rxAxilleas

Hi all,
i need a set of taps and dies but i know nothing about it and i am a bit confused. i saw on ebay that there are many cheap sets around.
are they hard enouth?

can anyone please suggest a set or brand to buy?maybe a webstore with reliable tools?
i see that there are hardened sets, tungsteen caoted and titatium coated. witch one do you suggest?

thanks very much for any help.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

It depends on what you're tapping. IF you just need a set for tapping wood, or some of the soft metals we use in this hobby, just about any cheap set will work.

Ed Smith

Forget E-Bay. If you need a quality set go to an industrial supplier that stocks cutting tools, Drill, reamers, general small tools.

Ed S

jetmech05

If you are wanting to tap wire for a pushrod and clevis a tap and die set won't work......for anything else in the hobby a cheap set will work as Minn said

airbusdrvr

If you only need a couple of sizes(2-56, 4-40, 1/4-20, etc) you might consider a good tool supplier and buy only what you need. The quality would be good and you wouldn't have all those other sizes you will never use.

But one thought from experience. If you have a 4-40 sized rod, a 4-40 die will not cut threads deeply enough. I recently tried to use a 4-40 die and thread the other end of a threaded 4-40 push rod and discovered this. Threads on screws and rods are often "rolled" in place versus cutting with a die.

Added: I see jetmech just said the same thing above.

seanreit

My Feedback: (60)

This is the correct answer, nothing sucks more than going through whole process of making something, going to the last step of tapping, and then breaking your tap and starting over, get the good stuff, it's about $5 to $10, per tap, but they almost never break for what we do, I run a machine shop, srtjets.com and I only buy the good stuff, if you need a supplier, I can give you the number of the guy I use.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I spent many years as a machinist and tool maker and I agree with Sean in that, when it comes to precision machining, I only use the best.

But for a 1/4-20 tap for threading wing bolt holes in plywood? Why pay big money when the cheap stuff will do?

KW_Counter

I agree! I have a cheap set and the problem is the lack of precision.
I tapped something and when I went to use it it was a very sloppy fit.
Get the good stuff! We don't use that many sizes so spend the money on just the sizes you need.
If later you need more then add to your collection. Money goes out slowly that way and doesn't seem expensive.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

carlosponti

My Feedback: (1)

something like this is good
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96570

on a side note minn where did you work as a machinist/toolmaker? my dad was a toolmaker for gm for 20 something years. he used to bring home pictures of stuff he had made it was neat to see.

jib

Even more important than the tool however, is technique. Read up on how to use these tools. You don't just crank away to cut threads. the process is add lube and work the tap/die back and fort, as tightening cuts the metal, but rotating the tool backwards, cuts and removes the cut section of metal.

I have a cheap Pittsburg harbor Freight set that I've used for years on steel and it's holding up fine. The fit, as mentioned above, is only OK, but for most home projects, it's fine.

Jack

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I worked several places in NY and NJ and for the Gov't

carlosponti

My Feedback: (1)

that's neat. I am in aw of what some guys can do with metal. one guy i used to fly with was a machinist in the aviation industry then had this own company making models before retiring. he showed me these screws he made that were tiny out of brass. had a model train that was scale down to every bolt.

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

If you follow the advice to get only the sizes you need from local industrial supplier I recomend getting taps with only two flutes, you will have a little less risk of breaking them for hobby use, you also don't need any special coatings on them just plain high speed steel will do the job...from a quality company of course no china specials.

j.duncker

My Feedback: (2)

Also be aware that some of the engine and kit manufacturers seem to delight in using odd thread pitches wich will not come in a standard tap and die kit.

For example the thread on a OS 120 4st silencer is finer than the normal metric fine size. It would have cost me $120 plus tax for the one 12mm tap that I wanted. { I am a Scotsman and that would have hurt } I was able to borrow one from a fellow clubmember who is a toolmaker Thanks Andy!

carrellh

Since you are not in the US, it might not be economical to shop Tower Hobbies. Here is a link to their selection of taps and dies.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0093p?&C=RAV

I bought these and they cover everything I need on model planes.
Standard (SAE) sizes
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK370&P=0
Metric sizes
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK376&P=0

I have not had a need for dies in many years so I currently do not have any.

Tall Paul

Don't try to put threads on music wire!
It's much harder than the metal in the die, and will ruin the die!

airbusdrvr

carrellh, thanks for the Tower link. There are a couple of dies I'd like and was unable to get them locally. Had no idea Tow had those small dies. Thanks

foodstick

When it comes to pushrods and threads, with a good soldering iron those end pieces that come threaded are SO EASY to put together...

rxAxilleas

Hi Guys,
thank you all for the info. i do not want the set only for a hobby use .i want to use it in larger pieces of bolts also. i am building or repairing many objects some times from steel and thats why i am considering to buy a set. with a litle research i made i found that there are very large diferences in prices and materials. i am not a pro so i thought to ask for your help.can you please suggest a specifik set or brand?
thanks very much again.

Tony Hallo

Try [link]http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM[/link], they offer several brands at various pricing, taps are like servos, buy the best you can afford.