Suggestions for a Tap and Die set

[TJ_Shunk]

Well, I am starting to build up my tools for RC work, and I am looking for a good inexpensive tap and die set. What are your suggestions?

[Szczerba]

I just picked this up yesterday. I was stoked when I saw it. They usually don't carry much metric small tools.

The one I got looks a bit different. They had two sets. They were just packaged differently.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...49-1083-358360

opps. didn't see you were out of the US.

[Joat]

You really dont need a set, if your only doing rc stuff even then most sets like hanson have m3 and up to m12, so you figure m3,m4,m5 if that
You want HSS for work on stainless , carbon works good on just about everything else, you want taper and bottom if any bottom tapping,
dies you want some adjustables which would be HSS anyways, spiral flutes are the bomb, then you need handles and holders.
You only want to buy quality items, and they can be had for cheap, osg,emuge,greefield, hanson, all mac tools, snap on and matco use rebadged Hanson

[BigRocks]

Originally Posted by Shane_744

I just picked this up yesterday. I was stoked when I saw it. They usually don't carry much metric small tools.

The one I got looks a bit different. They had two sets. They were just packaged differently.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...49-1083-358360

opps. didn't see you were out of the US.

yeah they don't. good find dude!!
Home Depot has nothing, I might have to run up to Lowe's

[venom813]

I go to a local machine tool shop and buy Dormer tap and dies as I need them and matching drill bits. For taps 2, 2.5, 3, and 4mm is all I use. And I have a 3mm die.

Dormer, Portuguese:

http://www.dormertools.com/SANDVIK/2...f?OpenDatabase

[Joat]

Originally Posted by venom813

I go to a local machine tool shop and buy Dormer tap and dies as I need them and matching drill bits. For taps 2, 2.5, 3, and 4mm is all I use. And I have a 3mm die.

Dormer, Portuguese:

http://www.dormertools.com/SANDVIK/2...f?OpenDatabase

Forgot about dormer

[JeepersCreepers]

i bought one a hobby town and it broke doing 3 mm alum.

[Riksss]

Dont cheap out on taps.....buy good ones that will outlast cheapies 10 to 1..... I buy mine from Fastenal!!

[Emsley]

I agree, you don't need to buy them all. Just buy what you will need. Buying a cheap set will cost you the same as buying just what you need in a good set. I usually like to buy tools that have a replacement warranty. Just in case i break them.

[Bmr4life]

Originally Posted by Riksss

Dont cheap out on taps.....buy good ones that will outlast cheapies 10 to 1..... I buy mine from Fastenal!!

Ooooh, there's a Fastenal up the street from my house. I'll have to see if they have any taps!!!

[Stormin2u]

I bought the Tower Hobby set I think it was 19.99 us.

[ToyTundra]

I've used the great planes metric set. The taps are very fragile. The metric craftsman is better, but doesn't go as small. It's nice to have a whole set around, but once i figured out the size i use most (2mm for me) I bought a quality one from smallparts or fastenal. I can't remember.

[Bmr4life]

Originally Posted by ToyTundra

I've used the great planes metric set. The taps are very fragile. The metric craftsman is better, but doesn't go as small. It's nice to have a whole set around, but once i figured out the size i use most (2mm for me) I bought a quality one from smallparts or fastenal. I can't remember.

2mm? Whats that for?


Question to the group. Which kind of tap to buy? Taper, plug, or bottoming?

[ToyTundra]

Originally Posted by Bmr4life

2mm? Whats that for?


Question to the group. Which kind of tap to buy? Taper, plug, or bottoming?

Most of the stuff i build isn't for a crawler, but I do have an MRC which uses mostly M2.

I only have taper taps, so sometimes i need to make the hole extra deep.

[4VRYNG]

I am a firm believer in OSG taps.

[SMR 510RR]

Originally Posted by Bmr4life

Question to the group. Which kind of tap to buy? Taper, plug, or bottoming?

The difference is in how much taper is on the cutting end of the tap. Taper has the most taper (go figure), plug is a middle of the road, and bottoming is hardly tapered if it is tapered at all. What you will want to use depends on what you are trying to thread. For a through hole use taper or you can get away with plug on softer material (not stainless). For a blind hole (doesnt go all the way through) it depends how close to the bottom of the hole you need the threads to go. If you need them to go all the way to the bottom you need to tap with a taper then go to a bottoming to finish the very bottom of the hole.

Buy yourself some good taps. Like others have said dont get a whole set, figure out what sizes you will need and just buy those. Find a machinist supply place near you and get them there and then if you break one you know where to get one in town so you can get up and running. Also i doubt anybody is going to have a warranty on a tap or die, they break that is life.

If you are going to be cutting stainless drill the hole slightly larger than the tap drill chart says otherwise you will be fighting it and breaking taps left and right. Also on stainless you should get a coated tap, it will last much longer assuming you dont break it by pulling sideways on it.

Use lube also and break the chip at least every rotation by turning back until you feel a little click...Then keep going. Slow and steady wins the race on this one.

[Bmr4life]

Grainger sells OSG and Westward HSS taps and my job has an account with them so I'll probably order through them. They even have delrin rod at decent prices so that a plus.

So are OSG and Westward equal quality?