The 5 Most Important Features To Recognize a Good Tap Set

gun tap set

5 features for a good tap set

A tapping set usually consists of three-part hand tap sets and a die set. The basic set includes adjustable thread taps and die holders. In addition, such tap sets may also include tool holders, thread gauges, screwdrivers and a set of twist drills (steel drills) with the core hole dimensions. There are five points to consider when making your selection:

1. Storage box
2. Possibility to add
3. Material type
4. Holding Tools
5. Compilation

1. storage box for the tap set: metal or plastic

Tap sets basically have two kinds of storage boxes: metal boxes made of moulded, powder-coated steel. These cassettes replaced the classic wooden cassettes. In the 1970s, Drillbox drove market penetration. Drill box became the generic term for this form of twist drill set and tap set. When using metal cassettes, you should pay attention to the stability of the hinges and the handling of fasteners as well as the thickness of the steel plate. It is also important that the application of powder coating is clean.

The other is a plastic cassette tape. There are many different types and variations. PEDO was one of the first suppliers in Germany. In the 1990s, Solingen manufactured these sorting boxes for the German market.

With the plastic cassette tape, you can already see in the visual inspection the quality used here as the basis. The smell sample is important: if the part smells strongly, be careful. May emit pollutants. Also keep in mind that plastics that are too hard can break easily. Therefore, models made of soft plastics are preferred. This type of dilemma is finding the right middle point between holding on and letting go. Sometimes tools are hard to get out of the box, or they don’t hold, fly around loosely in the box, and then get lost. Relatively new are multi-part foam blades that can be combined with standard metal or plastic boxes.

2. possibility to buy later

An important point to maintain the functionality of a set is the possibility to buy individual products of the sets if they are damaged or worn out. Of course, this is easier and simpler if the manufacturer of the tap sets is based in Germany or if you purchased the set in a domestic trading company. A listing of the individual parts with corresponding order numbers or a matching QR code would be a cool additional benefit. So far no supplier has thought of this.

3. material type: HSS or WS?

Another characteristic for basic classification is the material. You cannot see this from the outside. Therefore, you should look at the labeling of the tools. If HSS or HSSG is written on the tools, then it is high performance high-speed steel. If nothing is explicitly written on the tools, then it will be tool steel. For cutting tools, HSS is now the standard, but a properly machined tap made of tool steel (WS) also serves its purpose and is much cheaper.

More about HSS, HSSG, HSSE and HSS-PM can be found here.

4. holding tools: DIN or factory standard?

First take a look at the holding tools: the adjustable tap wrenches and die holders. They give a first impression of the basic quality orientation. If the die holder has only one screw, then you are dealing with a very simple quality for the other tools as well. In this case you have saved two screws, the tool is outside the DIN standard. Then you can assume that everything else is also not in accordance with the standard. If the handles wobble, even if they are tightly screwed, this indicates a lack of care during processing. That is where we advise: Hands off!

In this blog post we will once again deal separately with the quality criteria of retaining joints: Recognize high quality tap wrenches.

5. composition by thread type and thread size: inch or metric?

The most common sizes are taps M 6 and taps M 8. Then with decreasing importance M 4 and M 10, less important M 3 and M 12. This applies to domestic use.

If, for example, you want to live out your passion for repairing agricultural machinery (e.g. tractors), then you should reach a little higher up on the shelf and purchase the sets up to M 20 or even M 24 with the intermediate sizes M 14, M 16 and M 18.

If you are more filigree (model making, jewelry), then the sizes below 3 mm are relevant. The most common set combination here is M 1 – M 2.5. When restoring classic cars, you will not be able to avoid American or English thread types.

Our recommendation: Thread cutting tool set M 3- M 12 as an entry model. For the smaller purse the version with the dies in combination (32 pieces). There you save two die holders and a tap wrench, for the ambitious craftsman then the set with the DIN dies and the HSS metal drills (45 pieces).

Threading sets

A huge selection of tap sets for inch or metric threads and matching twist drills can be found in our store: www.gewindewerkzeuge.com

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