Don,
Feel free to call it a "starter tap" if you like...
--my point mostly was that for the inexperienced, it is probably going to be their best bet,
Needless to say, for shallow holes, where it is desired to have full-threads that extend nearly to the bottom, they would need to follow up with the appropriate tool.
These are the names I want to see on a tap:
In catalogs they are called "taper", "plug", and 'bottoming" taps.
Thanks, mine looked nothing like it:
Hanson brand (pic)
2 flute taps (such as most of the spiral point varieties ) can be difficult to consistantly get started straight without using some sort of a guide which is why I suggest stay away from them and use a tap having 3 or more straight flutes instead.
Seriously it defies logic how Hanson is able to maintain such a large market share at the hardware store /auto parts retail level--at best, their quality can only be described as "dismal"
Hardware-store taps are good for repairs like cleaning out damaged or rusty threads, and maybe tapping aluminum, same with the plastic-cased sets.
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