[How do I?] Shop Made Tap

[george wilson]

I make quick and dirty,but very effective taps all the time. I work on mechanical antiques often needing a special thread,sometimes left handed,or of an obsolete thread form.

Nothing to it. They sold taps in the 18th. C. that were just ground to square tapered ends. Triangular works too. Also,a single flat can be ground,as long as you grind relief on the threads that will do the cutting.

I just make them out of oil or water hardening drill rod. Temper to a purple color.

 

[OldMachinist]

 

[chips&more]

I’m with george. Making a tap is not hard to do. I also make them. The only ones I buy are metric, because my biggest lathe cannot thread metric. Then I go to fleabay and get them from Chena. The ones that I have gotten are surprisingly nice, I have no complaints…Good Luck, Dave.