31 replies to this topic

[sonikk4]

Clarke ones are ok BUT when they break they are a git to remove. 

 

Buy the best you can afford.

[Gaz66]

I did also mean to include in my post above, but HSS - High Speed Steel - Taps and Dies, though are tougher are less likely to break. These are usually bight in appearance. The types that are Black are usually (a) Carbon Steel and often brittle, you'll end up with a $1 tap broken off in a $1000 part.

Agree too with Graeme's advice on buying thread chasers.

Is that a hard and fast rule Spider about the HSS ones or are there good and bad ones of those?
Im presuming the cheap sets are HSS as they are shiny but they seem way too cheap when you price up individual taps and dies.

[PoolGuy]

I think you also have to ask yourself this, do you regularly break stuff? We all have mates who seems to be able to break anything that they touch, if you're one of those you might need to think carefully about what you buy. (no disrespect intended)

[Gaz66]

I think you also have to ask yourself this, do you regularly break stuff? We all have mates who seems to be able to break anything that they touch, if you're one of those you might need to think carefully about what you buy. (no disrespect intended)

Not really. I was taught to tap things years ago and haven't broke one yet but to be honest ive probably only tapped around 10 holes in total ever.
Ill be mainly using the set for fabricated parts so if any do break ill just make another so not like snapping one off in an "S" block!
I just dont want to end up with a monkey metal set which I am suspecting most of the sets are.

[weef]

As with most things it all comes down to cost. A good high speed steel, HSS, tap start at about £10 each for the smaller sizes and rising from there, so that is £30 for the three taps required to tap a thread and dies are similarly priced.

If you are intending "cutting" a thread as opposed to just " cleaning" up a thread then good HSS taps and dies are the way to go, Used and stored correctly they will last most of us a lifetime so cost per thread is not huge.

If you just want to "clean" up the occasional thread then the cheaper sets will meet most needs, but the lower quality sets do not always have the taper tap only having a second and plug tap.

Good makes, the likes of Dormer, will never disappoint giving good service and cutting nice clean threads but as I say it comes down to cost/use.

Correct workshop practices need to be adhered to, no matter what quality of set  you use, keeping the tap square to the drilling and when using a die keeping it central on the rod or some strange thread forms can be produced and always use the correct cutting fluid.

[stoneface]

As many have said it comes down to how much you are prepared to spend and how often to plan to use them, and then do you want to just clean the threads out or use them to cut threads, and what material you want to cut threads in.

If you plan to cut threads in Steel then HSS is a must.

If you want a recommendation for HSS then look on eBay at presto HSS taps and dies. Several sellers like rdg355 are as good as any to deal with (I have no afiliation). They are a good price and quality imho. I've plenty of them and I've even used them on stainless and titanium with care.

[Gaz66]

Dormer 19 piece tap and die set 760 quid at RS!
Will look into the presto stuff now.

[Gaz66]

It turns out the cheaper sets are alloy steel, is that crap stuff for cutting threads?

[stoneface]

There are various materials or terms used from high carbon steel, titanium alloy, alloy steel, to HSS etc..

If it is just plastic or soft materials any of them will possibly work with care and the right lubricant.

But HSS is generally the one to pick if you want the versatility to cut most materials. Even HSS has different grades and finishes for different applications and materials. But that is getting into the realms of more expensive.

If you want to just clean out threads then any will do. If you want to cut threads then HSS is the recommended.

And unless you are desperate or have the money RS will never be cheap and Dormer are one of the better/top brands.

[coopertaz]

all depends how often you plan to use them have several cheap sets from net ok. you can get good used ones from time to time, these can be good quality

[stoneface]

Just be careful with buying old sets off eBay or elsewhere. I've seen what looks like a good quality set with a good name on an old wooden box, but when you look closely it is filled with a mismatch of taps and dies of different brands and quality to make it look like a full set.

[ac427]

Dormer 19 piece tap and die set 760 quid at RS!
Will look into the presto stuff now.

RS is always a butt raping. 

 

Do you really need a full set?

 

Perhaps just purchase what you need now and more as required.

 

Did you check the price against the Tap & Die Co. or somewhere like Cromwell Tools?

[KTS]

i bought my volkel taps from here;  decent range and not outrageously priced

 

https://shop4fastene.../taps-dies.html

[Gaz66]

Some interesting items there from those firms.
What are the fluted taps for? Dedicated Machine tapping?
I think Ill be buying them individually now reading the comments here.

[KTS]

the spiral fluted taps ?

 

i think they're designed to eject chips away from the cutting direction i.e when tapping blind holes