Looking for a budget metric tap and die kit

[grrl]

The title says about all. I want to get something like a 40-piece tap and die kit - metric only preferably. The prices range from around $20 to over $200 for similar looking kits. Does anyone have any experience with the cheaper ones? Are they good for general use? I won't be using these everyday, just looking to add to my toolkit.

 

[Engineer]

Something like this?

For general use, they would be fine. If you're trying to use them in a machine shop environment, then no go.

If you're going to be tapping lots of steel, you might get something other than the carbon steel version. Maybe titanium coated alloy or even high speed steel. Will cost more but will last longer. Of course, if you're tapping aluminum and other soft materials, these would be great. Use tap fluid or cutting oil to extend the life of them and ease cutting.

 

[deadlyapp]

I'd go with quality, but just buy ones that you see yourself using fairly often.

 

[Ronstang]

Budget taps should be spelled C-R-A-P. Buy good ones and use them correctly and they will serve you a lifetime. I have the full Metric and Standard set from craftsman and they have been in use for over 20 years. For the best taps look at a machine tool store. See if they have kits. The best ones have a little dimple in the back of the shank for using a centering tool in a mill to keep the tap perfectly aligned.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Something like this?

For general use, they would be fine. If you're trying to use them in a machine shop environment, then no go.

If you're going to be tapping lots of steel, you might get something other than the carbon steel version. Maybe titanium coated alloy or even high speed steel. Will cost more but will last longer. Of course, if you're tapping aluminum and other soft materials, these would be great. Use tap fluid or cutting oil to extend the life of them and ease cutting.

Sorry but those are simply crap and not even worth the $15. This is one tool where you get what you pay for. Stay away from cheap Chinese carbon steel junk. It MIGHT tap plastic.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: Engineer
Something like this?

For general use, they would be fine. If you're trying to use them in a machine shop environment, then no go.

If you're going to be tapping lots of steel, you might get something other than the carbon steel version. Maybe titanium coated alloy or even high speed steel. Will cost more but will last longer. Of course, if you're tapping aluminum and other soft materials, these would be great. Use tap fluid or cutting oil to extend the life of them and ease cutting.

Sorry but those are simply crap and not even worth the $15. This is one tool where you get what you pay for. Stay away from cheap Chinese carbon steel junk. It MIGHT tap plastic.

That's why I added the high speed steel and coated alloy versions! 😛

PS. The OP might look for a 3 fluted (3 cutting sides) tap set instead of a 4 fluted set. 4 fluted sets are weak and tend to break easier, especially in steel or without cutting fluids.

 

[Instan00dles]

dont buy cheap ones because they will break even with the most careful use and take it from me, removing broken taps is such a pain in the @ss 😱

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
dont buy cheap ones because they will break even with the most careful use and take it from me, removing broken taps is such a pain in the @ss 😱

QFT!!!

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Something like this?

For general use, they would be fine. If you're trying to use them in a machine shop environment, then no go.

If you're going to be tapping lots of steel, you might get something other than the carbon steel version. Maybe titanium coated alloy or even high speed steel. Will cost more but will last longer. Of course, if you're tapping aluminum and other soft materials, these would be great. Use tap fluid or cutting oil to extend the life of them and ease cutting.

I came across those online and they are all over eBay for the same price - shipped! That's enough to make me suspicious. Plus the carbon steel. I will probably do what deadlyapp suggested, and start by just buying a few sizes I know I'll be using most.

Does Irwin/Hanson make good stuff?

 

[Instan00dles]

hanson makes pretty good taps, well I have yet to break one and thats saying alot. Check out www.kbctools.com goto cutting tools, tap and dies and make your way over to pg195-196 and they have some tap and die sets.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Budget taps should be spelled C-R-A-P. Buy good ones and use them correctly and they will serve you a lifetime. I have the full Metric and Standard set from craftsman and they have been in use for over 20 years. For the best taps look at a machine tool store. See if they have kits. The best ones have a little dimple in the back of the shank for using a centering tool in a mill to keep the tap perfectly aligned.

Same here, except not 20 years, only 10. I have a set from harbor freight, tried to tap a drileld out hole in a brake bracket and snapped off the tap. I had to drill it out, go across town and beat up the guy I loaned the tap I need to, and redo it with my craftsman one.

Just so you know, drying to drill out a broken tap is a PITA.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
hanson makes pretty good taps, well I have yet to break one and thats saying alot. Check out www.kbctools.com goto cutting tools, tap and dies and make your way over to pg195-196 and they have some tap and die sets.

Thanks for the link. I just downloaded the pages.

There is quite a price difference between the carbon and high speed steel.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
hanson makes pretty good taps, well I have yet to break one and thats saying alot. Check out www.kbctools.com goto cutting tools, tap and dies and make your way over to pg195-196 and they have some tap and die sets.

Thanks for the link. I just downloaded the pages.

There is quite a price difference between the carbon and high speed steel.

Quite a performance difference too.

 

[Instan00dles]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
hanson makes pretty good taps, well I have yet to break one and thats saying alot. Check out www.kbctools.com goto cutting tools, tap and dies and make your way over to pg195-196 and they have some tap and die sets.

Thanks for the link. I just downloaded the pages.

There is quite a price difference between the carbon and high speed steel.

depending on what you are doing the price difference is worth it, have had to tap a few pieces of hardened steel before, no way a carbon tap could do that. What exactly will you be tapping?

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

depending on what you are doing the price difference is worth it, have had to tap a few pieces of hardened steel before, no way a carbon tap could do that. What exactly will you be tapping?

I'll be tapping a variety of things, some I'm sure will be hardened steel, so I'll go with the quality stuff. I may just build up the kit a few pieces at a time. I don't need $150 worth right now just 3 or 4 sizes.

 

[Instan00dles]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

depending on what you are doing the price difference is worth it, have had to tap a few pieces of hardened steel before, no way a carbon tap could do that. What exactly will you be tapping?

I'll be tapping a variety of things, some I'm sure will be hardened steel, so I'll go with the quality stuff. I may just build up the kit a few pieces at a time. I don't need $150 worth right now just 3 or 4 sizes.

well have fun with tapping hardened steel, usually takes a few taps depending on how deep you are tapping just get some really good tapping fluid.

 

[grrl]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

depending on what you are doing the price difference is worth it, have had to tap a few pieces of hardened steel before, no way a carbon tap could do that. What exactly will you be tapping?

I'll be tapping a variety of things, some I'm sure will be hardened steel, so I'll go with the quality stuff. I may just build up the kit a few pieces at a time. I don't need $150 worth right now just 3 or 4 sizes.

well have fun with tapping hardened steel, usually takes a few taps depending on how deep you are tapping just get some really good tapping fluid.

I remember doing some years ago when I worked with my dad. Tap, back out, tap some more, back out, tap a little more, back out. And keep adding oil. 🙂

 

[Instan00dles]

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

Originally posted by: grrl

Originally posted by: Instan00dles

depending on what you are doing the price difference is worth it, have had to tap a few pieces of hardened steel before, no way a carbon tap could do that. What exactly will you be tapping?

I'll be tapping a variety of things, some I'm sure will be hardened steel, so I'll go with the quality stuff. I may just build up the kit a few pieces at a time. I don't need $150 worth right now just 3 or 4 sizes.

well have fun with tapping hardened steel, usually takes a few taps depending on how deep you are tapping just get some really good tapping fluid.

I remember doing some years ago when I worked with my dad. Tap, back out, tap some more, back out, tap a little more, back out. And keep adding oil. 🙂

I remember it going like this at work alot

tap, back out, tap *snap*, %#*(*, throw tap wrench across shop and then try many many different way to get the tap out without destroying the several thousand dollar block of steel while everyone else points and laughs.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Heh, I was just using my neighbor's taps (speed steel) to tap out some suspension bolts on my truck, and to do a 1/4" bolt hole we could only do ~1/4 of a turn at a time, even with oil. The tap would bend and almost break. twas fun.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Heh, I was just using my neighbor's taps (speed steel) to tap out some suspension bolts on my truck, and to do a 1/4" bolt hole we could only do ~1/4 of a turn at a time, even with oil. The tap would bend and almost break. twas fun.

the pilot hole was the wrong size.

 

[JinLien]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Heh, I was just using my neighbor's taps (speed steel) to tap out some suspension bolts on my truck, and to do a 1/4" bolt hole we could only do ~1/4 of a turn at a time, even with oil. The tap would bend and almost break. twas fun.

the pilot hole was the wrong size.

Some one gonna a hurt real bad if they treat my tap like that.

 

[Colt45]

what exactly are you using them for?