Thread: Tap Holder

... ergh for 10 bucks I bought mine

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Bryan,
Was it this one?

Improved chuck for taps - mikesworkshop

Stuart

That's the one. Thanks Stuart.

This thread has me really itchin to finish my shed and set up my lathe.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I wouldn't mind seeing your photos Gavin. The making of these holders is something I should have addressed years ago.

Bob.

Bob, it's nothing fancy - just a length of BMS, one end bored to a good fit to the parallel end of a blank 3MT arbor and the other end bored to fit the dies. The centre of the BMS is bored through to allow for longish threads. Sorry about the cr@ppy photos, must get a decent camera one day.

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Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I photographed a couple of holders that I deemed worthy of modification. Maybe I won't bother.

Bob I was using one of my ratcheting holders today and it reminded me that I centre-drilled the back of them and used a dead centre in tailstock before I bought the other one I showed. It's a bit cumbersome but works at a pinch. I have some other tap holders that are like a bell that sits on flat work and keeps the tap square, the tap slides down the middle part of the "bell".

Pete

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

Bob, it's nothing fancy - just a length of BMS, one end bored to a good fit to the parallel end of a blank 3MT arbor and the other end bored to fit the dies. The centre of the BMS is bored through to allow for longish threads. Sorry about the cr@ppy photos, must get a decent camera one day.

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Thank you Gavin,

It is really only sloth that has prevented me from making a die holder. Your photos might just give me the encouragement to overcome it.

BT

Originally Posted by Pete F

Bob I was using one of my ratcheting holders today and it reminded me that I centre-drilled the back of them and used a dead centre in tailstock before I bought the other one I showed. It's a bit cumbersome but works at a pinch. I have some other tap holders that are like a bell that sits on flat work and keeps the tap square, the tap slides down the middle part of the "bell".

Pete

If I had bothered to look I would have seen the factory countersunk hole in the top of those two tap holders and the larger ratcheting General holder I have. I was going to buy one of the "bell" type holders. For some reason I pulled the pin at the last moment. What do you reckon of them, Pete?

BT

BT,
You should be making a set that inculdes a bolt of the same pitch as the tap so that it auto feeds the tap for you.
Then I can copy it

Stuart

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

If I had bothered to look I would have seen the factory countersunk hole in the top of those two tap holders and the larger ratcheting General holder I have. I was going to buy one of the "bell" type holders. For some reason I pulled the pin at the last moment. What do you reckon of them, Pete?

BT

Ha ha, to be honest I haven't ever used them, seems like a good idea though. Lately either been tapping in a machine of some description or I had a long clearance hole to guide the tap. Now what I REALLY want is a tapping head for my drill press. I was SO close to getting one a while back, thought I had it nailed but got sniped. Of course that would mean trading in all my good Indian taps for machine taps, and you know how fond I am of my Mumbai-special Bob

Stu knows about it and you, Pete, may have been airborne when I did the show and tell dissecton of my Piper tapping head. You'd want to have a number of holes that need tapping to warrant using the thing. And I wouldn't be taking my chances with Ravi's spiral taps either.

Pete, If you are desirous of a tapping head, you should be able to pick up a nice Ettco or Procunier or even a Tapmatic ex US for a reasonable price.

BT

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Pete, If you are desirous of a tapping head, you should be able to pick up a nice Ettco or Procunier or even a Tapmatic ex US for a reasonable price.

BT

Yes it was a Tapmatic I was looking at, they're not that expensive over there on the used market. Certainly given the time difference between power tapping and hand tapping (especially with a crappy tap), if I had a number of holes to do I'd love a Tapmatic. Besides I just think they're a very cool tool, that alone is worth the price of admission

Pete