Metric die sets?

[Kram]

Looking for some metric dies, normal sizes M3 upto M12. Whats best?

Are the cheap sets on ebay under £10 delivered any good? they are not hss though quite common that taps/dies are not.

 

[angellonewolf]

following

 

[Rocketman]

They are crap but for a odd tapped hole it would be OK I guess, would avoid hard steel though for sure. Personally my advice is buy decent taps the sizes you need if you can't afford a decent set.

 

[Kram]

Also question of split/solid/nut dies. Are solid/nuts only for repairing existing threads.
Dies do all the cutting, full depth, in a very small number of threads.. compared with taps having taper, second, bottom.. why?

Ok some things on my watch list:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351600916231
These are almost certainly not HSS as they are not marked. Good seller, but everything is chinese.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191928000489
Good chance these are single use.. Most other sets, appear to be the same just in a different box.

 

[colnerov]

Also question of split/solid/nut dies. Are solid/nuts only for repairing existing threads.
Dies do all the cutting, full depth, in a very small number of threads.. compared with taps having taper, second, bottom.. why?

Ok some things on my watch list:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351600916231
These are almost certainly not HSS as they are not marked. Good seller, but everything is chinese.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191928000489
Good chance these are single use.. Most other sets, appear to be the same just in a different box.

Hi, I was always under the impression that die nuts were for repairing threads not cutting them.

Colin

 

[Rocketman]

Sorry about that - die's, taps you wouldn't think I work with them all the time. Tap was stuck in my head, I was just looking at tapped hole sizes for a locking wedge on a tool I'm designing. TBH I haven't had experience of cheap dies but if cheap taps are anything to go buy avoid.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, Cheap taps are a problem if they break in the hole because they're difficult to get out. If a cheap die breaks they just fall off.

Colin

 

[mike 109444]

If you are cutting a thread from scratch then you need a split die but if running down to repair an existing thread then die nut or non split ok.

 

[8ob]

Looking for some metric dies, normal sizes M3 upto M12. Whats best?

Are the cheap sets on ebay under £10 delivered any good? they are not hss though quite common that taps/dies are not.

Alarm bells need to ring when things are made in India these days not China. I would imagine the taps/dies you are looking at would be fit for purpose in a diy situation and will do the job if you take care not to lean on them too hard. Workshop quality taps are obviously much more expensive but dont be surprised if you find they too are made in China.

Bob

 

[Kram]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122129560583 same as a sealey set www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271705899077 so cant be tooo bad

I dont mind paying a bit more but not for the above. Where can I get a decent hss-cobalt set?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Sometimes bargains can be found at boot sales, used but good quality usually beats shiny but cheap.......

 

[8ob]

used but good quality usually beats shiny but cheap.......

Perzackly that

Bob

 

[Kram]

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371714509898 Cobalt, but not split. Would grinding a 1mm slot down it be exactly like a cutting die, or some other differences?

 

[angellonewolf]

yea but you could go to a boot sale for 40 weeks and not find a set of taps

i used to got to boot sales every weekend and loved it 10 plus years ago there was a few dealers but not that meny and what you bought was a genuine bargain people selling off there old stuff and it going to someone that wants it

if there was 10 lines of cars 100 total 20 would be dealers 80 sellers

now a days its the other way around 80 people/dealers that are there every week with the same stuff and 20 people that want to sell there stuff

not that im saying its not worth it but hard to find stuff if you go to the same ones all the time still fun but i only go 2 or 3 times a year now

 

[Rannsachair]

I usually buy from Tracy tools and have been happy with them: http://www.tracytools.com/taps-and-dies/taps-dies-wooden-box

I picked up one of these for about a tenner, again have been fine: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mannesman...hash=item58e84df504:m:mqhETKsB0NfuDXEZBoARaXA

Though quality English, American or German stuff second hand can be a better buy.

 

[mike 109444]

I was taught that a split die was for adjusting the fit of the thread.

Not what I was taught but that was 35 years ago as an apprentice. How else would you cut an external thread with out a machine die box ?

 

[jenki]

Another vote for Tracy Tools

 

[Paul G]

My brother bought me a carbon steel tap & die set for my fortieth birthday. I'm now 61.

I've never used them, but the thread gauge that was in the box has come in handy a few times.

He's in civil engineering.



Engineers make weapons. Civil engineers just make targets.

 

[Richard.]

From my own personal experience steel taps and dies are only useful really for thread cleaning or cutting a none critical thread in a slightly oversized hole where the fastener only needs to be nipped up.
I use my set quite a lot especially the taps. I've bought most of them individually given the cost of them and they are as good as the day they were bought.