Serial Taps

[VicParticipant @vic]

I bought several sets of serial taps quite a while back and having used the M6 set I wasn't particularly impressed so they've all sat in the box. The other day though I had no choice but to use the M2.5 set as I didn't have a conventional tap. I figured this might be a good thing as its pretty easy to snap a tap that small. I then noticed the set wasn't quite right, it had a number three tap and two number ones but no number two! Luckily it worked ok just using a 1 and 3. Moral of the story is to thoroughly check stuff when you buy it even if you don't plan to use it straight away!

[VicParticipant @vic]

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

By serial taps I take it you mean taper, second and plug. I don't know about others but for thick steel I find I have to take it in repeated stages That is part way in with taper, then a bit of second to open up the first couple of threads and back to the taper. repeat ad infinitum. I just don't see how even with a larger one that an M6 taper will go right through half an inch of steel without breaking. I use a drill which is much bigger than normal tables too.
Aluminium and brass is easier and maybe some steel is better.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Bazyle on 01/08/2016 16:11:39:

By serial taps I take it you mean taper, second and plug.

.

Why ?

… Vic might well actually mean 'Serial Taps'

**LINK**

http://www.kanabco.com/vms/cutting_tools_tap/cutting_tools_tap_06.html

MichaelG.

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

My cheapo metric set of taps must be serial, although not marked or sold as such. Have to use the last tap to get a normal thread, and I tend to use bigger than standard holes.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Thank you Michael, yes I did mean Serial Taps!

**LINK**

I did qualify this by saying I didn't have a "conventional" tap. I've now ordered a conventional taper tap to add to my arsenal to see if it's actually any better or worse!

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Never had your problem Vic, with one of the taps in a serial set missing. Funny, I also had problems with my M6 serial tap – the last one – so I bought a Völkel M6 plug tap. I find it is much easier to tap a thread using serial taps, so mine are used quite a lot.

Thor

Edited By Thor on 01/08/2016 18:28:42

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

My metric set are serial taps and the ability to tap a 'tight' thread is very handy. The final tap is unmarked rather than having three rings.

Also the amount of lead is greater as the taps get smaller so a sort of 'hybrid set'?

Neil

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Typical depth of thread should be close to one diameter. You should not normally be tapping over 12mm for a M6 thread.

Martin

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 01/08/2016 19:03:08:

The final tap is unmarked rather than having three rings.

Neil

I have two taps with one ring and one with no ring. I guess I'm lucky to have the final tap!

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Vic on 01/08/2016 17:16:11:

Thank you Michael, yes I did mean Serial Taps!

**LINK**

I did qualify this by saying I didn't have a "conventional" tap. I've now ordered a conventional taper tap to add to my arsenal to see if it's actually any better or worse!

Following that link I wonder when the hell Ketan will restock the ones he has run out of. Probably never if he is waiting to sell all of the other sizes. M4 has been like that for a long time.

John

–

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Presumably you are using some form of lubricant for tapping, such as Trefolex, Rocol STD, or as I often do, Bacon Fat? Although not recommended practice, it is possible to go from Taper to Bottoming tap if careful. Many taps break because they are subjected to bending, (You can usually tell if too much torque is being applied, before it breaks). A Tapping Fixture which holds the tap perpendicular to the work avoids bending the Tap.

There is a physical law which says that if you do break it, it will be in the last hole on the final operation of the workpiece.

Believed to be Newton's Fourth Law (of the eternal cussedness of things; sometimes attributed to Sod)

Howard

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I use them and find them invaluable in some of the more testing materials like stainless, aluminium bronze, unobtainium, scrapbinimum and EN hardaswitchestits

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The worst that I ever had was tapping a 1/4 BSW in place of the stripped self tapper thread in a battery terminal post. Being lead, the swarf does not break, just curls and jams very easily, so the thread needs to be cut in stages.

Howard

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I know its and old thread (and the links in it have stopped working) but where can I buy serial taps?

My go to place (where I bought some previously) is Arc, but they seem to only have a few odd ones left in the catalogue. I'm looking for M3, 4, 5, 6 (but Arc still have M5).

Not many suppliers seem to stock these in the UK.

IanP

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Rotagrip do them by Volkel which are quite a good make, I usually buy via their e-bay shop

Edited By JasonB on 12/09/2018 15:45:43

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Volkel are fine, Rotagrip are a little light on details and dont even say how many are in a set (they infer some sizes only have two taps). Price is a lot different to Ketan's too!

Ian P

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

They do unbranded WcAAOSwu4BVoWAi”>sets at a lower price too

Edited By JasonB on 12/09/2018 15:56:41

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 02/08/2016 22:57:31:

There is a physical law which says that if you do break it, it will be in the last hole on the final operation of the workpiece.

Believed to be Newton's Fourth Law (of the eternal cussedness of things; sometimes attributed to Sod)

Howard

As a teacher I prefer the version of the law that states :-

A piece of toast, when dropped, will always land butter side down – UNLESS you are trying to demonstrate this to someone else!

[Author]

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