Tap & die set, Snap On

[busastars]

Over the past couple of months ive been using a few of my brothers tools, he is one of those who are obssesed with SNAP ON. If its not Snap On its Blue Point, Mac Tools etc.

BUT the problem is ive been using his Tap & Die set recently and its realy nice, Its Snap On but Blue Point & Mac Tools do one exactly the same, obviously rebadged. BUT as with anything with these makes you need a pot of gold or a money tree to aford them.

What other Tap & Die sets are out there that are upto this quality but at a fraction of the price as we all know Snap On sell finance first, lol.

Quick Pic of the set ive been using:

 

[snowcat]

TBH snap-on stuff is proberbly not the best of the bunch on that sort of gear, dorrmer and hertel are the big players on rottary metal cutting tools......

 

[Hitch]

I have seen very similar looking sets to the snap-on ones under the name Hanson, doing a google for that, i come across a set labeled Hanson/Irwin

Wether or not you can get them through Irwin in this country i dont know.

Also found a UK tools site selling them as Hanson sets, supplied by J&S products, some of the other products from J&S look very very similar to some of the snap-on stuff....price wise, cant be much cheaper than from Snap-on themselves!


Probably be cheaper to get a few of the common sizes from Dormer/SKF/Presto/Guhnring or similar.

 

[Drains]

Some quality tap sets at J and L. Might hurt a bit mind...

There are Irwin ones there but they're carbon steel. Worth investing in HSS.

 

[busastars]

Both links look like the Snap On ones, I think my brother paid about £100 for his but that was on there offer so I gess they are around the £200 range.

I was thinking of a set soon for about £50 but it will depend on cash. Recumendations on sets in this price range.

 

[Hitch]

Build up a set as and when you require them i think will be the way to go then.
A tap wrench and a couple of sizes of a good brand, will set you back about £50

 

[busastars]

What should I look for, Carbon, Carbide, Hss, etc....

 

[Hitch]

Hss i think are the better ones. Avoid the carbon steel ones, they tend to be the sort you get in full sets for £20

 

[piman]

Hello Busastars,

general engineering tool merchants sell good quality stuff.
Do you actually need a full set as it is more affordable to buy the tap wrench\die holder and taps and dies of the size you need and add as your requirement for different sizes comes along. I generally by mine from RS components. Not necessarily the cheapest supplier but very good for speed of delivery and on line sales.

The other good source if you don't mind second hand are steam rallies etc, lots of good tools available, just look carefully to see that they are in good condition, and yes, steer clear of high carbon, go for HSS (high speed steel)

Alec

 

[bob the builder]

My son has about £2500 of Teng tools, I used a cold chisel the other day and to be honest I have come across harder mild steel, the quality was rubbish.

 

[busastars]

Its how I bought my drill bits, got 10 of each " 2, 4, 6, 8, 10mm" Carbide, 50 in total. Was looking at a basic set of 25 bits for around £50 but for not alot more I found these.

One of my best buy's, bought Draper HSS drill bits before and they were useless.

The reason I was looking for a set was because I get a little lost with threads, fine, course & what size drill etc to use. Realy need to learn more on threads.

 

[Paul.]

For taps I would buy spiral point machine taps, they may cost a bit more but are more robust and can be used in a cordless drill, If your planning on tapping blind holes you need spiral flute, Dormers for me, and Rocol RDT cutting fluid every time.

 

[Robotstar5]

The reason I was looking for a set was because I get a little lost with threads, fine, course & what size drill etc to use. Realy need to learn more on threads.

Your best investment would be a Zeus Book then

 

[snowcat]

You may be as well off buying a cheep set then replacing the common used sizes with decent ones as and when they break, I get through quite a few taps, Iv also never got what I need, to each pitch theres fluted, flute less, spiraled point straight point, plug.......the list goes on......

 

[Arsonista]

Just buy the size you need when you need it. As has been mentioned before, best to buy spiral m/c taps if it isn't a blind hole . You can use these on a drill or a lathe as you don't need to reverse the tap holder a quatre turn. Oh, and buy Dormer if you can, same with drills.

 

[keithski122]

I've got the same set badged as mac.It cost me about £120 though I've never regretted spending this as its a nice set thats got me out of a load of scrapes.

 

[madkayaker]

i have a clarke set and have bust a couple but then i am a sparkey who likes to use the Dewalt to run into RSJ's and the like! the common sizes are Dommer ones tabbed from work as i snaped mine

 

[jugs]

Your best investment would be a Zeus Book then

Same but lower cost http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ZEUS-PRECISIO...14&_trkparms=72:1688|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318
(Wow wot a lota numbers !!!)

DONT buy carbon. Buy HSS from:-

j & l http://www.mscjlindustrial.co.uk/cg...gle-_-Ind_Supply-_-Ind_Supply-_-jl_industrial

Drill service http://www.drill-service.co.uk/Tools.asp?Tool=020000000000

 

[snowcat]

J&L had taps on there flyer's sheet this month, cant remember what they had as promo, but there web site will normally show the offers......

 

[Drains]

You may be as well off buying a cheep set then replacing the common used sizes with decent ones as and when they break, I get through quite a few taps, Iv also never got what I need, to each pitch theres fluted, flute less, spiraled point straight point, plug.......the list goes on......

And, er buy a tool for extracting the broken ones from the holes...