Tap & Die Set

[ETAF]

As birthday & Xmas on its way, people start to ask what I would like.

As a DIYer, who has slowly replaced a lot of tools now, i was thinking of maybe a cheap tap & die set for very occasional use

Any suggestions - I have seen some sealey kits on amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-AK3...1M4JUTDJ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_sims?ie=UTF8

not sure how good they would be. Also not sure what I may need in future , just might be a useful addition to the tool set

Otherwise I will have to keep thinking of useful accessories

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I bought the same set, a few years ago - they are/were absolutely fine. Three different taps types, for each size - plug, second and taper.

 

[ETAF]

thanks , I will add them to my list , thanks

 

[rsgaz]

I think it's just a rebranded version of a much cheaper set...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233239462046

 

[ETAF]

thanks, never to sure of ebay quality on some items like this - have you purchased the item from them ?

 

[rsgaz]

No, but I have the same set rebranded differently. Sealey just import from China, so it's likely to be exactly the same.

 

[Burnerman]

Not desiring to be a wet blanket, but carbon steel taps and dies are a recipe for disappointment......they'll pack in at the first sight of decent material but they will do the odd bit of aluminium or brass.
I go for Presto stuff - seriously good kit where things mustn't fail.
John

 

[lostinthelight]

+1 for presto , good quallity is especially important for taps where a broken one can ruin what one is trying to fix

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not desiring to be a wet blanket, but carbon steel taps and dies are a recipe for disappointment......they'll pack in at the first sight of decent material but they will do the odd bit of aluminium or brass.
I go for Presto stuff - seriously good kit where things mustn't fail.
John

For work use I agree, but for the occasional use DIY I found them to be very good quality indistinguishable from Presto. I'm not convinced they are just carbon steel, they have worked fine on everything I have tried them with, even on my lathe.

 

[EddieM]

Hmmm, I have to say I agree with John here, the cheap carbon steel ones are disappointing in my experience.

 

[Burnerman]

I must say I'm not particular with that particular set, but carbon steel is just not suitable for thread cutting (or any metal cutting for that matter.)
Gift wise the set would probably be ok but personally I'd buy the common sizes (5,6,8 and 10mm) and they would be HSS split circular dies....more often than not you don't need a second tap, a taper and plug usually do just fine.
Lets say you are extending the thread on a shouldered bolt....use a carbon steel die and observe the torn thread afterwards
John

 

[ETAF]

thanks,

Gift wise the set would probably be ok but personally I'd buy the common sizes (5,6,8 and 10mm) and they would be HSS split circular dies

any suggested makes ?

 

[Burnerman]

https://www.presto-tools.co.uk/Products/tap--die-sets/6960038
Sorry, no idea of the price but probably one of the best makes ever.....I've used them for more than 50 years and delighted to see they still exist!
John

 

[ETAF]

thanks
Not sure these are Presto - interesting description though
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Presto-M3-...keywords=presto+tap+set&qid=1570900898&sr=8-1

 

[Burnerman]

An interesting description....claiming to be HSS etc! Who knows but I bet they aren't the genuine article.
Those dies aren't split - yet the die holder (stock) is designed to accommodate split dies......hence the middle screw.
John