My 1st Tap & Die set

[2SlickNick]

I just bought my 1st Tap & Die set. Sears delivered a fridge and scratched the side - so they gave me a $50 gift card. I bought this for $41.
I have been missing out...
So much potential and possibilities with future fabrication projects.

It comes with fine and course threads.

I practiced tapping my old briggs engine for when I install fuel pump. I then used a die on a 1/4" steel rod. This is awesome! Then screwed the steel rod in the block

FYI: craftsman is made in China, but probably use American standards Lol

 

[Poboy kartman]

I'd die without mine....I need to get a metric set....mine is a HF cheapie....but I get by with it.....

Yes....they are awesome....

 

[2SlickNick]

Ya, I was looking for a set including sae and metric.

 

[mckutzy]

I think your tap is way way too small to tap that big 'ol crankcase breather hole......

I guess I missed something..Something catostrofic perhaps or is there a new technique I'm unfamiliar with.......

 

[landuse]

Nice die set Nick!

 

[kevbo22]

Thats sweet! I just bought one a couple months ago. I too have the harbor freight cheap set, but it works great for me. Plugged the governor hole with mine. I never even new about them till I started reading this forum.

 

[supermanotorious]

these sets sure are a great asset in a shop but my HF set is a total POS, I can't recall any of the taps working for me ever

I'd die without mine....I need to get a metric set....mine is a HF cheapie....but I get by with it.....

Yes....they are awesome....

 

[supermanotorious]

get out! did you simply take the rod down with the die? or did you grind it down before putting the die on it? that looks like a ton of material removed by a die alone

I then used a die on a 1/4" steel rod.

 

[2SlickNick]

I used just the the 1/4" steel rod and the 1/4" die with some oil. No grinding. Is that bad? I did it exactly like instructions.

 

[Poboy kartman]

I must confess....I rarely....heck...who am I kidding....never use oil....I just don't force anything and back up really frequently to clear chips.....

That bad habit came from being a commercial carpenter....tapping all those steel doors for closers and panic bars....where using oil wasn't an option....those were finished painted doors.....

So....with many years of using good taps....I can get a little more positive results with the cheapies.....

Actually....the cheapies are a little more forgiving....they don't cut as easily....but they don't break as easily either.....