Tap & Die set

[paulmitchell1984]

Hi Guys

iv decided now that im in the need of a good tap and die set, and possibly both IMP and Metric, can any of you guys recommend anything ?

 

[MattF]

You can't go wrong with the likes of Presto and Dormer.

 

[paulmitchell1984]

thanks for that

so would something like this be ok? iv always borrowed a set so no idea really what to look for and would rather get something that will last

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CRAFT-PRO...648?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51c68c2a70

 

[Migmac]

Can recommend getting your taps and dies from Tracy tools, ordered a tap on Monday dinner time. It was here Tuesday morning. They did me a good deal on a single tap.

 

[piman]

Hello Paul,

if you are going to use them a lot then it's worth making sure that you buy High Speed Steel (HSS) taps and dies, I suspect from the price (and the 'Pro' tag) that they are carbon steel which will work OK but not be up to a lot of use. You would need to decide how much you will be using them.
Another option is to buy singly what you will use regularly in HSS and others in carbon steel for occasional use?

Alec

 

[Digger6135]

They look reasonable quality at a fair price, but as stated previously they will be carbon steel, and will not have the durabiity that a HSS set would have,
they are however split dies, and this makes cutting tight or easy fit threads much easier.
High speed steel sets do occasionaly come up on ebay, sometimes with a couple of taps missing, even replacing these you can still get a bargain.

Digger6135

 

[ukracer]

thanks for that

so would something like this be ok? iv always borrowed a set so no idea really what to look for and would rather get something that will last

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CRAFT-PRO...648?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51c68c2a70

I would buy these over the crap sets of taps that are Black. They really are a waste of space. That set is HSS by the way . looking who they are sold by i would imagine they must be reasonable as well.

 

[piman]

Hello UKracer,

I would have thought the vendor would have said that as it is a strong selling point, or did I miss it?
I also buy from Tracy tools and a set of three 12mm x 1.5 metric taps in HSS is more than the cost of that set, carbon steel is one third of the price.
I will steer clear of any tool that says pro in the name as they invariably are not suitable for professional use, maybe that's unreasonable but that's my feeling.

Alec

 

[mechman]

HSS every time, job done.
Norm.

 

[ukracer]

Hello UKracer,

I would have thought the vendor would have said that as it is a strong selling point, or did I miss it?
I also buy from Tracy tools and a set of three 12mm x 1.5 metric taps in HSS is more than the cost of that set, carbon steel is one third of the price.
I will steer clear of any tool that says pro in the name as they invariably are not suitable for professional use, maybe that's unreasonable but that's my feeling.

Alec

You did not miss it mate....I phoned presto.

 

[DuffyBB]

Ive been close to pulling the trigger a few times on a Gearwrench set.

 

[Rocketman]

Hello Paul,

if you are going to use them a lot then it's worth making sure that you buy High Speed Steel (HSS) taps and dies, I suspect from the price (and the 'Pro' tag) that they are carbon steel which will work OK but not be up to a lot of use. You would need to decide how much you will be using them.
Another option is to buy singly what you will use regularly in HSS and others in carbon steel for occasional use?

Alec

You could argue if you are going to use them a lot perhaps Cobalt would be a better bet than HSS

 

[paulmitchell1984]

Tbh I'm more of a hobbyist so won't be using them everyday or every Week even..but I like reliability and quality with my tools

 

[brightspark]

Hello Paul,

if you are going to use them a lot then it's worth making sure that you buy High Speed Steel (HSS) taps and dies, I suspect from the price (and the 'Pro' tag) that they are carbon steel which will work OK but not be up to a lot of use. You would need to decide how much you will be using them.
Another option is to buy singly what you will use regularly in HSS and others in carbon steel for occasional use?

Alec

verry good advice i have a metric set hss i make things and eveything is metric i drill and tap . i have all the imperial sets of taps and dies in carbon steel . presto and dormer and sometimes use them on stainless steel all with cutting compound and they last years .some are from tracy tools and made by goliath , well worth a look on there site

 

[MattF]

Are the Goliath ones still in production then, BS? I've never bothered mentioning those before as I thought they were an old manufacturer who was no longer around. The few bits I have of theirs have always been good quality though. Definitely would rate them up there with Presto etc.

 

[Kent]

Hello UKracer,

I would have thought the vendor would have said that as it is a strong selling point, or did I miss it?
I also buy from Tracy tools and a set of three 12mm x 1.5 metric taps in HSS is more than the cost of that set, carbon steel is one third of the price.
I will steer clear of any tool that says pro in the name as they invariably are not suitable for professional use, maybe that's unreasonable but that's my feeling.

Alec

Nah,
The PRO bit means probably as in "probably work" not profesional

 

[ukracer]

I have this set and I am think they might be hss as they are quite de

cent but even the warehouse they came from dont know so my guess is they could be carbon...I will see if it says on the taps etc tommorow.

 

[ukracer]

Hello UKracer,

I would have thought the vendor would have said that as it is a strong selling point, or did I miss it?
I also buy from Tracy tools and a set of three 12mm x 1.5 metric taps in HSS is more than the cost of that set, carbon steel is one third of the price.
I will steer clear of any tool that says pro in the name as they invariably are not suitable for professional use, maybe that's unreasonable but that's my feeling.

Alec

I can only tell you what presto said and they said they are HSS not Carbon..

 

[brightspark]

Are the Goliath ones still in production then, BS? I've never bothered mentioning those before as I thought they were an old manufacturer who was no longer around. The few bits I have of theirs have always been good quality though. Definitely would rate them up there with Presto etc.

yes there still in business ive had a couple from tracy tools in the past there hss or carbon steel taps and dies are all of good quality and they dont sell crap and are well priced with good service . ive also bought a fair few of there twist drills to make my sets up and there quality as well

 

[robinj66]

Are these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BERGEN-32...867?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3f4030c5eb any good?