Tap & Die Sets
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Tap & Die Sets
Anyone recomend a good tap & die set? I was looking 
at an Irwin-Hanson set, either model # 24606 or # 24607. They're both a 41 pc. standard set(non metric). I don't know what the difference is 
, though. I don't know if I trust 
those 200 piece sets for $29.99. What do you guys think?
Last edited by sierraben; Jan 27, 2005 at 01:56 AM.
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I can't answer your specific question. However I can tell you that tap, dies and drill bits is one area where you get what you pay for. I will, with proper evaluation, buy some cheaper imported tools where they are suitable for my use. Taps and drill bits are not on that list. The hell you will go through to get out a broken tap is just not worth it.
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I definitely agree with midlf: you get what you pay for! I bought cheap T&D sets for metric and SAE - some of the worst money I ever spent.
My experience: A few years ago I bought a titanium bicycle frame online... it was new and one of the bosses on the frame had not been tapped... "no big deal..." I thought, and reached for my Taiwanese metric tap set... after a half an hour of trying, the tap would simply NOT bite into the material... so in frustration, I made the hour round trip to Sears and bought a small metric tap set... which cut the threads in 15 seconds... Both of the cheap sets went immediately into the trash...
I now have Craftsman metric and SAE sets which cost around $70 each in addition to the small metric tap set which stays in the cycling tool box...
My experience: A few years ago I bought a titanium bicycle frame online... it was new and one of the bosses on the frame had not been tapped... "no big deal..." I thought, and reached for my Taiwanese metric tap set... after a half an hour of trying, the tap would simply NOT bite into the material... so in frustration, I made the hour round trip to Sears and bought a small metric tap set... which cut the threads in 15 seconds... Both of the cheap sets went immediately into the trash...
I now have Craftsman metric and SAE sets which cost around $70 each in addition to the small metric tap set which stays in the cycling tool box...
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Well, judging by the responses, seems like Sears/Craftsman tap & die sets are the way to go. Nobody mentioned Irwin-Hanson. Is I-H a bad choice , or is the Sears/Craftsman sets just a better choice and/or more popular?
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I have a lot of Hanson cutting tools (Irwin is the parent company, they also own Vise-Grip). They make excellent tap and die sets as well as drill bits and broken bolt extractors. A little higher priced than Sears, but excellent quality. Snap-on and MAC both "private label" Hanson tools, so if you can find the Hanson name, they are a bit cheaper without the tool truck name, but are the same tools. They also make a 15 piece left hand drill bit set that is awesome. (A lot of sizes you don't often get from other companies....) Craftsman T&D sets are pretty decent, though. I upgraded because I find myself using them more often than I did when I got the Sears stuff.
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Tuned
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From: Between Shelby / Avoca Ia
Hanson makes taps and dies for most of the majors.
Mac, Snap-On, Matco, Cornwell, and Craftsman sell "labeled" Hanson tap and die sets. The big difference is warranty. Sears usually won't replace a broken tap or die, but Snap-on and Mac will. That's why they cost more. Pawn Shops and auctions are great for Tap and Die sets, since most of them are rarely used. Why pay full price for new when you can get unused for 1/2 price?
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Originally Posted by trike1946
For me the Sears was easier to get, and I have no experience with I-H. Good luck with it.
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From: Alaska
It depends a great deal on what you are going to do, if its for chasing and cleaning threads, then the 29.95 set will do, but if you are going to cut any new thread, spend the money on a good set, Sears is pretty good but Hanson and other manufacturers are better.
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From: Spokane WA
Originally Posted by sierraben
Anyone recomend a good tap & die set? I was looking at an Irwin-Hanson set, either model # 24606 or # 24607. They're both a 41 pc. standard set(non metric). I don't know what the difference is , though. I don't know if I trust those 200 piece sets for $29.99. What do you guys think?The diference might be one is a fine thread and one is a course thread
Don't buy cheap taps, EVER, you WILL regret it at some point.
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From: Southwest Montana
Originally Posted by jbullfrog
Mac, Snap-On, Matco, Cornwell, and Craftsman sell "labeled" Hanson tap and die sets. The big difference is warranty. Sears usually won't replace a broken tap or die, but Snap-on and Mac will. That's why they cost more. Pawn Shops and auctions are great for Tap and Die sets, since most of them are rarely used. Why pay full price for new when you can get unused for 1/2 price?
Just my two bits
Ken
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