4 Nov
2007
4 Nov
'07
1:25 p.m.
Small Parts (http://www.smallparts.com) here sells metric taps and
dies in sets of the same size down to M1.0. I suspect that the same
I've not found any such suppliers in the UK, but I will admit I've not
done a serious search yet.
Most modenl enginners over here use BA threads. BA taps/dies down to 12BA
are easy to get (if expensive!), I've seen 14BA ad 16BA
Much below 2mm, my hands and eyes just aren't steady enough to trust,
even with the aid of a loupe so I can see. For larger sizes, I use a
drill press or lathe to hold the tap or die when possible on the
That's what I do. Put the tap in the tailstock chuck (with the tailstock
free to slide) and turn the mandrel round by hand. This also gets the tap
running straight down the hole -- tapping 'at an angle' is another cause
of broken taps, of course.
securely-clamped workpiece. It's just too easy to
apply side forces
or have the workpiece slip with a hand wrench.
I tend to only use the hand tap wrence for recutting threads or using the
second-cut or plug taps.
-tony