Re: Rigid Tapping--How is this accomplished?

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "P. J. Hicks"
<hickspj467@c...> wrote:

> Kim,
>
> I started out with a largish hand tap set of foriegn mfg. and
> they have served me well for many years. The old saying that
> "s... happens" means you will break taps as you build projects
> so in my case I replaced the broken ones with spiral (gun) taps.

> This way you will gradually replace the most frequently used
> taps with better quality taps. The others will do for the
> occasional use over the years. I'm sure there are sets but
> don't recall seeing any in my catalogs.

I second this approach. I seem to recall you already have a set
of hand taps. So only buy new spiral point taps to replace those
you break, or for jobs that need machine tapping. That way you
can afford to buy GOOD taps 1-2 at a time, instead of having to
fork out a pile of bucks for a good set, or being tempted to
cheap out and get a lower quality set. Taps are one of those
items where quality really matters.

Good spiral point taps in the #4-#10 size range seem to go for
$8 to $15, depending on such things as surface coating, etc.
At those prices, I want to buy exactly what I need. If I have
a job that needs lots of 1/4-20 blind holes in aluminum, I buy
a spiral flute tap, in bright (uncoated polished) HSS. If I
need a bunch of #4-40 thru holes in 1/8 thick tool steel, I
buy a gun tap with a coating suitable for that steel.

Eventually you will accumulate a good selection of taps.

John Kasunich