Quality USA COO Tap T-Handles

[TheMadMech]

Who makes quality USA COO t-handles?

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[Gokart]

Starrett

 

[leg17]

Starrett absolutely.

Straight handles not so much.

 

[TheMadMech]

Starrett is the only option then? Thanks for mentioning them, I had no idea they even made tap handles.

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[ecotec]

I have a drawer full of tap handles and die stocks... They are mostly made by Starrett, GTD Greenfield, Card, Threadwell Greenfield, General... I buy them at estate sales. I have never paid more than a dollar or two. I am still looking for a 2" die stock and some teeny-tiny tap handles stamped with US brands and COO (most of my teeny-tiny tap handles are marked Japan).

 

[Bob-B]

New - Starrett. Used GTD, Greenfield. I can usually find them at flea markets.

 

[ecotec]

I never have good luck at flea markets... And by never have good luck... I mean I am unwilling to pay dealer's prices. Once a dealer has a tool, he wants a reasonable amount of money for it. I want it almost free... I like buying tools for prices the dealer paid for the tool.

I go to flea markets all the time... But I almost never buy anything. I just get ideas about what to look for at garage sales and estate sales. I think I went to the flea market 8 times this year... I bought one vintage trash can. And I low balled the hell out of the guy!

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Starrett are the nicest tap handles I've ever used.

 

[ecotec]

Starrett are the nicest tap handles I've ever used.

They really are nice.

 

[turfgnome]

I prefer the snap on ones I got at an auction. I think you can also buy them under Irwin and they are made in the usa. These are not the cheapest but they are nice.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/taps-dies-sets/performance-threading-system-drive-tools

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm so impressed with my General T-handle tap wrenches that I don't see the need to buy the more expensive Starrett. Just my preference.

 

[senlow]

I'm so impressed with my General T-handle tap wrenches that I don't see the need to buy the more expensive Starrett. Just my preference.

+1 for General.

 

[pstemari]

I have both, and frankly the General ones are junk. The big difference on the t-handles is the system that works the jaws. The General handles have a split body with a thread that collapses when the nut is tightened. The Starrett handles have an actual chuck with moving jaws. They hold the taps straighter and tighter than the General.







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[TheMadMech]

I have both, and frankly the General ones are junk. The big difference on the t-handles is the system that works the jaws. The General handles have a split body with a thread that collapses when the nut is tightened. The Starrett handles have an actual chuck with moving jaws. They hold the taps straighter and tighter than the General.







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Thank you! That is so helpful, the side by side comparison is excellent.

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[Jim Johnstone]

I prefer this style of Starrett tap wrench. I'd like to get the full set of them. Something as simple as a tap handle shouldn't be that hard to find a decent one, but all the imports I have constantly loosen off during use, the starrett are like a pit bull holding the tap.

 

[woody 73]

Question for some of you machinists that use starrett tools...

I was told that they have some of their tools coming from china is that true??? I always thought (key word here) that it came from the USA has that changed?

Woody

 

[davethorik]

Question for some of you machinists that use starrett tools...

I was told that they have some of their tools coming from china is that true??? I always thought (key word here) that it came from the USA has that changed?

Woody

Yep, if you look at Starrett's dial calipers for instance, you will find cheap and expensive pairs. The expensive ones are USA.

Starrett has a few factories around the globe and there is one in China. What is really frustrating to me is that they don't really label the packaging or the tool itself with coo, but the website says if USA or not. (Some do, the pair of 12" dial calipers I just sold said American Made)

 

[davethorik]

I have both, and frankly the General ones are junk. The big difference on the t-handles is the system that works the jaws. The General handles have a split body with a thread that collapses when the nut is tightened. The Starrett handles have an actual chuck with moving jaws. They hold the taps straighter and tighter

General does make a style like the Starrett where the jaws are separate. They might not be current production, but I've seen them. Hate the split style like you showed.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have both, and frankly the General ones are junk. The big difference on the t-handles is the system that works the jaws. The General handles have a split body with a thread that collapses when the nut is tightened. The Starrett handles have an actual chuck with moving jaws. They hold the taps straighter and tighter than the General.

My two General tap wrenches look like your Starrett.

They do not look like your General.

 

[senlow]

I have both, and frankly the General ones are junk. The big difference on the t-handles is the system that works the jaws. The General handles have a split body with a thread that collapses when the nut is tightened. The Starrett handles have an actual chuck with moving jaws. They hold the taps straighter and tighter than the General.

Yes, all T-handle tap wrenches with a "split-body" work poorly. I had no idea that General Tools made a tap handle with the dreaded split body. All of my General T-handle tap wrenches have a pair of jaws with the same design as the Starrett. The General tap handles with separate jaws work as well as the Starrett.

 

[zkling]

The Gearwrench ratcheting tap handles are very nice. Not USA, but nice.

 

[davewo]

I have these at home and at work:

View media item 65038
I took the pic off this website:

http://www.micro-machine-shop.com/tapped_threads_reference_tables.htm

 

[TheMadMech]

So, ratcheting seems popular but impractical. You have to change directions every ¼ to ½ turn. Is this implemented in a smooth way or is it as clumsy as it sounds?

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[pstemari]

So, ratcheting seems popular but impractical. You have to change directions every ¼ to ½ turn. Is this implemented in a smooth way or is it as clumsy as it sounds?

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That depends on the type of tap you're using. Traditional hand taps require it, especially in smaller sizes. Spiral point taps push the chips out ahead of the tap, which is good unless you're tapping a blind hole. Spiral flute taps lift the chips out, similar to a twist drill, but they're expensive and easy to break. Thread forming taps don't make any chips at all, but require more torque and have different requirements for the starting hole.

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[TheMadMech]

That depends on the type of tap you're using. Traditional hand taps require it, especially in smaller sizes. Spiral point taps push the chips out ahead of the tap, which is good unless you're tapping a blind hole. Spiral flute taps lift the chips out, similar to a twist drill, but they're expensive and easy to break. Thread forming taps don't make any chips at all, but require more torque and have different requirements for the starting hole.

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Thanks for the information.

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[leg17]

I prefer this style of Starrett tap wrench. I'd like to get the full set of them. Something as simple as a tap handle shouldn't be that hard to find a decent one, but all the imports I have constantly loosen off during use, the starrett are like a pit bull holding the tap.

These are not the 'T' handle that the OP referred to.

Starrett straight tap wrenches like these are not as stout as GTD and a couple of others.

Starrett for T-handle and Greenfield for straight tap wrenches.
(this opinion is shop tested for over 50 years.)

 

[6PTsocket]

New - Starrett. Used GTD, Greenfield. I can usually find them at flea markets.

GTD stands for Greenfield Tap and Die, same thing. Greenfield was bought by some one. I think they have a new name.

 

[PBCampbell]

I think Greenfield is Chinese now. I'm also thinking General is largely made in Asia.
I'd recommend Schroder, although not USA, for the DIY types who only occaisionly thread. These are apparently the same as the old North Bros. (Yankee before Stanley bought them). Otherwise shop where machinists shop for alternatives to Starrett.

 

[turfgnome]

Thanks for the information.

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it is one of those tools that if you have the correct setup is worth its weight in gold, my most used tap the ratcheting ability of my snap on set is gold. But most things I just use the t handle setup.

 

[davethorik]

These are not the 'T' handle that the OP referred to.

Starrett straight tap wrenches like these are not as stout as GTD and a couple of others.

Starrett for T-handle and Greenfield for straight tap wrenches.
(this opinion is shop tested for over 50 years.)

Funny how opinions vary. I just sold my Starrett 91B and 91D tap handles and they were tanks when I was a machinist. All the old timers had Starretts. The shop I last worked at owned multiples in all 4 sizes, no problems. This is repetitive, day in and out use, not occasional or light use.

GTD makes good tap handles but I'm not sure where to buy them new, if they are even USA any more. On the used market theyre usually overpriced. The one thing they beat Starrett on is making a lot more sizes. The 91D is the largest Starrett makes, maybe 15-18" long. I owned a GTD #8 tap handle that was 42" long, had tubular steel handles so it was light, and was an all around beast. I've seen on ebay even bigger sizes.

I also have a larger SW Card tap handle bc the Starretts were too small for larger NPT pipe taps. I used to have to tap a lot of 3/4 NPT holes, and the Starrett 91D was not large enough.

 

[leg17]

Funny how opinions vary. ..........

Sure enough.
Why, I've heard, that some people don't like chocolate!!

 

[Monte]

not USA but....

 

[TheMadMech]

not USA but....

I saw that one the other day and was considering it. Is it pretty good?

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[senlow]

I saw that one the other day and was considering it. Is it pretty good?

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I have a couple of the Schroder tap handles. The jaws hold the tap every bit as well as the Starrett or the General that has separate jaws. However, the ratcheting action is coarse and sloppy. I seldom use them. I almost always use the General.

 

[bob15]

I think Greenfield is Chinese now. I'm also thinking General is largely made in Asia.
I'd recommend Schroder, although not USA, for the DIY types who only occaisionly thread. These are apparently the same as the old North Bros. (Yankee before Stanley bought them). Otherwise shop where machinists shop for alternatives to Starrett.

GTD is not chinese.....they are part of Kennametal http://www.kennametal.com/en/home.html

 

[Monte]

I saw that one the other day and was considering it. Is it pretty good?

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i think it´s good, maybe not pretty good, but good The ratcheting mechanism is like a Yankee screwdriver.

 

[oldtools]

GTD is not chinese.....they are part of Kennametal http://www.kennametal.com/en/home.html

Where in Kennametal website does it say it own GTD?

 

[pstemari]

According to the Greenfield website they were bought by top-eastern group, a Chinese twist drill manufacturer.

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[catalytic]

These are not the 'T' handle that the OP referred to.

Starrett straight tap wrenches like these are not as stout as GTD and a couple of others.

Starrett for T-handle and Greenfield for straight tap wrenches.
(this opinion is shop tested for over 50 years.)

^^ THIS! I am tooling up my shop right now. I wanted a full set of the Starrett 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d straight wrenches. After buying a vintage Starrett 91a (new ones reputedly have problems with soft jaws), I also bought a vintage Greenfield on a whim. Wow -- I won't be buying another Starrett... the Greenfield is significantly nicer IMHO, and they are a lot cheaper used. Note, I would not buy either new -- Starrett has hardening quality issues and Greenfield's new ones have much poorer fit/finish.

I can't speak to the difference between their T-handles, though. My first Greenfield T-handle is in the mail, so we'll see how nice it is.

I wouldn't consider a ratcheting handle. The goal when using small taps is to have great feel so you can cut threads, break chips, yet not break the tap. I wouldn't want anything to reduce rigidity/feel. I broke a bunch of taps due to setups that reduced feel... I don't do that anymore.

 

[TheMadMech]

I can't speak to the difference between their T-handles, though. My first Greenfield T-handle is in the mail, so we'll see how nice it is.

Let me know when that comes in. I'd love to hear your thoughts.


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