Recommendations for a tap and die set
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: Hastings MN
Recommendations for a tap and die set
I've got a $100 Sears gift card and am looking for the best tap and die set I can buy for that. Any recommendations? What is the best coating?
I would prefer to get SAE and metric, but if a decent set of SAE is $100, I'll just get that. Like I said, I have a Sears gift card, so I'll likely be buying something from sears.com. Links would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I would prefer to get SAE and metric, but if a decent set of SAE is $100, I'll just get that. Like I said, I have a Sears gift card, so I'll likely be buying something from sears.com. Links would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Boiling Springs SC
If it is anything like the one from Northern tool, I would spend all one hundred dollars on clothes...... Have ya'll got a Travers Tool Company close by. Industrial but they do sell to the public. A hundred dollars will buy about half of one from them though.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Are you cutting new threads or just trying to clean threads that already exist? I have a Snap-On tap and die set that is great. For restoring threads that already exist, I use a set of chasers from Kastar. You probably already know this, but tap and die sets should only be used to cut new threads.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
My opinion.
Anything from harbor freight that has moving parts will dissapoint you. Might be tomorrow or 10 years from now you never know. Taps and Dies don't have moving parts but the handles do. I didn't like the way they felt loose. Could have been the ones I had since it sounds like some of the guys here like them. I have tools from HF too, just none that I have to depend on. Since you don't already have a big set you probably don't really need that many. Get the small sets that have 6-9mm and #8, #10 and 1/4"-3/8". Find something with deep threads to practice on before you touch a real messed up hole. Taps should go in with fingers before you put a wrench on it. They both get oil, not WD-40, on them while they are going in. Whatever kind you get remember to turn once the back up 1/4 turn. Keeps the chips cleared so they last longer and there is less chance of breaking. Go slow, Be gentle and stay square and you will have far fewer problems.
Bill
Anything from harbor freight that has moving parts will dissapoint you. Might be tomorrow or 10 years from now you never know. Taps and Dies don't have moving parts but the handles do. I didn't like the way they felt loose. Could have been the ones I had since it sounds like some of the guys here like them. I have tools from HF too, just none that I have to depend on. Since you don't already have a big set you probably don't really need that many. Get the small sets that have 6-9mm and #8, #10 and 1/4"-3/8". Find something with deep threads to practice on before you touch a real messed up hole. Taps should go in with fingers before you put a wrench on it. They both get oil, not WD-40, on them while they are going in. Whatever kind you get remember to turn once the back up 1/4 turn. Keeps the chips cleared so they last longer and there is less chance of breaking. Go slow, Be gentle and stay square and you will have far fewer problems.
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: FBO Florida
Funny, before I opened the thread I was going to say anything but craftsman for tap and die. It is all China made now. I was using a set recently and it was like pot metal they way they crumbled. Find an old american made set at a flea market. Save your gift card for some other craftsman hand tools or a major appliance.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Alta Loma CA
My Craftsman SAE set which is 30 years old always does an excellent job. My Harbor Freight metric set could not cut new threads and can barely rethread. Whatever you get make sure the dies are hexagonal if you don't want them to spin in the wrench.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
I've got a $100 Sears gift card and am looking for the best tap and die set I can buy for that. Any recommendations? What is the best coating?
I would prefer to get SAE and metric, but if a decent set of SAE is $100, I'll just get that. Like I said, I have a Sears gift card, so I'll likely be buying something from sears.com. Links would be appreciated.
Thanks!
I would prefer to get SAE and metric, but if a decent set of SAE is $100, I'll just get that. Like I said, I have a Sears gift card, so I'll likely be buying something from sears.com. Links would be appreciated.
Thanks!
If you want the best set Sears offers, buy the set they have for $100.
It seems simple to me. Why do you need a discussion?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 34
From: Ontario
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 5
From: South Dakota
If you are going to do some real "cutting" of threads, go to a machinist and ask about tap and dies. You won't get that type for double the money though.
If you are for the most part going to chase threads, which I assume you are, I would get a HANSON or IRWIN tap and die set. Probably around a 43-50 piece set. You might be able to get it for $100, but be prepared to spend a little more. Don't buy the cheapest thing you can find from Harbor Freight.
If you are for the most part going to chase threads, which I assume you are, I would get a HANSON or IRWIN tap and die set. Probably around a 43-50 piece set. You might be able to get it for $100, but be prepared to spend a little more. Don't buy the cheapest thing you can find from Harbor Freight.
Last edited by builder; Apr 27, 2011 at 11:13 AM.
