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What would people recommend in terms of something reasonably priced, but capable of doing the job? while I'd love to get the best taps money can buy, I only need a small set, typically for cutting M3 - M6 threads a few times a year. I see Machine Mart are doing some reasonably priced Clarke ones.
I bought a cheapo unbranded metric tap set off ebay, and surprise surprise, it's shite. Made of cheese, covered in burrs, dies visibly eccentric, and the back of the taps shreds whatever thread the bit ahead of it makes. Before anyone asks, yes I know how to use a tap correctly. I will be slam dunking this set of them into a bin.
Clarke are fine - I use them in the workshop for Imperial sizes.
you want high speed steel not plain carbon. you could just buy quality ones as you needed them from cromwells or similar. or get something like this
https://www.cromwell.co.uk/SEN0259960K
which has the drills too
It depends I guess on what you're trying to put threads on.
Carbon steel is ok for softer metals or occasional use, but HSS ones are a better investment. I tend to end up buying fairly obscure sizes and get them from either http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/ or http://www.tap-die.com/
That said, I've got a bog standard set of metric taps and dies from Clarke and they are fine, the die holder comes with screws made of cheese, but they're perfectly use-able.
Firstly do you need a tap and die set? I tap holes regularly but can't remember the last time I used a die. You can often pick up decent brand taps singly on eBay. Worth getting goods one for the sizes you use a lot. Second hand tool shops often have a goid rummage box too.
Tap and die
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Eeer, sorry
ive got a half decent set you could have for not much money? ill try and dig it out when i get home if youre interested, see what make it is?
might forget about this by the time i get home tho so if youre interested mebbes best to email me at my username at gmail dot com?
cheers
Get a tap and drill bit set - then you always have the correct drill for the taps. Something similar to machine mart prod code 060230891 - a Draper set.
Be careful if you're going to use the taps on bikes because bike threads can have different pitch threads to those taps supplied in those sets. Not all threads but some.
i bought a lidl set on a whim, and was totally thrilled when i finally got to use it in anger. Tapped some little bolt holes into a deore chainring, in order to fit a trouser guard off a different crank set.
Snapped one in the end, tapping some 6mm steel stock.
not used it regularly enough to need to invest in a better one, so pointless comment really.
Thanks everyone. GoFaster, that's a double tap and die 😛
finishthat - Member
Get a tap and drill bit set
porter_jamie - Member
or get something like thishttps://www.cromwell.co.uk/SEN0259960K
which has the drills too
I think that's what I'll go for; thank you both. The last place I lived, I was spoiled by having access to a really well equipped hackspace, so could generally find anything like a tap drill set on a whim until I moved north. It's ruined me now I'm back to hand tools instead of machinery 🙂