Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
I usually go without and figure something else out, but
decided perhaps I should go with one.
The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
worth the $60 or so.
Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
possible.
MJ
On Jul 1, 2:06=A0am, Andy Dingley <[email protected]> wrote:
> We're metric in the UK, for new work anyway, and maybe also a couple
> of others like 26tpi brass thread and 40tpi model engineering.
Ha! #4-40 tpi and #6-32 tpi are still NATO standards, and I'm
dubious
that pipe systems in UK have gone metric any more than they have
in the US. There's lots of OLD designs (1/4-20 Whitworth threads
for camera sockets comes to mind) that haven't been dropped, too.
All 3.5" hard disk drives are attached with #6-32 here in the USA,
though 2.5" drives and DVD drives have gone metric.
You can ignore the relics, but they haven't gone away.
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>
> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>
> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
> worth the $60 or so.
>
> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
> possible.
-------------------------------------
I find that I use taps far more often than dies.
As a result, have bought individual taps as well as both tap and
clearance
drills as package, then taken a piece of hardwood and drilled it as a
storage block.
Have built a set of taps from 4-40 thru 1/2-13 over the years and
never had to go
looking for a tap drill when it was time to add a tapped hole.
Dies OTOH, the few that I have, are kept in a box along with the
handle.
I would be suspicious of tap and die sets bought at the retail level.
YMMV
Lew
In article
<[email protected]>,
whit3rd <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ha! #4-40 tpi and #6-32 tpi are still NATO standards, and I'm dubious
> that pipe systems in UK have gone metric
I /think/ threaded plumbing fittings, such as taps (fawcets) and valves
are still BSP though the pipe sizes and soldered fittings are metric.
Conduit is certainly metric.
> any more than they have in the US. There's lots of OLD designs (1/4-20
> Whitworth threads for camera sockets comes to mind)
There used to be a "continental" tripod thread that one came across in
"older" times and adaptors were available to allow such cameras to be
attached to tripods with 1/4" whit. 1/4 Whit was certainly the most common
and I guess the Japanese adopted it for their cameras to have as large a
potential market as possible. It's still a standard because it has become
a worldwide standard and there is no good reason to change. A good tripod
will last many years, probably longer than most of the cameras being
produced today, so if a camera manufacturer were to suddenly change to,
let's say, a metric thread, they would have to ship with an adapter to fit
older tripods, which would be silly. (I wish Microsoft would follow that
example)
> All 3.5" hard disk drives are attached with #6-32 here in the USA,
> though 2.5" drives and DVD drives have gone metric.
I cannot speak for 2.5" drives but I suspect that because CDs were
invented in Europe they have always shipped with metric threads. It would
be natural for DVD drives to follow that .
Mike Marlow wrote:
> Joe AutoDrill wrote:
>> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:df876248-3fd4-4ef5-a7de-08747a3f21ce@v13g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>>> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>>>
>>> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
>>> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>>>
>>> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
>>> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
>>> worth the $60 or so.
>>>
>>> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
>>> possible.
>>>
>>> MJ
>>
>> I'd suggest buying a small combination set from a reputable seller
>> like McMaster-Carr.
>>
>> www.McMaster.com
>
> With no intended contradiction to Joe's recommendation, I bought an
> HF set and for the amount that I need to call upon it (might be
> considered a medium duty usage rate), it has not let me down. I
> don't think it would stand up to a machinist's needs - in fact I know
> it would not, but then again most of us are not machinists, and I
> know that my demands of this kind of tool are far greater than that
> of most here. So - that's a possible maybe statement...
Yep.
NC, NF, and NTP, 40-piece set: $19.99 #39424
Metric, 60-piece set: $23.99 #45766
I have used dies to chase threads - both on a bolt/rod that was squished,
but also off the lathe - once almost all of the cutting is done. A final
pass with a sharp die.
Some swear by iron cutters others swear with HHS or M42.
If a tap shatters it is easier to get cast iron out, I suppose.
I'd like to hear the sides on Cast vs. HHS.
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
"Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member. http://lufkinced.com/
On 6/30/2010 3:41 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>>
>> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
>> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>>
>> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
>> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
>> worth the $60 or so.
>>
>> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
>> possible.
> -------------------------------------
> I find that I use taps far more often than dies.
>
> As a result, have bought individual taps as well as both tap and
> clearance
> drills as package, then taken a piece of hardwood and drilled it as a
> storage block.
>
> Have built a set of taps from 4-40 thru 1/2-13 over the years and
> never had to go
> looking for a tap drill when it was time to add a tapped hole.
>
> Dies OTOH, the few that I have, are kept in a box along with the
> handle.
>
> I would be suspicious of tap and die sets bought at the retail level.
>
> YMMV
>
> Lew
>
>
On 1 July, 01:06, "Martin H. Eastburn" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I'd like to hear the sides on Cast vs. HHS.
No point in spending money on any taps or dies that aren't HSS.
We're metric in the UK, for new work anyway, and maybe also a couple
of others like 26tpi brass thread and 40tpi model engineering. Anyway,
we use far fewer thread standards than in the USA. As I mostly tap in
no more than 3 threads, I can afford to have top-quality tap sets in
those sizes and just use a cheap set for backup.
Joe AutoDrill wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:df876248-3fd4-4ef5-a7de-08747a3f21ce@v13g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>>
>> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
>> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>>
>> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
>> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
>> worth the $60 or so.
>>
>> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
>> possible.
>>
>> MJ
>
> I'd suggest buying a small combination set from a reputable seller
> like McMaster-Carr.
>
> www.McMaster.com
With no intended contradiction to Joe's recommendation, I bought an HF set
and for the amount that I need to call upon it (might be considered a medium
duty usage rate), it has not let me down. I don't think it would stand up
to a machinist's needs - in fact I know it would not, but then again most of
us are not machinists, and I know that my demands of this kind of tool are
far greater than that of most here. So - that's a possible maybe
statement...
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Joe AutoDrill wrote:
> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:df876248-3fd4-4ef5-a7de-08747a3f21ce@v13g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
> >> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
> >>
> >> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
> >> decided perhaps I should go with one.
> >>
> >> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
> >> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
> >> worth the $60 or so.
> >>
> >> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
> >> possible.
> >>
> >> MJ
> >
> > I'd suggest buying a small combination set from a reputable seller
> > like McMaster-Carr.
> >
> > www.McMaster.com
>
> With no intended contradiction to Joe's recommendation, I bought an HF set
> and for the amount that I need to call upon it (might be considered a medium
> duty usage rate), it has not let me down. I don't think it would stand up
> to a machinist's needs - in fact I know it would not, but then again most of
> us are not machinists, and I know that my demands of this kind of tool are
> far greater than that of most here. So - that's a possible maybe
> statement...
>
> --
>
> -Mike-
I'll second the HF sets. I've had one for years and it hasn't let me
down once. I use them in wood, plastic, aluminum, brass, cast iron,
and mild steel. I've not broken a tap or die yet.
Art
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:df876248-3fd4-4ef5-a7de-08747a3f21ce@v13g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>
> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>
> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
> worth the $60 or so.
>
> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
> possible.
>
> MJ
I'd suggest buying a small combination set from a reputable seller like
McMaster-Carr.
www.McMaster.com
--
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com
Production Tapping: http://Production-Tapping-Equipment.com/
Flagship Site: http://www.Drill-N-Tap.com
VIDEOS: http://www.youtube.com/user/AutoDrill
V8013-R
Stuff like this ????
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=112&PMITEM=990-3077
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=319-5654&PMPXNO=19509016
[email protected] wrote:
> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>
> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>
> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
> worth the $60 or so.
>
> Need a recommendation for a set. Like to keep it under $100 if
> possible.
>
> MJ
On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:04:56 -0700, "Artemus" <[email protected]>
wrote the following:
>
>"Mike Marlow" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Joe AutoDrill wrote:
>> > <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> > news:df876248-3fd4-4ef5-a7de-08747a3f21ce@v13g2000prn.googlegroups.com...
>> >> Now and then, I find that I could use a tap and die set.
>> >>
>> >> I usually go without and figure something else out, but
>> >> decided perhaps I should go with one.
>> >>
>> >> The local hardware store has Irwin brand. Small kit, both
>> >> metric and English are available. However, not sure if it's
>> >> worth the $60 or so.
>>
>> With no intended contradiction to Joe's recommendation, I bought an HF set
>> and for the amount that I need to call upon it (might be considered a medium
>> duty usage rate), it has not let me down. I don't think it would stand up
>> to a machinist's needs - in fact I know it would not, but then again most of
>> us are not machinists, and I know that my demands of this kind of tool are
>> far greater than that of most here. So - that's a possible maybe
>> statement...
>
>I'll second the HF sets. I've had one for years and it hasn't let me
>down once. I use them in wood, plastic, aluminum, brass, cast iron,
>and mild steel. I've not broken a tap or die yet.
I'll 3rd that with both metric and SAE sets. I've broken only one tap,
and that was the devious 6-32 bastid. That was my fault as well as the
poorly designed 6-32 tap that had plagued mankind since its invention.
I simply didn't pay enough attention and didn't use any tapping fluid.
One turn too quickly and it became 2 pieces. Luckily, it was a cheap
and replaceable part so I didn't even have to attempt drilling it out.
OTOH, if I have something I truly can't afford to lose, I'll buy a
super quality tap and use it. Weigh the costs and go from there.
The cheap sets are great for most repairs, though. I use dies to clean
up buggered threads on irreplaceable bolts from errant hammer taps.
--
The most powerful factors in the world are clear ideas
in the minds of energetic men of good will.
-- J. Arthur Thomson