Tapping guide

[mike os]

well it looks like I have got a little job to do... part of it will need tapping, several dozen holes in aluminium that should have been done while it was on the mill, but that's another story

so any advice on a tapping guide? need to be tapped straight but putting it back on a mill is not an option so I need to be able to ensure the tap is upright.. was looking at this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tap-Guide...499?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae2e07be3

any thoughts ot alternate suggestions?

 

[Rocketman]

You should be able to tap them by hand straight enough TBH with no guide.

 

[mike os]

before my accident last summer I would agree, not sure now as I don't have complete control over my right hand, and not a job I care to get wrong as all the machining is done and there is not much room for error

 

[MCKDAVID]

do you have a pillar drill, or even one of the old hand drill stands, could use that to get you started, if not check homemadetools on the web, dozens of examples, sure you coudl find one adapted to your needs.

 

[langy]

well it looks like I have got a little job to do... part of it will need tapping, several dozen holes in aluminium that should have been done while it was on the mill, but that's another story

so any advice on a tapping guide? need to be tapped straight but putting it back on a mill is not an option so I need to be able to ensure the tap is upright.. was looking at this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tap-Guide...499?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4ae2e07be3

any thoughts ot alternate suggestions?

Pillar drill or use a tapping head

 

[mike os]

wont fit on a pillar drill Langy, or at least noting I have access to at the moment, also plate edges as well as faces

 

[CRB]

If only one size is needed face and drill a small billet.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Bit of square stock, drill a clearance hole for the tap, start the tap in the hole then slide the block over and clamp down, tap the hole, rinse and repeat as necessary

 

[migmug]

Option for small threads

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/info_HTG1.html

 

[mike os]

saw those migmug... are they any good though?

 

[migmug]

Was going to get one, but as it was only a small pat I needed to tap and I found a home made tool at a car boot like one of these-
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Cutting-Tools/Hand-Tapping-Fixture.
Looking at it the should be no reason it won't work, you just have to ensure you hold it down when you start the thread, it may be an idea to taper the start of the hole a bit.

 

[langy]

wont fit on a pillar drill Langy, or at least noting I have access to at the moment, also plate edges as well as faces

In that case I would use a block with a clearance hole for the tap, If your happy to use a reversible drill I would use that.

 

[julianthegypsy]

What size holes and what on? It's a shame you're not nearer as I have a small tapping machine and a huge pillar drill with both a large and a small tapping head. It would probably be an easy job.

 

[mike os]

4 to 8 mm I think, not seen this job for over a year

 

[julianthegypsy]

4 to 8 mm I think, not seen this job for over a year

That shouldn't be too hard, my tapping machine can do up to 6mm in aluminium and I can do up to 13mm in steel on the big one.

 

[mike os]

not hard, just a little awkward... if the firm that did the machining had done what they were asked I would not be doing it... ( it was not done for me, I am picking up the pieces.... again)

 

[MattF]

not hard, just a little awkward... if the firm that did the machining had done what they were asked I would not be doing it... ( it was not done for me, I am picking up the pieces.... again)

Bloody annoying when you get stuck with this type of task due to some numpty or numpties being incapable of doing something right, isn't it. I'd just get either some rod around 3/4" to 1" diameter, else some flat bar of suitable width, and drill your guide holes for the taps in that. If the guide is around 1" in depth, that should make sure you're going in as square as possible by hand. Either that or just buy those things you linked to. By the time you've done making some, might be just as easy to have bought those straight off. Not hard things to make, but merely depends whether you want to make them yourself or not.

If you have a weak hand/grip and can clamp the guide in place for each hole, might be worth looking at one of the old braces and seeing if you could use that for holding and driving the tap. I seem to recall they were designed to grip a square shank?

 

[doubleboost]

Tapping guide at 10.35

 

[Shox Dr]

I've thought about using an anglepoise lamp, the base and lamp mount are always parallel.

 

[mike os]

That works for me, thanks chaps