Tap and die set advice

[Gravy]

Well I think my wife bought me the more expensive Harbor Freight metric tap and die set for Christmas.
I've done ok with a cheapo set for a couple years but I'll report on the quality. I'm sold on the idea of getting them at a place that doesn't ask questions about broken tools on their lifetime warranty...

 

[mesha]

Well I think my wife bought me the more expensive Harbor Freight metric tap and die set for Christmas.
I've done ok with a cheapo set for a couple years but I'll report on the quality. I'm sold on the idea of getting them at a place that doesn't ask questions about broken tools on their lifetime warranty...

So, if you break a HF tap, they will just swap it out like most tools? That sounds too good to be true.

 

[Kevin B.]

Still gotta deal with a busted tap in the middle of your project tho.

 

[mesha]

Still gotta deal with a busted tap in the middle of your project tho.

For sure, and it will always happen late at night on a saturday or something like that.

 

[Gravy]

That's what I'm told.
It's got decent reviews. For $85 (before the coupon) it won't break my heart or the bank.

Titanium Nitride-Coated Alloy Steel Metric Tap & Die Set, 45-Piece

Amazing deals on this 45Pc Titanium Metric Tap And Die Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I've had a cheaper set for a couple years with no breakage. This isn't for day in and day out machine work. I mostly repair motorcycles and they tend to have smaller fasteners and lots of tap work is done on aluminum. I don't expect to be going nuts.
I think a man's got to know his limitations.

I'm sure there are better sets but knock on wood I've never had a single question or trouble with hand tools warranties at HF. My trail tools are mostly from there and I've never hesitatated to use the 1/2" rachet-hammer.

 

[MikeGyver]

The tap in the picture I posted above was from McMaster. It tapped 430 laser cut holes in 3/8" using a cordless drill. That's 13-1/2 feet thick of steel and it was still in great shape. https://www.mcmaster.com/2762A51/

 

[I Lean]

Tell me what a bump-truing tool is. Don't make me Google it. 🤣

 

[I Lean]

Thanks. I'll be making one o those now. 🙂

 

[mesha]

Jinxed... 1/4-20 down!

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No worries, part (tool*) saved. Welded a nut to the exposed end of the tap and backed ‘er out.
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Here’s what I was making; lathe bump-trueing tool. I finished out the hole with a FMT 1/4-20 bottoming tap that I had. The HF tap only had about 2 more threads to cut before it was through the 1/2” keystock material.
I think the HF tap honestly was just me not backing it up often enough to break chips, but it is what it is! It broke.
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Let us know how the warranty works out.

 

[zmotorsports]

Similar to STAG's small parts bumping tool. I made mine double sided so I could bump the part in either parallel or perpendicular to the lathe's axis. It is a simple and easy to make shop tool that is invaluable when truing up small parts in the lathe. Piece of 1/2" keystock, couple of bearings and a couple of shoulder bolts and you're done.

As for the topic of tap & die sets, I'm kind of anal about cutting threads. When most people reference tap & die sets they are referring to cast taps & dies that are usually only good for chasing or cleaning threads and in the $100-$250 price range.

If you want a real tap & die set for cutting new threads I would encourage you to spend a few dollars more and get ones made of HSS. I prefer either Morse or Greenfield but the last set I purchased was the house brand from Fastenal. I had to purchase two sets as they didn't have one master set. An SAE set and a Metric set but they are HSS and have been excellent quality. I've had my FMT (Fastenal Machine Tooling) sets for about 5 years now and have worked flawlessly.

Mike

 

[zmotorsports]

I don’t have a QCTP so my single-ended version works for both parallel and perpendicular for me.

I’ve been saving up to buy a real lathe. It WILL happen this year. Most likely going to go with a brand new Precision Matthews. (About $6-7k)

You won't regret it. I've had my PM1340GT since 2014 and it still is a joy to run. Love that lathe.

Mike

 

[mbryson]

I don’t have a QCTP so my single-ended version works for both parallel and perpendicular for me.

I’ve been saving up to buy a real lathe. It WILL happen this year. Most likely going to go with a brand new Precision Matthews. (About $6-7k)

Look up my younger bro Broc @ MSC and see if he can get that for you? I've never tried to buy a lathe from him but his tools and prices are pretty decent.