Vermont American Die & Tap Set
- Thread starter balthor
- Start date
notice you got an acetylene a & mc tank wrench with the deal too!
woody 73
Well-known member
Just out of curiosity was your deal of $75.00 the total amount (tax, title ,shipping, E bay fees, middleman fees, etc.); or did you pay more on top of your $75.00 that included shipping and other fees ?
You did not say if the set plus extra taps and dies were metric or sae, if sae will you use them because today metric is king.
I ask because if you will use them you did ok if you paid more then $75.00 then not such a hot deal.
You did not say if the set plus extra taps and dies were metric or sae, if sae will you use them because today metric is king.
I ask because if you will use them you did ok if you paid more then $75.00 then not such a hot deal.
crguy
Well-known member
Low quality taps & dies. When you break one of those taps off in a hole, the FUN begins.
davethorik
Well-known member
Did you buy this out of necessity, or just because it was a perceived good deal?
d42jeep
Well-known member
I am surprised by the negative comments. I have had the identical tap and die set in the red plastic box since I had my shop in the '70s and have always found them to be of very high quality. As to the additional pieces, I have no opinion but I think that you made a good purchase. I have tried to use the cheap offshore sets in the past and they definitely have quality issues!
-Don
-Don
woody 73
Well-known member
I was a little surprised by some of the comments so maybe I can help you out.
What they mean is your tap & dies are low carbon steel (most sets are to hold down the costs). The better sets are High Speed Steel but then again you are going to pay out the wazoo.
Condition, condition, condition would I buy used abused and rusty sure but as a rule not much with taps and dies that look like some the op's. Why because as a general rule you want them to be sharp and not dull.
Like I said if you need them and you are happy you got a nice deal. I bought one of those large sets that craftsman used to sell (I forget how many T&D per set) and the nice man sold them to me for $40.00 dollars for a complete metric set that I needed. Did I get a good deal ? I think so because I remember they were new and over $200.00 per set when sears was selling them.
Hope that helps you out.
What they mean is your tap & dies are low carbon steel (most sets are to hold down the costs). The better sets are High Speed Steel but then again you are going to pay out the wazoo.
Condition, condition, condition would I buy used abused and rusty sure but as a rule not much with taps and dies that look like some the op's. Why because as a general rule you want them to be sharp and not dull.
Like I said if you need them and you are happy you got a nice deal. I bought one of those large sets that craftsman used to sell (I forget how many T&D per set) and the nice man sold them to me for $40.00 dollars for a complete metric set that I needed. Did I get a good deal ? I think so because I remember they were new and over $200.00 per set when sears was selling them.
Hope that helps you out.
They were lower end carbon steel taps but what bothers me a lot more is the rust. A wrench or even a knife can be fairly easily cleaned up and a few cosmetic pits will not affect usage but even if you throw the taps and dies in Evaporust and get them spotless, the cutting edges MAY well be damaged and there is not much you can do to fix them. They don't all look rusty so maybe you have some usable ones. Maybe the, rusty ones look worse than they really are Sorry to rain on your parade
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Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
I agree it ain't a screamin deal and rusty threading tools are useless other than rough work (which a lot of it can be). However my used tool re-seller charges $10 each for drill gauges and the 2 callipers and ace wrench would be another $10 so your kit is more like around $50. Now look for HS or HSS on those bigger not rusted dies because the big sizes often are HSS and they cost around $50 ea new around here. If you can use them once they start paying for themselves fast.
A vinegar soak will take the rust off, clean inside with a toothbrush then oil them immediately afterwards. I keep all my threading tools oily especially the new ones.
A vinegar soak will take the rust off, clean inside with a toothbrush then oil them immediately afterwards. I keep all my threading tools oily especially the new ones.
Ha, funny that you mention that. I was just looking up those parts on Ebay and noticed they go for a decent amount. I'm ok with losing a few bucks to learn a thing or two, but it seems like I may come out about even, or better with this purchase. Most of my stuff will be rethreads, and if it's something I care about cutting, will be done with a new HSS die.
The 1st photo of the T handle tap wrench is one I was wondering about. Can you show a full shot of it? It looks like a nice one. All of these last tools you posted are fairly indestructible except for the jaws that grip the taps. The die stocks are the same and it's only the screw that tightens into the die that gets damaged.
You're go to go just cleaning them with a wire brush.
Evaporust will be fine to attack the rust on anything else unless it is chromed in which case evaporust can get under chrome and lift it off. If it's chromed just wire wheel it.
You're go to go just cleaning them with a wire brush.
Evaporust will be fine to attack the rust on anything else unless it is chromed in which case evaporust can get under chrome and lift it off. If it's chromed just wire wheel it.
I'm almost positive the calipers are Craftsman.
See:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Craftsman-Tools-4-Machinist-Inside-Caliper-/322442068798
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-Spring-Type-Flat-Leg-Outside-Caliper-Tool-Machinist-Woodworking-0-6-/401190557960
See:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Craftsman-Tools-4-Machinist-Inside-Caliper-/322442068798
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-Spring-Type-Flat-Leg-Outside-Caliper-Tool-Machinist-Woodworking-0-6-/401190557960
Yes, It's the top one. It looks well made.
If you view the T handle wrenches from the opposite angle the old school ones have a counter sunk chamfer bored into centre. This is to aid in accurately threading perfectly square using a guide in a drill press. A lot of the newer import ones don't have this.
If you view the T handle wrenches from the opposite angle the old school ones have a counter sunk chamfer bored into centre. This is to aid in accurately threading perfectly square using a guide in a drill press. A lot of the newer import ones don't have this.
Actually they are high carbon but a (relatively) PLAIN high carbon with little alloying elements for toughness.
Very sharp when new but not as able to hold up as HSS.
Can you guys ID these tools?
The tap wrench might be Goodell-Pratt Co.
ryan20021982
Well-known member
I don't know but isnt the set in the case made by Irwin? Its the same case as the Irwin sets with the tray that comes out and even has the snap button to close the case, the same ones that get rebranded for Snap On, Matco, Mac, Ace and more, just has a different layout with different amount of pieces. I know Vermont makes their own stuff but it just looks like an Irwin set.
I have the Matco branded Irwin sets and got them both from Ebay for under $100 with a couple taps missing
I have the Matco branded Irwin sets and got them both from Ebay for under $100 with a couple taps missing
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disston
Well-known member
You didn't get a bad deal. I have the same attitude about this stuff too. Live and learn.
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