Thread: Tap (& die) holders - bar type vs t-bar type

Originally Posted by TheOtherLeft

I found the Frost brand tap and die set in Bunnings.

Whilst they are under the Sutton umbrella they are made in China and only have a 12month home user warranty. Can I assume Sutton would have good quality control over it's products???

How would the Frost set compare to this:

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=T012

Machinery House seems to be popular on here.

I've seen both in the flesh (or steel) and they look the same to me.

Have a look on the Blackwoods site. www.blackwoods.com.au

just do a search on "tap"

they carry a good range of quality taps and dies.
I'm not saying to buy from them as they are usually hideously expensive unless you are a gov dept, but its a great way to have a look at what is available.

Speaking of taps has anyone ever used a "threadflow" flutless thread rolling tap? Threadflo Fluteless Machine Taps

Looks and sounds interesting, would certainly give a lot stronger thread.

bollie7

How often do people use dies? I can't see myself making too many bolts, as I really only will be using the taps.

On the H & B site I found this:

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=T019

I guess this will get more use as it also comes with the appropriate drill bits.

What do you guys think?

I have that set and it is very good quality, as well as having 3 taps per size. Having the correct drill sizes to hand is also very handy.

I have purchased individual dies, the adjustable types, as required.

A good source for taps and dies, especially non-standard sizes, is Victor Machinery in the US, good range and excellent service.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

A good source for taps and dies, especially non-standard sizes, is Victor Machinery in the US, good range and excellent service.

Thanks for the link. They have one of my odd-ball sized taps (9/16-20) but have asked for a custom made tap as well - same tap size but left hand.

All this hassle for a bicycle crank.

As they don't have international shipping rates online did you find the shipping costs to be reasonable?

Thanks again,

his shipping rates are pretty good ,usually a 20lb box for around $45.00 US , it pays to buy more to make up the weight though ,
but as yours is two taps it will be a small parcel .
I just bought a set of counter bores 3-12mm and a mighty mite clamp set , $15.00 postage from the US.

Kev.

Kev

Originally Posted by TheOtherLeft

How often do people use dies? I can't see myself making too many bolts, as I really only will be using the taps.

Everyone is in a different position, depending on what you do, but yes I use dies all the time. It's not a matter of making bolts, more commonly it's a thread on the end of a rod or similar. The dies can also be used to clean up threads that have been damaged for some reason or another. I haven't been able to cut metric threads on my lathe (since my lathe is imperial), and until I get a transposing gear set dies are the only alternative. Besides which, most threads I cut are quite small and non-critical so I doubt I'd single point many of them even if I could.

You're quite right however, taps tend to be used much more often than dies. Personally I go for good quality HSS taps, but are satisfied with carbon steel dies.

Pete

Originally Posted by TheOtherLeft

I found the Frost brand tap and die set in Bunnings.

Whilst they are under the Sutton umbrella they are made in China and only have a 12month home user warranty. Can I assume Sutton would have good quality control over it's products???

How would the Frost set compare to this:

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=T012

Machinery House seems to be popular on here.

I wouls take the froast set over H &F anytime Note the alloy steel is not HSS.

Originally Posted by bollie7

Speaking of taps has anyone ever used a "threadflow" flutless thread rolling tap? Threadflo Fluteless Machine Taps

Looks and sounds interesting, would certainly give a lot stronger thread.

bollie7

The Suttons site warns that they are designed for machine tapping with lots of oil and not able to be used by hand due to the torque required.

http://www.sutton.com.au/Assets/1406...nology_tap.pdf

Originally Posted by Dave J

You would be better off with the HSS ones
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=T013
The sets of 3 from H&F's are good taps. I have a few sizes and they are comparable to Sutton.
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Hand-Tap-Sets-Metric

Dave

I bought the HSS set from H&F https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...stockCode=T013 and have used them constantly for a couple of years and they still work well.

If I can have twenty cents worth ,I would point out that small taps say 8mm and below can be broken easily by excess torsion or torque offered by the longer arms of the tap wrench.

A certain amount of feel, offered by the T bar can be utilised to prevent snapping the small taps like a carrot.

Like anything its a sense/touch/feel developed by practice and expereince. plus the number of broken taps which are the price you will pay as the cost of your experience.

Look up the P&N Sutton site which will give the sizing range of the T handles/wrenches and which diameter taps they will fit.

Cheers
Grahame