Ackworthie Tapping Head help?

[AdrianH]

I wonder if anyone has one of these and can describe how one uses it.

I do not have one but looking out for a suitable one but wish to know how they work, think they were Alfred Herbert made but not sure.

Reason for asking is I have been doing some metalwork for work, which meant drilling over a 100 holes and tapping around 60 of them by hand, and this took virtually all day even though it was only a 4mm tap in aluminium. At home I generally do not do much above say an M6. Anyway over to the group, Can I use a standard pillar drill, MT spindle, what speed do they run at will this model reverse and how does one set stops etc.

Curious
Adrian

 

[Wendelspanswick]

If it's M4 in aluminium just use a decent quality spiral tap in a cordless drill with the clutch set on slack.

 

[AdrianH]

For the simple stuff I did today then I guess I could if I had one to hand, but really thinking about at home use and equipping the workshop. The other main issue I had was keeping the tap straight when starting.

Just wondering about their use.

Adrian

 

[Mr shiney]

I use a soba tapping head. Interestingly aluminium is much harder to tap than steel. The tap binds even with lubricant.

 

[julianthegypsy]

The archer tapping heads work really well for this kind of thing, alternatively, I have an ancient tapping machine with a 1/6th horsepower three phase motor that will handle 6mm in aluminium easily. Either is super fast, easy and accurate. Both are self reversing.

 

[AdrianH]

I use a soba tapping head. Interestingly aluminium is much harder to tap than steel. The tap binds even with lubricant.

I was just using wd40 as a lubricant, all I had to hand, without it the tap would bind and I was only going through 3/16 aluminium very soft stuff. Yes steel generally chips away so less sticky.

The archer tapping heads work really well for this kind of thing, alternatively, I have an ancient tapping machine with a 1/6th horsepower three phase motor that will handle 6mm in aluminium easily. Either is super fast, easy and accurate. Both are self reversing.

There is a unit on the bay from Poland at around £140 that I am tempted with as it says 2mm to 7mm, or just get the old Ackworthie head for £50, but I am not sure what size collets are with it and I doubt I could get any replacements now.

Knowing my own stuff I would get one and it sit in a box for a couple of years untouched.

Adrian

 

[AdrianH]

I chickened out and got the Ackworthie head at £50, less of a hit to be sat in a lin bin.

Adrian