Thread: carbide or HSS for Die's??

I would say HSS,only if you couldn't turn it or it was very small.

carbide? carbon?

Am I missing something again?

Stuart

Probably my typo Stuart


Thx
Jon

Originally Posted by ventureoverland

Probably my typo Stuart

Well thats ok then

Lucky I dont make any of those lol

Stuart

I would go with cheap CTC tools HSS.....
They are cheap enough to not break the bank but the ones i have seem to be reasonable quality, better than the frost carbon rubbish but under top brand HSS, but also 1/5th of the price.

Ew

Originally Posted by ventureoverland

I know everyone says to use HSS when it comes to taps, and I know why having used both.

I went to buy a couple of dies the other day, an M12 and a few other imperial ones. I was blown away at the cost of HSS dies so came away with only one M12 carbide die.

What's the recommendation for dies... Cheap carbide or Expensive HSS?

Thx
J


Thx
Jon

Well you do mean generic carbon steel.

I think I would think that a, expensive plain carbon steel die from a reputable manufacturer will be better then a cheap "HSS" die from <insert country known for cheap products here>

For me it depends on what I am threading...... if it is something tough like 4140, I think you need a high quality die over say threading mild steel...

In the past I could not see the point in HSS dies for hand use, but then I realised, how many times have you threaded by hand and got smoke coming from the cutting fluid.. So what temperature is needed to get cutting oil to smoke? it is probably going to be close to the temperature that normal hardened steel starts to temper and soften... So the extreme edge of the cutting edge might be getting to several hundred degrees without you knowing it, even when hand threading.. This is where HSS is suited, at high temperatures...

Originally Posted by Stustoys

carbide? carbon?

Am I missing something again?

Stuart

Ha! and I was thinking wow i didn't know you could get carbide tapping Dies!

Simon

Sort of related to the thread, but I borrowed my neighbours Snap-On metric tap & die set today - Needed a M12x1.5 Die to plug a temperature sender on an engine.

WOW! I never used any of the taps, but the die's just gripped the stock and worked - cut a perfect thread.

Originally Posted by Ueee

I would go with cheap CTC tools HSS.....
They are cheap enough to not break the bank but the ones i have seem to be reasonable quality, better than the frost carbon rubbish but under top brand HSS, but also 1/5th of the price.

Ew

ditto
the ones I bought seem very good considering the cost

The problem with high carbon taps/dies is that is has become difficult to buy good quality. And good quality carbon taps/dies if you find them, are not cheaper than Chinese HSS taps/dies. Personally, I think that a good quality carbon tap is superior to a rock bottom price HSS tap. Good carbon taps and dies have a very keen edge.

I personally think that a good quality carbon set is a good idea for a beginner. Then add as needed, one by one, the best top quality brand name items you can get. Ebay is you friend, it is easy to find good new old stock items at discount prices. You may find that for what you do plain dies are fine, or you may find you need adjustable dies. I would not spend big money up front, before learning/knowing what I need.

Thanks, good advice.


Thx
Jon