Taps questions

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I need to buy some more taps, mainly small sizes (0-80,2-56,4-40) What I wonder is:

1) Is it worth buying quality taps compared to imports, especially in this size. Will I break both regardless of quality? I mean are the quality ones more forgiving?
2) Read a bit about thread forming taps compared to the thread cutting ones I always used. Are they better (aka break less) in these small sizes. I would think they would be more likely to break in small sizes than cutting ones.

Thanks a bunch.
 
Quality taps are absolutely worth the money. Thread forming taps are usually something I wouldn't use by hand, they don't cut threads, they form threads by pressure. Formed threads will be stronger. Check out nachi taps, we run a lot of taps through exotic metals like hastelloy-b at work, nachi seems to hold up well.
 
I don't like form taps for hand tapping. I absolutely believe it's worth buying quality taps in any size.
 
Hi Patrice.
Like these other makers the quality ones are the only ones to buy even it you have a tapping device on a drill press. Up until a short time ago most of taping size was 0 X 80. I was getting say 200+ holes done before I could feel the tap needed to be changed. I have a spindle that takes the tap on one end and the other goes into the chuck on your drill press. It is made so that the shaft into the drill press is held tight but the rest turns. I bought mine for about $20 in Canada from KBC. I think "hand tapping" would bring them up in several sites.
Frank
 
With taps, you definitely get what you pay for. No, they won't last forever, especially the smaller taps, but many of the import brands aren't even suitable for chasing threads, much less cutting them.

All that said, even the highest quality tap isn't any good without a good rigid set up and a decent cutting lube.
 
Hi Patrice. I know nothing about quality taps, but wanted to say hi since I haven't seen you in a while.
 
Thanks guys, quality taps it is. I see if KBC has the nachi brand Ghunter.

Frank, you did suggest that to me a while back and I bought one. Works great but some of the tapping I have to do had to be done freehand because of the angle.

Greg, good to see you back here my friend. Hope you are doing good.

Thanks again to all for your great help once again guys, much appreciated.
 
In making our wind tunnel models, we are constantly cutting small threads in very tough and often quite hard materials. 0-80 and 2-56 are extremely common. In my experience, the shops that do it best use a highly efficient chip-clearing type of tap, similar to this:

http://www.osgtool.com/Product-List-Detail/EXOTAP-VA-3-Taps/303

303.jpg


Almost like a drill bit / end mill / tap all-in-one. Hope that helps!!! :thumbup:
 
OSG brand taps are legit. We've switched from Emuge to OSG in a lot of applications and get same or better life for less money per tap.

Spiral fluted taps are great for bottom holes, they pull the chip up and out rather than shooting it down. But they are weaker than 2 flute through taps. I prefer the latter for through holes.
 
We use OSG taps here.

Cheap taps are false economy.
 
Ok, the place I order from, KBC, doesn't have OSG. The 2 brands they have apart from the import ones are: Union Butterfield and Rieff & Nestor.
Any idea of what they are worth?
I checked OSG from their websites but as much as I want to buy quality, I just can't afford 40$+ taps. :(

Most holes I tap are bottom holes so the spiral taps sound interesting but then again if they are more prone to breakage...sigh.
 
Patrice if you're tapping bottom holes try the spiral taps without apprehension. The trade off of flute strength for removing chips rather than packing them in is worth it. I have had good performance from UB hand taps.
 
Just click the handle in my signature, I changed it to a link. :)
 
The Rieff & Nestor taps are good ones. I have done over 200 0X80 size threads with one tap before wearing out.
Frank
 
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