A tap or two...

[Nelson]

I bought some used (but USA) taps on Ebay. Got about 100 pieces for about $75.
Don't know how well I did, but I did.



Some had some interesting markings I don't understand, and some have NO markings.
Would I use a Starrett thread gauge or gauges to find out what they are?

Any ideas how I would then mark them?

Danke!


Nelson

 

[Nelson]

I hear what you guys are saying about USED. I could have gotten rooked.
Last thing I need is a break-off inside a hole. Lots of tapping oil and slow going are the watchword.

Some look well-used, some look hardly used. The larger ones are shot. But I tend not to need larger ones.
I took a chance on them. I have a Hanson (Irwin) tap & die set, but, as you know, these are now imports.
The import steel, well...I really don't think it is comparable to US steel in quality.

What do you guys buy for US taps? I know Greenfield is excellent. So little still made in US though.


Nelson

 

[Tony Wells]

I don't know if you can still get them, but I have a acid marking pen. It uses nitric acid to etch nearly anything, including many stainless steels. No electric power required.

 

[Rbeckett]

Nelson,
You can use the worn larger taps as gear hobs in your mill or lathe. I read a hobbing thread one time a while back and the writer used a tap to fab up a hob to cut smaller gear teeth. Worth hanging onto the worn taps if you do that kind of work maybe?
Bob

 

[ScrapMetal]

I was thinking that a guy could take a beat up or broken tap and grind it down to make a small boring bar or, maybe better, grind off all the "threads" but one and make it an inside thread cutter. Reasonable ideas or waste of time? :thinking: I'm probably cheap enough to try 'em both. :biggrin:

Just a thought,

-Ron

 

[HSS]

Tony, has the right idea. McMaster-Carr has an acid etching pen, part number 1683T6, that will mark metal with a smudge proof black mark.
Pat

 

[ScrapMetal]

. I find that if you look hard enough, there is almost something else useful that is hiding inside a piece of scrap.
dalee

Now that is exactly what I always try to tell my wife... she still insists that her car should be able to fit in the garage. Go figure. :biggrin:

-Ron

 

[tommied]

I like Tom bought some resharps off ebay and asked seller if possible to have them all be spiral, which seller did and they came in divider boxes. Have proven to be an excellent purchase. Maybe yours will be too. tommie