Thread Cutting and Tapping

Have a good think about whether you really need a full thread engagement or if you can go with a slightly larger tap drill. A few thou larger on the hole makes for quite a bit less stress on the tap and on the operator.

Use the best taps you can, from a good manufacturer (ie: not generally harware store stuff) and stop using the tap in stainless when it STARTS getting dull rather than after it is dull. Use a cutting fluid reccomended for stainless. Good taps are pretty cheap in onesey- twosies. Buy the size you need when you need it, pretty soon you will have a set of the ones you use.

Use a tapping guide, to ensure that the tap starts straight, and remains straight.

That's my two bits worth, anyway.

Cheers Trevor Jones

For tapping S/S, you must use good sharp taps, drill the hole 1/64" over size, & use a good tapping compound like 'Trefolex' or similar.

Paul Cordell, Nth. Qld. Australia.

Use good quality taps, OSG Exo taps work well in stainless.

Use the largest tap drill permitted by the thread class. Bigger hole equals less material for the tap to remove.

Use a heavy bodied tapping fluid. "Tap Heavy" from Master Chemical is a good one, there are others.