Tap and die storage options?

[joedodge]

So my Irwin tap and die cases the hinges are broken and boxes are just falling apart. I’m a master diesel tech and use them a lot. How is everyone storing there’s? I’m considering plastic fishing lure boxes like Plano boxes. It just won’t be as individually organized. Which is fine by me. Just curious what everyone else may be doing?

 

[cannuck]

I have one drawer in my bottom toolbox dedicated to nothing but taps and dies. There is a wooden base allowing 2 rows of each NF and NC from #6 to 1/2, Metric to 12. 1 1/2" round dies and stocks go in another area. Row of NPT dies 1/16 through 2". Thread file, gauges, etc. in there and just because there's room me wildly oversize machinist's square (IIRC 36"). One of busiest drawers as I do a lot of design/build, tooling and prototyping. Pipe dies and handles in a different box and large SAE in original Butterworth box and large metric in a much newer box. Those live in a drawer under a workbench as I don't use them every day.

 

[rsanter]

I use the organizer boxes but then I have multiple of each size
You could get foam and make cut outs so you can have them lined up in the drawer.
They also make the fold open metal boxes like for drill bit but for taps.
They make small drawer chests that are for taps.
I think you can get replacement plastic boxes from some companies, check with snap on.

 

[tyyost]

This thread had some good ideas, but most of the set sizes were large and took up a full drawer. If I were you I’d do the Plano thing, and get the label maker going. Schaller bins in a durham style box may be an option as well.

 

[KnurledNut]

 

[legenddc]

Lots of options on Thingiverse.

Search Thingiverse - Thingiverse

Download files and build them with your 3D printer, laser cutter, or CNC.

www.thingiverse.com

 

[LeeG]

I 3D print holders for mine.



Lee

 

[PelicanPines]

I labelled one these for my taps and dies...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Small Plano box bouncing around in a service truck. One space for SAE, one for SAE fine thread, one for Metric, and one for pipe. Then Helicoils with drill bits and taps in the other spots, and a set of tap sockets and 1/4" T-bar with 3/8" adapter.

 

[Packard V8]

Best I've ever found are the Kennedy #520 7-drawer machinist's chest.

https://buykennedy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/520B-Angle-Open-600x600.png



They come around on craigslist, marketplace and garage sales. I buy every one I find for under $100. Great storage for taps, dies, reamers, chisels, files, hole saws, drills, punches; all the small round and flat stuff.

jack vines

 

[lilredex]

That box must be an older unit, they don't look that good today. Nice storage though.

https://www.amazon.ca/MTM-Round-Slip-Top-Rifle-Ammo/dp/B006QP7LZ0/?tag=atomicindus04-20

 

[lilredex]

Mine, some S-K boxes from the past.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Irwin cases are available online. A 25 piece case is around $19. Do a search for Irwin case and your number of pieces.

 

[joedodge]

Thanks so much everyone!!!!

 

[e015475]

 

[richfinn]

I keep mine in a Sortimo plastic organizer with my selection of spare nuts/bolts/washers and my Lisle tap sockets (I only carry hex dies nowadays so I can use a socket or wrench) and a thread file.

It's nice to have everything related in one container when your mobile, like you my original storage box was getting pretty rough

I only deal with metric stuff so I don't need all that many Taps and Dies

 

[Grant Gunderson]

I keep all of mine in one of my Lista cabinet drawers. I used to use Schaller bins for these but the Lista trays work better as you can adjust for the tap lengths

 

[plinker]

I use Plano boxes for my larger/overflow taps/dies. The MTM case is a interesting idea for taps.

 

[ALinCarolina]

I have several drawers committed for taps and dies.

 

[danielbuck]

small drawers or bins (wood is nice!), you can keep the taps, dies and even correctly sized drill bits all together that way for every size that you normally use. Easy to add to that setup since it's just a bin and not a fitted spot. Say, you add a bottoming tap or a spiral tap, without having a pre-defined cutout for each piece.

 

[JradM]

Drill bit cabinet maybe? It would be better if you could sub-divide the sections. Although, if you store a couple taps and their corresponding dies in each one, that might not be a horrendous waste of space.

 

[nadogail]

I have an index with both the taps and the appropriate drill bits together. It probably came from MSC, sometime in the late 90’s.

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Drill bit cabinet maybe? It would be better if you could sub-divide the sections. Although, if you store a couple taps and their corresponding dies in each one, that might not be a horrendous waste of space.

They actually make these for just this purpose.


I think the Huot indexes are about as good as you can get for drill bit storage. The problem with their tap index is that I have a collection of tap and dies in a range that far exceeds what the Hout tap index’s can handle. Thus I think a scaleable drawer system is better. Years ago I never would imagine I’d own the rage of taps I now do, but you work on enough random stuff and buy the sizes you need as you need them and next think you know they are multiplying like rabbits.

 

[afazz]

I use these two methods for my regular-use taps and drills. I don’t use dies as often so I keep those in the original cases or just piled up, so I can’t help with that.

Standing up in holes drilled through wood along with the tap drill:


In individual plastic containers along with the tap drill, color coded by inch/metric/pipe:

 

[woody 73]

I have the tap huot index box like the poster before me, but for both taps and dies, I bought the Granger small metal boxes and I store hundreds of taps and dies in each box.

https://www.grainger.com/product/DURHAM-MFG-Compartment-Drawer-18-3-8-5JEN1

 

[NoahG]

I use pretty common sizes so I like those Huot indexes that keep the tap and bit together in one.

 

[JradM]

I use these two methods for my regular-use taps and drills. I don’t use dies as often so I keep those in the original cases or just piled up, so I can’t help with that.

Standing up in holes drilled through wood along with the tap drill:

Why didn't I think of that? That's exactly what I did for my bit storage and it works great. Makes perfect sense for taps too. I'm going to do that for all my extras. Good suggestion afazz!

I don't see why you couldn't do something similar for taps too - just use a forstner bit to drill holes. My dies are mostly one of three sizes.

I remember someone suggesting wood-based tool storage might result in rust. I haven't experienced that with my bits, but I was thinking next time I might just make one out of a cutting board instead.