heck out of my set, seems like almost every time i'm working on something. But then, i work mostly on 10+yr old stuff.

 

[d.mcfarland]

curious why this is so? as opposed to the taps/dies..

I think the taps/dies are better, so I agree with your questioning of that advice.

The file removes material while the job of the tap/die style would be to place the material back where it should have been originally.

There are instances for the use of either, but for general use the taps/dies would be best in my opinion.

 

[unknownroad]

I don't know if all the brands use the same case as well, but the latches on my Craftsman set broke off after maybe a dozen uses Only other gripes are that I wish it went down one more size in SAE because I work on weird little ****, and that it's way too easy to mistake the zinc-coated SAE coarse thread nuts for regular nuts... gotta blue them or something.

 

[finallyflying]

Thanks for all the great information! Really appreciate it!

 

[ecotec]

I don't know if all the brands use the same case as well, but the latches on my Craftsman set broke off after maybe a dozen uses Only other gripes are that I wish it went down one more size in SAE because I work on weird little ****, and that it's way too easy to mistake the zinc-coated SAE coarse thread nuts for regular nuts... gotta blue them or something.

I have the Lang set. It has 3 color schemes. One each for metric, NF and NC. My Bonney ones do not have this feature, though.

 

[Qualitytools]

I have a Lang / Kaster set and it works fine for my need. I don't have another to compare nor have I had the opportunity to use a different brand to comment on.

 

[Shadowdog500]

curious why this is so? as opposed to the taps/dies..

i use the heck out of my set, seems like almost every time i'm working on something. But then, i work mostly on 10+yr old stuff.

I think the taps/dies are better, so I agree with your questioning of that advice.

The file removes material while the job of the tap/die style would be to place the material back where it should have been originally.

There are instances for the use of either, but for general use the taps/dies would be best in my opinion.

The thread files are in that kit for a reason. The main purpose of the thread chasers are to clean **** out of the thread and straighten minor thread defects. If you get really buggered threads a few passes with a thread file makes a big difference.

 

[macgee]

As for the ones who are looking for new, there’s not really a lot of options but at least the ones available are good ones. I only wish they had SAE sizes smaller than 1/4 “, I work with a lot of #10 and #8’s; not sure why they don’t offer these?


On a side note, I also have some vintage (60-70’s) from K-D, made in the USA.
I am not sure who made them for K-D (?), they’re my backups for my Kastar set but they work well and for the ones on a budget you can find them sometimes on eBay inexpensively.
Here is a pic of one small set of out the the four, tap and dies versions K-D covering all the needed different sizes.

I find 7/16 and 3/8 get the most use by far.

 

[anndel]

Agreed [emoji106]




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I have the exact kit but Lang brand. They make it for Snap-on.

 

[M635_Guy]

I have the exact kit but Lang brand. They make it for Snap-on.

Me too.

 

[BillK]

Ok, You guys can smack me but for head bolt holes, which is what he asked about I use a tap in my cordless 3/8 impact. If you have done it more than a couple of times you can feel if there is a problem and stop and go by hand. I have been doing it that way for 30 some years and have never had an issue. For an occasional oddball metric thread I just tale my cut off wheel and make a couple of grooves in an old head bolt and use that.

I have one of the kits that you guys have shown and very very rarely use it. I prefer a tap or die but I also know when to stop if it does not feel right.

 

[JJ99SS]

I have a set as everyone discribes. It works very well for cleaning out threads.

Second, thanks for the Jawco recommendation and link. I've been wanting an impact driver and was hesitating because of the cost of the Koken. Theirs look pretty good. Nice site.

 

[decableguy2000]

Used the Jawco yesterday to clean up the bolts and chase the holes on a starter replacement. Made the reinstall go together so much easier.

 

[macgee]

In case anyone is interested, I have these vintage Jawco's as my back up spares to my Kastar set. Jawco also made them for K-D which you can find for cheap on ebay. I think these were from 60's-70's.

 

[mikeinri]

I have one Murray split die, had to buy it out of desperation after buggering up the outer end of the threads on a front wheel spindle on my RV (it's an old RV, and the spindles were NLA from Ford). Worth absolutely, positively, every penny.

I'd love to buy full sets, but that's about $900-1000 at the moment!

Mike

 

[Gummi Bear]

I just received my Lang set today. I bought it after seeing it recommended here so many times.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[shawhite]

I have one Murray split die, had to buy it out of desperation after buggering up the outer end of the threads on a front wheel spindle on my RV (it's an old RV, and the spindles were NLA from Ford). Worth absolutely, positively, every penny.

I'd love to buy full sets, but that's about $900-1000 at the moment!

Mike

Keep an eye out for them. I have seen them on several gov and military surplus sites for dirt cheap. Several currently on eBay for $120 both sae and metric. Use the name four star when searching.

 

[mikeinri]

THANKS! Is there a connection between Four Star and Murray's?

Mike