Tap set
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi,

Can anyone tell me whether this tap set is suitable?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/...p-die-set/path/

I need to make some of the head stud threads deeper into the block by 2-3mm. Any advise on taping as I have never done it before, and dont want to do anything stupid!

1310cc TWINK - T Conversion

That set is OK for rough work and will not last very long.Go to a tool supplier and buy the specific size that you need in a decent quality.Most suppliers will be helpful if you tell them what you are doing and dont patronise them.

I have got both the machine mart sets - purchased when I was in a bind and needed some dies on a job away from home.

They are actually not that bad. They are very good for the money - but I'd not trust them to do a new hole in any kind of decent steel. Cast Iron - they'll probably be ok.

BUT - as advised - you'd be better off looking on the ebay and finding a used 'old school' tap - maybe a few in a set - along with a sturdy tap wrench for your job. I say 'old school' because a good used presto tap that is 20 years old and costs you 4 quid or so will outlast anything you can get for under 20 quid new...

I have one of those sets.

I've actually done quite a few 5/16" threads in stainless and the taper tap is only just starting to get blunt.

Beware your head studs are 3/8" UNC are they not?

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I too bought one of the Machine Mart "Tungsten" steel sets..... As above, it's "OK" but I have broken two of the split dies.

Now I just buy proper HSS taps and dies in the sizes I need - there are good NOS deals on eBay but you have to be patient.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

I've also got that set, it is fine for DIY work in my opinion, I've had mine 8 years and would buy another tomorrow.

I would recommend going to your local cromwell tools warehouse thats where I get all my taps from. Like the saying goes, "Buy cheap buy twice".

Own the day

Just shows people's experiences vary :)

Apart from Paul's point about you will need UNC, not UNF, if it's the threads in the top of the block,....

They are also blind holes so you need a "bottom" tap (preferably a "second" and a "bottom") if you are drilling deeper.

The Machine Mart multi boxes usually only give you "taper" or "first" taps.

Schrödinger's cat - so which one am I ???

Own the day

As per what the others said really, I also started off with one of the Machine Mart sets and found them OK but the lack of a bottom tap is a pain especially for what you want to do. I've since brought sets (taper, second, bottom) of specific taps from RDG Tools for the more common / more frequently used sizes.

Edited by Rob H on 27th Jan, 2009.

In a half then out a quarter in my day.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I'm do the same as you Paul on anything tough. Ally I have been known to just rive it straight through :)

Tapping paste also helps, I've always used Trefolex green snot, does the job.

Hi, thanks for all your responses.

1310cc TWINK - T Conversion

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220350229896

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=390025432365

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/?_nkw=unc+tap...c+tap&_osacat=0

You get the idea???

Hi,

Just to double check...if I want to lengthen the thread by a few mm..but not right to the bottom (say for aruments sake 2/3 way down), would you simply just use a second tap, or would you use a second tap and then finish it with a bottom tap, even though its not at the bottom?

1310cc TWINK - T Conversion

youll need a plug tap for deepening the stud holes

*edit* as per rods comment, doh!

Edited by joeybaby83 on 28th Jan, 2009.

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