Tap & Die Sets

[Dan D.]

Re: Tap & Die Sets

A broken tap is the worst thing that can happen to you. Next to impossible to get out, and in a blind hole - even worse. I have not broken a tap in decades - I am very careful. I have also tapped #2-56 in 1/4" stainless steel before. I want to tell you it can be done, but it is nerve racking.

John, if you used an air gun to tap holes, how did you control the torque and not break taps?

-Dan-

[John D.]

Re: Tap & Die Sets

You haven't lived until your break off a cheap tap in a critical area whil working on a FI unit. If the taps are small I have switched to two flute expensive taps and not the imports.
I also use beeswax instead of oil when using a tap on an aluminum castings. The Beeswax works great and doesn't make a big mess.
MSC, Travers Tool, and McMaster Carr are my favorite places for buying taps. They will give you an option of various grades of taps. Since I use them most every day I buy the best. I also have tap extractors which require many Hail Mary's. JD

[Paul Y.]

Re: Tap & Die Sets

Dan -

I only buy quality U.S.-made taps - there's nothing more frustrating than trying to remove the remnants of a broken tap from a threaded hole. I drive nuts on the shank end of my taps (old assembly plant repairman trick) so I don't need to use a tap wrench - any wrench or socket will do.

Thanks John for that tip. I'll start using that tip right away. That is worth at least one year membership fee to me. Paul
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Thanks for that tip John. I'll start using that tip right away. It's at least a one year membership fee to me. Paul

[John H.]

Re: Tap & Die Sets

John, if you used an air gun to tap holes, how did you control the torque and not break taps?

-Dan-

Dan -

It was a matter of experience and judgment, depending on the application to be repaired; at 65 to 100 cars per hour (not at St. Louis, obviously), we didn't have time to fiddle with tap wrenches or torque wrenches. We carried our tools in a belt holster and moved with the line, and the air tools and hose were on a traveling hanger on an overhead rail.

[George W.]

Re: Tap & Die Sets

Dan -

It was a matter of experience and judgment, depending on the application to be repaired; at 65 to 100 cars per hour (not at St. Louis, obviously), we didn't have time to fiddle with tap wrenches or torque wrenches. We carried our tools in a belt holster and moved with the line, and the air tools and hose were on a traveling hanger on an overhead rail.

WOW, I'm no JH (work on 65 to 100 per hour) but am retired and do maybe 4 per month; and use all Craftsman taps; works well for me for 20+ years.