Making of a Big Tap at Widell
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Making a Huge Tap
Mar 17, 2009
11 Replies
nice!
Now I want to see what it taps.
Tim, when I posted this link before, in 2002, there was some speculation that a tap this size could be used to make large valves such as those used in oil fields.
I wonder what kinda price that thing goes for; I'm gonna WAG and say five grand.
Jon
Nice pictures. Interestingly, their grinder was imported by Shars, which we just discussed here.
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That seems right Bill, on one of the photos "copes vulcan valve" can be seen etched into the tap.
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I'll stick with small hand taps thanks!
I notice that everyone who is shown working on it where you can tell seems to be old enough for gray hair.
I wonder whether there are younger people working there, or whether the entire skill of the company is in old farts like most of us?
Enjoy, DoN.
The young guys were the only ones who could run a digital camera.
also interesting - I always figured you would first turn threads, then cut flutes, then harden, but clearly that is not the way it's done - cut flutes and heat treat, then cut threads
Somewhat unrelated, but my guess is that it is for a pipe inside a pipe type of situation, maybe a huge heat exchanger.
well, if "I" had to guess, I'd say it is used on a christmas tree
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but I'm not an expert on oil field technology
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