Tap and split dies

[Noods]

Hi can you recommend a brand to go for please for a amateur use for a tap and split die set please... I’ve had the cheapies so don’t mind spending a bit for a decent set but just not sure what to go for?

Thanks

 

[WorkshopChris]

Noods are you after standard metric or imperial?
If you already have a tap holder and die holder then what about building a set of the sizes you will use probably m4, m5, m6, m8, m10, m12 ?
If you don't often use blind holes you could start with 1st & 2nd tapps and add plug taps as required.
Depending on what materialy use use you could also look at spiral taps.
Might be worth a look at cromwells and msc and see individual parts compared to a boxed set.
Will be interesting to see what the others recommend.
I have only used known brands from industrial suppliers and never had a duff tap or die, unless on a production run we normally get yearts out of ours, probably need to get a few soon.

 

[jenki]

Tracy Tools in Devon have bought a metric set and some odds with no problems.

 

[Noods]

Noods are you after standard metric or imperial?
If you already have a tap holder and die holder then what about building a set of the sizes you will use probably m4, m5, m6, m8, m10, m12 ?
If you don't often use blind holes you could start with 1st & 2nd tapps and add plug taps as required.
Depending on what materialy use use you could also look at spiral taps.
Might be worth a look at cromwells and msc and see individual parts compared to a boxed set.
Will be interesting to see what the others recommend.
I have only used known brands from industrial suppliers and never had a duff tap or die, unless on a production run we normally get yearts out of ours, probably need to get a few soon.

Hi mte
It’s metric all the way for me... I do need some for blind holes too.. I’ve got the cheap holders which are cr@@ and the die holder is too small.. I could extend it I guess..

 

[brightspark]

95 percent of my taps and dies are carbon steel and had them for donkeys years manly bought cheap second hand good makes with a few missing .I made the sets up buying from tracy tools. a few of the metric ones I use regular and cut hard materials I buy hss . there prices are good and the quality second to none along with there drills and reamers etc

 

[zzr1200]

2nd. Tracey tools try their web site.

 

[Pete.]

Carbon steel taps and dies have a bad name because of the cheap sets you get nowadays being crummy quality. Good quality carbon steel tools are still good stuff to use and probably better than poor quality HSS.

 

[GavinL]

Another vote for Tracy tools. Problem with carbon taps is they are easy to break, especially smaller sizes, so I'd always go with HSS if you can afford them.

 

[brightspark]

the only small ones I have in hss are a ba set only ever snapped 2 in my life carbon or hss and that was being clumsy and I couldn't be bothered to do the job