Taps and Dies

Im wondering where is the best place to get them?

I need a few in less common sizes like 14x1 15x1 18x1 as well as 1/2-20 and a few others. There are plenty of places to choose from but I wondered if you guys had a favourite supplier for a particular reason?

Thanks

Tracy Tools

+1 on Tracy tools, I also use Drill Service (Horley) who have been very helpful and quick, they can also post gauge plate to Australia so that the total cost (part cost + postage) is less than buying the exact same stuff (i.e. same factory!!) locally.

cheers

Bill

Avon Tap & Die are fairly well priced for HSS. Order on a Friday for free UK postage. 5% discount on first on-line order.

It depends what you want them for Tracy Tools are the cheap and cheerful end of the market and can be a bit hit and miss on quality. I prefer to pay more for quality taps and dies for the work I am doing Rotagrip have a huge range of odd ball metric taps and dies service is good and the quality very good.

I am with old school on this and nearly always buy branded HSS. I have had a few odd sizes from China, they claim to be HSS and up to now have done the job in aluminium or brass; not sure I would risk them in Stainless though.

I have to agree on this.

I learned the hard way and now only go with branded dies, i found taps tend to be more forgiving and less fussy though.

Michael W

Have a look at MSC Industrial supplies and look at the sales fliers I have bought the Lyndon brand and find them very good, ground thread HSS. Also there is a set from Ruko 3-12 taps and dies, bought a similar set some time ago also very good for the price.

At the moment they also have some drill sets on offer from Hertel, top quality product, have been using mine now for xxx years.

No connection with the company other than a satisfied customer.

John

**LINK**

Tracy must be doing something right as I and others have bought from them for OVER 50 years. By all means buy cheap for one offs but they also sell proper HSS as well!, albeit at a higher price. Good quick service also helps.

My choice tends to be The tap and Die Company, expensive but GOOD. Tracy are quite good, and if there is a problem never get a query, just an immediate replacement.

Won't touch Carbon Steel now, seem to break too easily, always HSS or T &D Cos HQS.

Quality tends to be cheaper in the long run.

Howard

Tracy tools will supply what you want - what they usually stock which actually is usually pretty good or if you will pay for it the best - they will get things in to order.

I also use the London Tap and Die Co. MSC can be pretty good when they have an offer on things.

Screwfix do a half decent metric HSS set. I bought one a while ago because I was fed up of needing to buy odd metric sizes especially in normal to larger sizes. The wrenches are the pits but the taps and dies are pretty good - except one in my case M3 - it wasn't, something way under size instead. Took me a while to realise why it wouldn't cut. Mine came in a wooden box.

John

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Over here in South Africa we really only have two manufacturers to choose from, the current exchange rate is insane so anything coming from overseas is very costly. Ask the Barmy Army who were here recently for the cricket about how much one pound can buy!

We have FEW and SOMTA which both make very high quality taps, dies, reamers, cutters etc. FEW is short for French Engineering Works, and no they are not French as in the country, but the original owner was Mr French. SOMTA are a subsidiary of Samuel Mushet Steels of Sheffield and they import annealed HSS from Mushet for their production. FEW works is near Joburg and SOMTA are in Pietermaritzburg in Natal. They both make for export and their products are sold under different brand names in the UK. With the exchange rate at present they are selling lots into Europe and other countries!

I have bought from Tracy Tools, Chronos, and the Tap and Die Co and I have found their products are quite OK for model engineering applications, but for production work I would opt for SOMTA as they are very good and not too expensive. Plus they are just up the road from me and happy to resharpen cutters etc at a very reasonable price.