Drilling and tapping into stainless

[ssdesigner]

I just wanted to make sure that I share my experience tapping both stainless and hardened steel. I couldn’t get my tap to budge in the hardened steel that I had for another project so I went looking for a bulletproof tap. I picked up an Exotap VC-10 tap and wow. It goes through hardened steel like butter. These things are really spendy, but they are tough.

 

[benmychree]

I just wanted to make sure that I share my experience tapping both stainless and hardened steel. I couldn’t get my tap to budge in the hardened steel that I had for another project so I went looking for a bulletproof tap. I picked up an Exotap VC-10 tap and wow. It goes through hardened steel like butter. These things are really spendy, but they are tough

In my long experience, the most important things are a sharp tap. good grade of HSS and an efficient lubricant for the material being worked with.