 | Home > Off Topic > Tap and die set. |
 
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| dorsetsmith Member Since: 30 Oct 2011 Location: South West Posts: 4554  |
Tap and die set metric 3mm to 12mm have used one of they ten year now
https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/cutting-to...EN0863990K |
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18th Dec 2017 9:07pm |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109  
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Depends on usage of course the more you pay the better..I use 3/8 whitworth for stud holes in horse shoes and 1 tap is circa £12
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18th Dec 2017 9:24pm |
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| Rashers Member Since: 21 Jun 2015 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3499  
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What do you need to do?
It's a bit like buying a set of drills. You use three and the other nine stay in the box. Like drills, you also get what you pay for, within reason. If you need to do a specific job, buy a tap and die wrench then good quality taps and dies for the jobs you need rather than a box of ones you don't. I will be the first to admit, the set would be better better value for money. I bought a reasonably cheap set years ago, but there are large proportion of them I have never used. I even bought a better tap wrench because the one in the set was not great. The set is a good way of keeping them in a neat and tidy box. |
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18th Dec 2017 9:27pm |
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1749 |
Not a fan of Spaldings stuff, have to admit that this set helped me out.
A bit like a set of drill bits - you dont need them all, but you know you'll need them at some point. though Draper set I bought years ago has done me well https://picclick.co.uk/DRAPER-45-Piece-LAR...34522.html Only just broken my tap wrench because I over stressed it 
Got one of these as it makes it easier to tap the smaller threads in those tight places where they usually live ! https://thetoolbar.net/contents/en-uk/p1035.html |
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18th Dec 2017 9:47pm |
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| ian series 1 Member Since: 17 Nov 2014 Location: south Posts: 3127 
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Now this really is a "get what you pay for tool"
I would say to get a half decent set these days you would need to spend £100 upwards, I suppose it all depends on how much you will use them? If only a handful of times a year, then a £50 set might get you out of bother? I brought a nice Roebuck set from Hickmans, seemed a lot of money at the time, (around £300) but they have been superb, I've also brought a lot of extra imperial taps and dies and used it repeatedly when restoring my series LRs a guy at work has the Ruco set, which is entry level and the quality is good. If you have a local Buck&Hickman counter it would be worth going in and looking at.  80" 80" 86" 88" 90"
Wanted, Forward Control Anything considered. |
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18th Dec 2017 9:55pm |
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| L110CDL Member Since: 31 Oct 2015 Location: Devon Posts: 10756
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Some good points there, thank you
 1996 Golf Blue 300Tdi 110 Pick up.
Keeper. Clayton. |
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18th Dec 2017 9:57pm |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109
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http://www.tap-die.com/index.html
Me personally I would just buy job specific ones from somewhere like these http://www.bapp.co.uk |
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18th Dec 2017 10:05pm |
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| Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209 
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I think that Cromwell set is plain carbon steel, HSS would be better, longer lasting but cost more. I would strongly recommend buying the sizes you need as and when, rather than a set. I always end up with Dormer because I get them locally, but I’d say buy any actual make rather than no brand rubbish. Extracting broken taps is not a fun pass time. Get some cutting paste/fluid and a decent tap wrench too. A secondhand quality tap wrench off eBay is the way to go. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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18th Dec 2017 10:06pm |
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1749 |
The problem is when you need it you don't want to have to wait till you can get to the supplier of the one you want - hence buy a set, even if its a cheaper one to start with.
I bought oddball taps when required only when caught out, such as drainplug threads on auto transmission.....its a different pitch to others |
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18th Dec 2017 10:19pm |
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| Bobbyg Member Since: 05 Jan 2017 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 26 
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Hi I would just buy the 5,6,8 mm taps sets ,,and a ratchet tap wrench makes things easy.then build up from that.thats first and second and plug taps.
Bob. |
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18th Dec 2017 10:34pm |
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| zsd-puma Member Since: 09 Aug 2016 Location: Kent Posts: 2720 
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I've got some clarke sets from machine mart, Metric, UNF/UNC and Imperial. They've done me well over the past 10 years. If i were an engineering shop cutting threads day in day out i'd buy some expensive ones, as it's likely the clarke ones would wear out quickly.
Realistically for most amateur mechanics and tinkerers one of the Clarke sets should last a lifetime. One thing i would recommend is buying a decent tap holder. The cheap die holders are normally ok, but the tap holders nearly always keep coming loose. The ratchet ones are worthwhile, as not only are they easier to keep straight but they're also usable in confined spaces. |
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18th Dec 2017 10:41pm |
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| Nidge Member Since: 27 Jan 2008 Location: Kildare Ireland Posts: 818  
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[quote="ian series 1"]Now this really is a "get what you pay for tool"
I would say to get a half decent set these days you would need to spend £100 upwards, I suppose it all depends on how much you will use them? Agree with Ian on this, have been thru 2 of the cheaper sets and most are rubbish, taps are usually ok for a while but the wrenches are poo. If I was to do it over i'd buy good quality wrench 6,8,10mm taps and dies, then add to as time goes on. |
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19th Dec 2017 6:19am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17386 
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I have in the past come across taps from cheap suppliers (specifically Draper in this case) which had completely the wrong mumber of TPI.
Cheap tools - not worth the pain. Buy quality, buy once. |
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19th Dec 2017 8:43am |
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| ARC99 Member Since: 19 Feb 2013 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1831 
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Putting engineers head back on.
If you intend to cut the threads from new you will need split die's as in the Cromwell set, if you intend to just clean up existing threads then an un split set will do, or you could buy die nuts https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/cutting-to...e%20nut.If you intend to drill and tap holes a set of 3 taps are recommended if re taping to clean threads then a set of two will be okay. Go for the Carbon steel if you intend to use them on a regular basis. Which ever set you go for make sure you get a good quality cutting compound this will keep the taps /die's in good condition, keep the work piece cool and remove the swarf/rubbish on threads easier. Don't make old people mad. We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to  us off.
Richard |
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19th Dec 2017 10:37am |
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