Where do you use Taps & Dies most often?

[winlinmac]

My mindset always associate Taps & Dies with mechanics ever since I've started working with cars on the weekends as a hobby. I'm sure Taps & Dies are prevalent in other fields as well; I'm curious to know where others use them.

A couple questions came to mind,
Are Taps & Dies traditionally used with a Drill Press & Vise? What is the appropriate way to use Taps & Dies on Spark Plug holes?

Thanks

 

[softailgarage]

Taps and die's are threading tools. Anytime you need a thread, whether its an internal thread (tap) or an external thread (die) this is what you would use. You can also use these to clean up a thread or re-thread, which is called chasing. I wouldn't use a drill press or drill. Use a T wrench. Machinist's use them quite a bit and there are alot of different types and sizes.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Mostly in my shop/garage, usually near the drill press when I'm making a custom part.
Occasionally to repair damaged threads. With damaged threads I prefer to get the part up on the workbench or drill press if I'm going to a larger thread size. but it isn't always practical.
BTW: With the proper tools (including clamps to securely hold the part) you generally get tighter threads on a drill press. Hand tapped threads and holes drilled with a hand drill often are a little oversized.

 

[Lx460]

Mostly in my shop/garage, usually near the drill press when I'm making a custom part.
Occasionally to repair damaged threads. With damaged threads I prefer to get the part up on the workbench or drill press if I'm going to a larger thread size. but it isn't always practical.
BTW: With the proper tools (including clamps to securely hold the part) you generally get tighter threads on a drill press. Hand tapped threads and holes drilled with a hand drill often are a little oversized.

How exactly do you use a tap on a drill press since typically they only spin in one direction?

 

[Sask dude]

How exactly do you use a tap on a drill press since typically they only spin in one direction?

As a millwright I use taps and dies frequently, the only way I use a drill press is to 1- tap drill the hole. 2 Use a dead center in the chuck to apply pressure and turn the tap wrench by hand. Starts nice and straight.

 

[Bro-Hio]

I'm a mechanical design engineer, and I call out tapped holes all day long.

If you are working with tapped holes, make sure you drill the pilot with enough room for chip accumulation and to accommodate the chamfer of the tap.. A lot of people don't think about that when doing their holes.

 

[hangfirew8]

My mindset always associate Taps & Dies with mechanics ever since I've started working with cars on the weekends as a hobby. I'm sure Taps & Dies are prevalent in other fields as well; I'm curious to know where others use them.

A couple questions came to mind,
Are Taps & Dies traditionally used with a Drill Press & Vise? What is the appropriate way to use Taps & Dies on Spark Plug holes?

Spark plug holes are problematic on the engine because some of the swarf inevitably gets into the cylinder, where it can cause ring or valve damage. I would only tap a head on-engine if I had good access (not the back row of a transverse V-6), an illuminated snake camera that fits through the spark plug hole, and cobble together a snakey vacuum cleaner extension.

I'm not sure exactly what is traditional, I've seen tapping done all manner of ways, including on dedicated manual and automatic tapping machines.

I have a Wilton piloted tap handle that I use in my drill press. I NEVER turn the drill press on (after drilling the hole, anyway), I even unplug it while tapping for safety reasons. I recommend this method for beginners (with access to a drill press), to eliminate one variable, alignment.

For most tapping of steel, once the hole is properly drilled (BIG IF), tapping straight is not very hard (with experience, of course). For that reason I only use the piloted tap handle only for short/soft material taps, where maintaining alignment is most problematic.

http://199.47.228.231/Piloted-Spindle-Tapper-70176.htm

 

[jfcasey]

I used them by hand, mostly taps, and only when something has gone to ****. In a dealer shop taps are most commonly used with cussing and regret

 

[skruft]

I believe people other than machinists use them mostly to repair damaged threads, even though there are special "rethreading" ones made just for that purpose.

 

[404]

I do ALL my tapping on the drill press. Pipe thread taps take too much torque to complete on the press, but I at least start them on the press at the lowest RPM. Makes sure they are straight.

I rewired the press to turn on with foot pedals. One pedal starts it in forward, the other in reverse.

 

[royesses]

I use them mostly with a drill press, mill or lathe. When I need to tap on vehicle or on a large object I use Tap levels:
http://www.edgetechnologyproducts.com/tap-handle-level/

Also there are tap guide blocks for starting them straight.
http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=3427&category=
When cutting external threads I put the die in a holder on the lathe, or use a piece of tubing over the shaft to try and get a straight start. When I turned wrenches for a living most threading jobs were due to mounting new equipment or brackets on vehicles where getting perfectly straight is not critical.

 

[bwringer]

Mostly on old Japanese motorcycles, mostly to clean up worn, dirty, or corroded threads.

A metric thread file is also super-duper handy for olde motor bikes.

 

[toolchaser]

There is a distinct difference in hand and machine taps. Machine taps either have a spiral point (to push the chips ahead of the tap as in through holes) or spiral flute ( which pulls the chip out the rear similar to a drill bit). Hand taps need to be reversed to shear the chip. I`m not going to include fluteless forming taps in thispost as they are somewhat specialised & AWESOME...

 

[Gogo300]

I used to work in the machine shop and cnc shop at work. Used a tapered tap in a drill press almost daily. Used an attachment called a tap-matic. When your at the end of the tap you pull the handle up and the tap backs out. Drill press never stops turning. Tapped everything from 16 ga. galvanized to 1/4" hrpo.

On the cnc lathe, I would drill the hole with a drill bit. Then the tap holder would come in. The piece would reverse as the tap pulled away. Had to make the drill depth longer than the thread depth to account for the point of the drill. Had to know the point angle to make the depth correct. Always check the simulation for a double check before breaking tools. Kinda scary running a new program but you gotta trust the math.

Not much use for dies on a lathe as you can cut external threads with the correct insert and grooving bar. And if the diameter allows for it you and use a boring bar with a thread cutting insert.

 

[gol4]

Whats all this talk about tapping hoes. You want Tampa to show up?

I do want to add to this thread. The way I was taught and when I use a tap and Die I turn it until it gets tight then back out to clear the chips then forward then back seems to take me forever, Yet when I watch videos on you tube seems they just start cranking on it.

What is the proper way?

 

[zkling]

Taps I use all the time both in repair work and new parts. Dies I don't use nearly as often. Only when it doesn't fit or have the correct pitch on the lathe. To really do some nice tapping you need a fixture or at least a tapping block to keep it square. Not much look less professional than non perpendicular threads.

How exactly do you use a tap on a drill press since typically they only spin in one direction?

Tapping head. Or a dc motor with a regen drive or a 3 ph motor w/ switch or controller. Ridgid power tap.

 

[Strouty]

OP, where do you use taps and dies?

 

[rice rocket]

Strouty, quit trolling us.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Strouty is not trolling, he is going for post count. Ddawg and him has a contest between them.

 

[Richard Cranium]

So here is one for a post count for my self also.

 

[bobcatdan]

As a mechanic mainly where I need to drill something out and tap to a larger size. Of all things, I use my dies the most to extend threads father down on long partial thread bolts.

 

[Kracin]

How exactly do you use a tap on a drill press since typically they only spin in one direction?

lots of ways people do that, generally people will located the hole with a center pin, then bring the press up, put the tap or a tap handle that fits in there with the tap then come down and manually turn the head so its a perfectly straight tapping, no side tapping that can cause breaking of the tap easier.

 

[CNGsaves]

Strouty is not trolling, he is going for post count. Ddawg and him has a contest between them.

It won't take long for Strouty to hit 15K post count . .
. . .
. . . . . you know, asking questions in the OP trail of futility !!!

 

[Barnabas]

Recently I have been using taps to clean out the threads for the clamps that hold stage lights in a theater. I recently bought a lot of used lights that came with rusty clamps.

You can see in the picture that there are three different screws for each clamp. I also run the screw with the exposed threads through a die to clean it up as well.

 

[MFolks]

During the 9 years I worked at Elgar Corp in San Diego,drilling and tapping holes from 4-40, to 1/2"-13 was an everyday occurance. chassis's would be fabricated,drilled & tapped and then painted, with Engineering changes being added after the chassis was on the production floor. Additional holes to mount transformers or chokes,or other electrical/electronic items was required,before the unit could be wired per the customers specs.

When I worked there from 1974-1983, 5,10,15,20,25,and 373 KVA single and three phase units were built and wired. These were UPS (Uninterruptible Power Systems),taking power from a back up battery system,converting D.C. to A.C. via an inverter system.

 

[anndel]

I bought a GearWrench brand and thought I'll use it very little. I've so far used it on vehicles, lawnmowers, mailbox holders, tool shed lids, just about anything and everything with a nut and bolt. For sparkplugs I replaced my friend's sparkplugs which she have the quick lube guy do and he stripped the threads in 2 of the 4 plugs. I used a HeliCoil brand which comes with the threader and coil as a kit so you don't have to use your normal tap and die set. Get as set, it'll come in very handy.

 

[OkRider]

I primarily use taps in the appropriate milling machine collet. Dies, mostly to clean up bolt threads. Single point cut threads in the lathe at times. It all depends on the job.

 

[winlinmac]

It has its place in automotive tasks. Some have gotten away restoring the the threads on their spark plug wells.

OP, where do you use taps and dies?

 

[2oolhound]

Before I started welding I drilled and tapped everything. Now it's only if it might require dis-assembly at some time or if it's heat sensitive.

 

[Jim Diesel]

I mainly use them for thread repair. However every so often i will use them to cut new threads on blanks, or thread extensions

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

When I was in production, we used forming taps in the machines. They form the threads rather than cut them. Something to make a note of when buying stuff at auctions and whatnot.

As an electrician, we use them when we are mounting stuff either in panels or sometimes to structural steel.

At home I use them on the lathe or drill press, generally with the tap holder and a live center. Chasing threads is the most common use, drilling and tapping for oversized bolts is next most frequently use.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Recently I have been using taps to clean out the threads for the clamps that hold stage lights in a theater. I recently bought a lot of used lights that came with rusty clamps.

You can see in the picture that there are three different screws for each clamp. I also run the screw with the exposed threads through a die to clean it up as well.

The "OH ****" bolt is 1/4-20 I think.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

I'll usually use a tap to clean up damaged threads, or if I have to drill out a broken bolt.

You don't need a top of the line set. A decent metric and SAE set will work fine if you are careful. Stay away from the HF sets. They have a bad reputation.

 

[shockwave]

Clean up wheel studs and exhaust bolts aswell very useful to keep around