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Why do small taps have a pointed end?

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Glyn Davies	10/11/2011 20:56:43
146 forum posts 56 photos	Hi there. Does anyone know why small taps have a pointed end? Is it just to centre the tap during its manufacture and is there any reason not to grind the point off to allow the tap to cut a little deeper when tapping blind holes? Thanks
Peter G. Shaw	10/11/2011 21:04:17
1531 forum posts 44 photos	I have done this on an occasional plug tap. As I understand it, the pointy bit allows for re-sharpening, so if it is removed, then resharpening can't be done, however my limited experience is that I break more taps than I wear out so it does not matter. I am not an engineer, so my understanding may be complete rubbish! Regards, Peter G. Shaw
Stub Mandrel	10/11/2011 21:12:58
4318 forum posts 291 photos 1 articles	Yes its for sharpening. Larger taps have a centre in them for the same purpose. I grind it off, at least from the plug (bottoming) tap. Neil
Stewart Hart	10/11/2011 21:41:00
674 forum posts 357 photos	Its a male centre for grinding, if they used a female centre on a small tap, the little hole would weaken the end of the tap. In the tool room I served my apprenticeship in it was standard practice to use male centers for grinding small tools and gauges, it meant that you had to run in between female centers, a full one at the head stop end of the grinder and a 1/2 centre at the tailstock end. Stew

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