Number Drill Sets & Ba Tap sets

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

About 25 years ago a retired engineer gave me the full BA taps and dies set, all carbon steel, in a very neat compartmented mahogany case. All but the very smallest have been used on silver steel, yet all are still sharp enough to use, and, touch wood, I have never broken one tap. Just used one of the links in this thread to discover what it would cost to replace the complete set. Can’t believe how lucky I was – I’ll raise a glass to the dear old boy’s memory tonight!

[Martin Walsh 1Participant @martinwalsh1]

Posted by Sid Herbage on 13/12/2011 00:36:18:

Posted by gerry madden on 12/12/2011 15:02:59:

Taps and dies supplied by one source (if my memory is correct) are claimed to be made in “HQS” (high quality steel?). Does anyone know what material specification is actually used ?

 

 

Sounds like a typical Far-East euphemism to me.

 

Posted by Dusty on 13/12/2011 09:28:15:

On the contrary Sid. This is a British Company who claim that the taps and dies are manufactured in the U.K. I have used their tools for more years than I care to remember and have no complaints.

 

The company mentioned above the taps and dies I think are made in India

if you log on to http://www.totem-forbes.com  it is a intresting website looking at the pictures

they have very good facilites and the factory is very modern and up too date

I have used totem branded taps and dies and they are very good quality

they must be one of the very few that still manufacture BA and Imperial sizes

Best Wishes Martin

 

 

 

Edited By Martin Walsh 1 on 13/12/2011 23:42:14

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

Hi Martin

It just goes to show that you can read into an advert what you want to see. Having re-read the advert, I now read that the claim is the boxes and tins are made in U.K. Appologies to Sid it appears he may be right. Not withstanding any of that, I endorse Martins comment that the ‘kit’ is good, and I have no complaints.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I endorse the comments about imperial sets being a wast of money nowadays, for Europeans anyway. It is easy to become a tool collector rather than a modeller.

 

I suggest a block of wood drilled with lines of holes for each tap size with holes for tapping and clearance drills. Saves making mistake because you thought you had learned the tapping size and didn’t look it up. Then only fill it as needed. Later on when you have all the ones you really need but want to satisfy the collector instinct allow yourself to purchase one size at each exhibition you go to.

 

On the Totem/Forbes site linked above click on the ‘Domestic Network’ button – bit of a giveaway.

[Author]

Posts