Tap and die set

[mangocrazy]

Can people recommend a decent quality metric tap and die set that doesn't cost the earth? I need M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10 & M12 taps & dies in 'standard' thread pitches. They will normally only get used for cleaning up threads on motorbike fasteners, and only rarely for actually cutting threads. I was looking at a Hilka set - are they reasonable quality? I definitely want to avoid cheap Chinese tat, although I guess most of what's available will originate from there...

 

[MattF]

If it's just for cleaning existing threads up, you should be safe with even the fairly cheap stuff. You'll never be stressing them as such in that application. Then just get the odd decent one when you need it for cutting. Presto is generally a safe bet for good quality drills/taps/dies.

 

[madkayaker]

I use presto at work and they take some hammer and last well

 

[BrokenBiker]

although i usually despise draper my missus bought me a tap set m3-m12 for 28 quid with all drills included for 28 quid and they have held up well. I have used them on mild and stainless steels, aluminium, brass, plastics and they always give a good finish and good threads

 

[brightspark]

go on tracy tools site all theres are decenthttp://www.tracytools.com/taps-and-dies

 

[Big Pete]

+1 on tracey tools, they also do metric fines, which you are likely to need on Jap bikes.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Got a set of Sherwood metric taps for day to day stuff

 

[Fazerruss]

Also look at
Sherwood,Dormer,Roebuck, Warwick

 

[ford34/2]

I too have a Draper set for general use, and a hell of a collection of big name branded loose stuff. I always end up buying stuff at Car boots etc,Especially if its a big name. I have some more sets, god knows they must have been buy one get one free, But in all honesty I bet they would clean up your threads, certainly would not like Stainless. Consider looking out for Thread files they too are handy.

Curse the Chinese stuff but they will manufacture to level of quality and to a named price, but as we all like a bargain more and more suppliers who trade their stuff, cut the corners, lower the specs, and squeeze the best price out of them, in turn they produce low end crap `cause thats what they have been asked to produce.
Stan

 

[Big Pete]

A thread file is a very useful thing to have, often better than a die for cleaning up an external thread.

 

[brightspark]

A thread file is a very useful thing to have, often better than a die for cleaning up an external thread.

yea i have a metric one and one imperial . they cost me 15 quid each 25 years ago . blue point dunno how much they are now

 

[Wallace]

If it's only for thread cleaning buy a set of die nuts. Tap & die set in a box are nice but most of them end up not being used so instead of buying a whole range get a good set of M5, M6 and M8 then buy the rest as you need them and buy depending on each job. Most of the cheaper sets often come with die cast zinc (sh#tite as my old man called it!) die stocks and tap wrenches that are only worth keeping to lend the apprentice so he buys you a new one! As Big Pete says most M10 and M12 on bikes are metric fine, worth checking what's what on your bike.

 

[mangocrazy]

It's a case of either filling in the gaps of the stuff I've already got ( a lot of which have come from Tracy Tools), or buying a set spanning M3-M12 and be done with it. Probably work out the same in the long run, ut with a set you get a box to keep them all in. Are Sealey taps/dies any good? They are listed by Lawson HIS who tend not to stock crap, albeit the cheapest in their range (which goes up to several thousand pounds for top-end G&J Hall stuff... !!!)

 

[brightspark]

i have most sets in carbon steel presto ect but have a set of metric hss from machine mart and had a lot of use from them http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht527-32-pce-hss-tap-die-set?da=1&TC=SRC-taps diesthe taps and dies are good quality but the holders are a bit naff so i use moore and wright or presto holders for them

 

[Wedg1e]

I have mostly random Dormer and Presto stuff but on a whim I bought one of the Aldi sets for a tenner and have so far failed to break any of it! M3 to M10 or M12, I forget, plus 1/4" BSP (I think) for some odd reason. Probably be fine if you're just cleaning threads out.

 

[ronan]

I don't think you can miss if you stick to a known brand, we used to use presto a lot at work where the taps were used on stainless steel only, the stainless killed them eventually, but it took a while. Sherwood tools , endmills, slot drills and reamers i have been using a lot recently and they are good value and appear to be well made, they are made in leicester as far as i know so aren't far eastern cack. The aldi tap and die sets surprised me, i have a set i bought from the bargain bin, i used them one day to cut a few threads in some stainless bar and they worked perfectly well.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I've a large set m3?-m18 from mannessmann (so?) Which is great, cuts as good as my dormer stuff and was under £100 for the set.

Dan

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Hahndreiter are also good for the money. It's probably not worth looking for colour band taps the amount you would need to use them. Also some decent cutting compound is very important. Rocol and dormer are some of the best.

 

[mfletch]

I got mine from screwfix there from china but they are HSS steel and I've used them a lot with no problems think there about £75

 

[Parm]

Just had an email from Axminster Tools. They are doing a 28 piece metric tap and die set for around £17 this has been reduced from £28.

Don't know about quality but knowing Axminster it shouldn't be bad and looks like a great bargain for the price