Tapping questions

anotherid · 2007-05-14T14:16:04+00:00

Had fun (hand) tapping an M12 hole in a lump of steel last night, whicgot me thinking about taps -(a) Is it always hard work tapping big holes in steel? I could gforward about half a turn, then strong resistance, so I had to gbackwards (which was also a fight, I was sure I was going to breasomething) and withdraw the tap to clear the cuttings. Then back iagain, half a turn forwards etc etc.(b) I gather there are taps with spiral flutes - do these work bettethan straight fluted taps?(c) Are the "special" tapping compounds worth the money? Or should stick with paraffin (for aluminium) and cutting oil for steel?Brenda--anotheri-----------------------------------------------------------------------anotherid's Profile: this thread:

anotherid 19 years ago

Not the ones I have! I bought 8mm 1/2/3 taps (taper, second and plug from Chronos and all three taps have a pointy end. The amount of ful thread differs so I can tell which is which, but no. 3 has a pointe end just like the other two. On the other hand the set of 10mm 1/2/3 bought from them all have flat ends, just like the RS 12mm set.

Brenda

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Mark Rand 19 years ago

Some Tap grinders use a female centre, some use a male centre. It's not a major problem to grind the point off, if you aren't likely to be re-sharpening the taps.

Mark Rand RTFM

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