Taps and dies

[BrytechParticipant @brytech]

Yes I’ve always wondered what the composition of High Quality Steel is.

Howard, there have been & still are CSCT taps & dies of extremely questionable quality available for sale. When I was in the business, the firm that I worked for manufactured their own HSSGT products but purchased CSCT equipment from outside suppliers. The products purchased were subject to extreme scrutiny before being sold & there were instances where products were returned to the manufacturer rather than being sold to the client. In those days CSCT products came from U.K. manufacturers but today I guess the majority of both CSCT & HSSGT products are sourced from the Far East. Nothing wrong in that because most of the quality today is good. Most, the emphasis is on that word.

I would recommend that if you are producing something that needs to be accurate & possibly repeatable, or in a tougher material then you should bite the bullet & use HSSGT. If however you are cleaning or repairing threads, or some one off parts in Mild Steel then CSCT is adequate for your needs providing that you remember that the thread fit will certainly be a looser one.

Alan

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

Like everything else,taps and dies come in different specks. I have never used anything other than industrial standard items,but that,s because I never knew anything else. We were supplied with them to carry out our work,so I never knew there was any other quality,now I know different !

I have no time for solid dies,only ever use split dies,likewise,have no time for carbon taps or dies. Buy proper HSS taps and dies and just get on with it. Stainless steel can be a bitch to machine in any shape or form !

Hope this helps !!

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I split my own dies, if I need to adjust one.

Its very quick with a thin cutting disc.

Jim

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by David Standing 1 on 05/01/2018 15:41:29:

Posted by Howard Lewis on 05/01/2018 15:38:47:.

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But, the question is, what IS High Quality Steel, and how does it relate to HSS?

I think the confusion arises on the assumption that HQSS is a particular steel. I don't think it is. High Quality Special Steel refers to the way it's made rather than what's in it.

HSS is a family of steel alloys containing Tungsten, Cobalt and Molybdenum. One way of making HSS is to mix the metals up in a furnace and pour it into ingots from which tools are made later. Nothing particularly special about the process and it comes with the risk of inclusions in the steel that might spoil a tool made from it.

It's possible to do better. An HSS could also be an HQSS. The differences in manufacture that might make HSS 'High Quality and Special' could include one or more of :

• The alloy made from specially purified base metals.
• A specially clean furnace, probably electric, with the entire production process designed to minimise contamination. This might include melting in Argon rather than Air and other elaborate measures.
• Improving the mix by applying a micro-alloying technique.
• Increasing the physical consistency of the alloy by sintering compressed powder rather than simply allowing a melt to cool.
• After manufacture, a complicated heat treatment optimised to improve the material.
• Application of a rigorous quality process throughout.

As might be expected, an HQSS will be more expensive than the ordinary product, perhaps much more expensive.

One interesting possibility is scrap HQSS ending up in your junk box. Depending which one it is machining could be an absolute nightmare! Apparently the Boron Steel sometimes used in car safety structures is tough enough to defeat the giant hydraulic cutters used to rescue crash victims. Trying to turn it in your lathe would be seriously disappointing!

Dave

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 05/01/2018 17:50:49

[Absolute BeginnerParticipant @absolutebeginner]

Gentleman, Thank you all for your replies. I am beginning to love this forum.

Its like having an engineering reference book at your fingertips, with some good, some average, and some irrelevant information at the press of a button. No I am not going to say whose answers that specifically refers to, read the question and the answers again and I am sure you will be able to work it out.

What I will also say is that this reference manual (Forum) comes with a great many years of experience which I can only say is priceless as far as I am concerned. Thank you all for your replies. I am now researching taps a little more, I understand "thanks to David" what HSSGT means – a real thank you, and will be purchasing some cutting compound with my new taps as per my follow on thread,

Again thanks for all your help. Now the search for Gary's new lathe continues………

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

If you need to extend threads on bolts, try using Chinese made bolts. These use CCS which is Cream Cheese Steel and can be cut with a sharpened cucumber if need be.

Hope this helps

David.

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