Tap and Die set.

[W.olly]

Been looking at tap n die sets from 3mm to 20mm.
Just want to get a half decent set as in the past they have been pants. Yes more likely chonese rubbish.

Any suggestions what half decent sets to look for. I dare not think of the cost lol.

 

[Kram]

I havent found a reasonably priced source for decent dies. Use lathe and screw cut them..

Taps, I dont think you can beat the Zoro Swisstech branded ones spiral flute and spiral point, many were /are at clearance prices like £3 each. Much nicer to use than even a decent set of taper/second/bottom taps.

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Lots of others if you look through the swisstech brand.

Cutting Tools | Zoro

Here at Zoro, we have an extensive range of cutting tools to help you mill, drill, turn or bore almost any material. Free UK delivery over £25. Shop now.

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[frank horton]

used/reground taps can be bought from Tracy tools.....somewhere in the SW England....
all good make.....prices not so bad.....
thats where I bought my first set.....
but u can just buy what u want and even the weird style taps like cycle thread.....
def worth a look....
ps a decent make of tap for 20mm could be as much as £50 for the set o three...
the die woud be as much as £35....that sjust for starters.....
I wanted a special metric tap ( a no 2 cut) about 45mm dia....a UK/euro/ US made one was just under £100 (for 1 tap)
as it was for ally and just one use I bought it from China for about £30 delivered.....

 

[winchman]

Cheapest way is to buy used and make your own set up, most of the new stuff isnt very good but its good value for what it is.

 

[brightspark]

buy a set from tracy tools in carbon steel .there great unless you cut a lot of stainless or hard materials. any that you use regular just swap them out for hss ones

 

[Gragson]

Cheapest way is to buy used and make your own set up, most of the new stuff isnt very good but its good value for what it is.

Got quite excited when I got given a new set Presto taper, 2nd, bottom and dies 3 to 12, I was thinking they would be in this sort of league until I was handed them - https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/cutting...abWS-1ctH6uZy8BbQIviBU0vjQmkjI3oaAgUNEALw_wcB

But they were from their "Craft Pro" range - generic rubbish - avoid

 

[W.olly]

Got quite excited when I got given a new set Presto taper, 2nd, bottom and dies 3 to 12, I was thinking they would be in this sort of league until I was handed them - https://www.zoro.co.uk/shop/cutting-tools/hand-tap-sets/m6---m24-hss-tap-and-die-set/p/ZT1242324P?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=pla+|+Cutting Tools&utm_term=ZT1242324P&utm_medium=pla_css_3&targetid=aud-899587814867la-954114438385&loc_physical_ms=1006933&dev=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5oiMBhDtARIsAJi0qk3-2JsquoRPOIQhul61SNTabWS-1ctH6uZy8BbQIviBU0vjQmkjI3oaAgUNEALw_wcB

But they were from their "Craft Pro" range - generic rubbish - avoid

now thats mental. I was looking at the Presto range but felt they were just the cheap stuff. Or it could of been a similar named make.

 

[wristpin]

Tracy Tools every time!

 

[James1979]

I kind of made my own set up over the years. It was the cheapest way and I got what I needed when I needed it. Either that or get a machine mart type cheapy to get you going and when you work out what you use a lot then replace those with good ones.

I was eyeing up a vtech set the other day. Came with drills too.

 

[Barking Mat]

I kind of made my own set up over the years. It was the cheapest way and I got what I needed when I needed it. Either that or get a machine mart type cheapy to get you going and when you work out what you use a lot then replace those with good ones.

I was eyeing up a vetch set the other day. Came with drills too.

Yup, I've been buying good quality second hand lots for years, I don't use them that often, but can be a life saver on certain jobs. I've stopped now, I've enough.

Well I had to borrow a random size hydrauic one this year, but it's rare.

Bit like spanners and sockets, you think you've got them all...

 

[123hotchef]

I havent found a reasonably priced source for decent dies. Use lathe and screw cut them..

Taps, I dont think you can beat the Zoro Swisstech branded ones spiral flute and spiral point, many were /are at clearance prices like £3 each. Much nicer to use than even a decent set of taper/second/bottom taps.

PRO Series -HSS-EV Yellow Ring Taps: Spiral Flute - ISO Metric Coarse, Oxidised | Zoro UK

PRO Series -HSS-EV Yellow Ring Taps: Spiral Flute - ISO Metric Coarse, Oxidised, 0 products available to order online. Next day delivery available on most items, free delivery on orders over £25!

www.zoro.co.uk

Lots of others if you look through the swisstech brand.

Cutting Tools | Zoro

Here at Zoro, we have an extensive range of cutting tools to help you mill, drill, turn or bore almost any material. Free UK delivery over £25. Shop now.

www.zoro.co.uk

I still need to try that art of screw cutting. need to do a few shafts actualls 9mm bar to a 8mm thread was going to buy a m8 die too

 

[Kram]

Its worth doing. Its very quick after some practise and much more enjoyable than using a die..

Please avoid carbon steel. HSS costs only a little extra so theres no reason for decent brands to be churning out carbon steels. It'll cut a couple of threads then be blunt, you'll ruin your next peice of work trying to work out why it doesnt cut.

If you have blunt dies, a small stone in die grinder sharpens them up quite nicely and has got me out of some problems.

 

[Ubique]

It's not 'up there' with used-everyday-and-still-going-strong brands, I bought this set in 2018, use most sizes regularly and they're all in good condition, even the drill bits (mind you, I don't lend it out. If anything needs threading, I do it but get the time booked to me from the job.) I've supplemented it with larger and odder sized stuff that I've either had for a while or needed for a one-off job - M9 x 1.25 and M20 x 1.0 anyone?

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[bricol]

Just buy what you need in decent quality when you need it. I'm still using a couple of taps and dies my dad used in his business - and he's been dead 25 yrs!

A cheap set is most likely to just be that - cheap.

 

[Barking Mat]

Don't buy cheap chinese kits, they are made of cheese. We've one at work, it's really crap.

Needs binning.

 

[Ubique]

As soon as I have a tap fail or not cut the thread cleanly, I'll consider taking your advice. until then....

 

[not done it yet]

Taps and dies wear out and require resharpening or replacing eventually, depending on amount of use and material being threaded. They are no different to any other cutting tools.

I often single point, then clean up with a die (or tap, for medium sized internal threads).

Threading on the lathe/mill can ensure the thread is straight to the shaft. The tap or die gets the profile spot on.

For small metric taps, I bought a cheap Lidl set. The drills and taps are slowly being replaced as they become worn/blunt/broken. The tap handle is pants, so I usually use a different one. The tin box they came in is great - it contains tapping drills, second taps and the handle.

Often, I find old ‘made in GB’ taps and dies are still far superior to new rubbish. Buy good quality, not complete sets, is my advice.

Cutting a 20mm coarse thread manually is hard work. Series taps are a good investment if doing much of that! I have only 3 sets of series taps, but they certainly make life easier.

 

[W.olly]

Don't buy cheap chinese kits, they are made of cheese. We've one at work, it's really crap.

Needs binning.

i have used them in the past, you could feel the tap twist while tapping they were that bad.

 

[ronan]

I took a chance and bought some "Max-T" dies in BSCY to make some bolts out of stainless steel, and they are excellent. Stainless can be a pig to cut, but these are cutting it fine.

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