Apex taps

I bought bunch of taps from Reeves2000 two years ago. I do not know if this is their own brand, but they are called Apex. Worst rubbish I have ever come across!T he smaller ones break all the time, even in soft BMS and soft finger pressure. Are there any ME thread taps available from a quality brand?

Try Tracy, good selection.

Regards Ian.

Tap and Die company, very good quality.

Lubrication, back off to clear flutes, guide block to hold perpendicular??

I'd go with the suggestion from Baz. Tap & Die products are OK.

Brian

Carbon steel taps are rather brittle and do not bend. Tapping small sizes is safer with a tapping fixture like one of the roles of the universal pillar tool, only the slightest side pressure will snap a small tap. I have one or two Apex taps and found them to be ok.

Mike

First question might be :How are you using them? Tapping size of holes, tapered, second or plug taps, tapping arrangement and cutting compound can all make a difference between success and failure.

For most tapping I do especially for small sizes I drill at least 0.1mm oversize. Usually 0.2mm and mostly tap on the mill with a guide to keep vertical. Rocol or similar RTD and a squirt of tapping fluid as well. I haven't broken a tap in the last 15 or 20 years. Edit, all my taps are HSS.

Edited By Chris Evans 6 on 01/09/2020 14:28:22