Tap and Die sets

I think I got mine from machine mart or northern tool hire some time ago. Wasnt expensive and only used it a couple of times but it did the job well enough.

 

Depends on what materials your cutting but generally I would say buy HSS and not carbon steel.

Also whilst I originally bought a set, in hindsight I would say just buy the sizes you need and add others as you need them. Most of the sets I've seen only have one tap (taper or 2nd) of each size. If your tapping a blind hole you will need the bottoming or plug tap.

 

Taps and Dies, Reamers & Milling Cutters | Tracy Tools Ltd UK

 

Don't buy LASER.........cr*p in the first order.

 

depends how deep your pockets are....
good recomendation to buy just the sizes you need...well done Danger Mouse

www.mscdirect.co.uk

these people stock ....value = cheap (one use kind)
select = fairly good
Named brands= very good quality gear.

they even do the Metric Fine taps and dies

 

Buy cheap stuff, buy twice. Buy expensive stuff at discount - bargain. Buy the size you need, you will then afford the good kit that lasts. Buy some thread cutting lube as well - NO GOOD without. We used to call it gorilla snot. Not green but the correct consistency.

"Branded" is always best - Dormer, Eclipse, GKN if any of these are still around?

 

Dormer about still, and they are still quality items. RS online stock em.

 

I have a packaging machinery company, we have lathe and turrett mlling machine, we get our tooling from Cromwell Tools.
Very good and usually quick delivery.

 

I've worked in the motor trade for years including quite a bit f time as a technician and swear by Snap on stuff if you can stretch to it.
clearly not the cheapest but worth the money IMO

 

I spent 11 years in a machine shop, sherwood (from cromwell tools) are the way to go. Snap on is overpriced IMHO and not as good as they were for general tools, but their taps are total rubbish - very brittle

 

I bought my set very cheaply from Lidl and it has never let me down. Admittedly I've only used it a few times to clean up threads rather than cutting new ones but it does the job perfectly well.

 

Bought mine from RS years ago and used many many times and still as good as new.

 

cant go wrong with these. Guhring Ltd - Threading tools, taps, dyes, cutters - HSCO, HSS, HSS-E & Carbide well unless you a ham fisted sod

 

Blue point are very good made by Snap-On but priced by blue point.