IRWIN FOR NOW

[riversidedan]

started out with that HF garbage but it got me started understanding threads, picked up a IRWIN tap and was impressed so am assuming that brand is above average quality .........am now looking for a basic SAE tap/set , maybe 3/16 to 1/2 SAE set or somewhere around that.........

 

[sdelivery]

I like the drill/tap index. The correct drill for the tap and a tap are included. The set shown goes from a 6-32 to 1/2 , I believe.
I have sae and metric sets. I Don't remember how much but I bought them through MSC.

 

[sdelivery]

Oops wrong pictures

 

[riversidedan]

thats ok cuzz your drill/tap set looks to be functional for shop use and am still considering some Irwin basic tool sets

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Irwin is just OK
GREENFIELD, OSG, Guhring are better names

 

[Uglydog]

While I completely agree with Ulma Doc, there may be some wisdom in going with a less expensive set.
Some taps you may never, or rarely use. Others will get used extensively. Depends on the kind of work you do.
As the inexpensive/affordable taps break, replace them with the more expensive good HSS stuff.

Daryl
MN

 

[BGHansen]

Not adding anything but opinion and my experience. A lot depends on your work and order of operations. Get a cheap set and keep it around for "just in case" on a once in a lifetime job. Go very slowly and back it off and clean out the hole frequently. If you are cleaning up threads in a bracket and have access to the back side (through hole), chase them with a cheap tap. If it snaps, you can easily get to the nose and back it out or work it through.

Cutting six pocketed 2-56 threads in the box cam of an RG&G Gatling Gun after 10 hours of mill, lathe and bench work; use brand new the best you can buy taps. Quality taps can still break, but not as easily as junk taps. Extracting broken taps is a PITA, especially in a pocketed hole. On the plus side, if you break one off in a part you've already spent 10 hours on, the second time you make the part will probably take less than 10 hours.

I have some junk taps and have used them in brass or aluminum. But once you buy quality, you'll stick with the good stuff.

Bruce

 

[Winegrower]

In my experience, taps display about the absolute maximum performance difference between cheap and expensive. I have had such frustrating and untimely issues with HF type taps and even IRWIN and similar hardware store taps. I now buy only YG-1 taps, and the difference is extremely pleasing. This is hobby, it's supposed to be fun. A good tap goes a long way.

And, for more fun, get a tapping head and standardize on spiral flute taps.

I'm going toward forming taps for future stuff. We'll see how that works out.

 

[riversidedan]

well guys right now I look at it this way.......the lathe wasnt the best and some other things too but when I got into this told myself to "not go crazy getting the best right off which I could afford" however I got what I thought would get me started , if I stuck with it then move up but am still testing the waters........

 

[ericc]

In my experience, taps display about the absolute maximum performance difference between cheap and expensive. I have had such frustrating and untimely issues with HF type taps and even IRWIN and similar hardware store taps. I now buy only YG-1 taps, and the difference is extremely pleasing. ...

I agree. The YG-1 tap was way better than the Irwin I bought at Lowe's. But it costed almost $7. Well worth it, though, in terms of productivity.