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Posted on 01/12/2012 10:29:33 PM PST by djf
Over the years, I have done quite a large amount of appliance/small engine/auto repair that I am wondering about going the tap-and-die route rather than running down to Home Depot or Lowes when I need a replacement.
So I am wondering what would be a good small hand set to start with (not 2 pricey) and what do you do about blanks? Blank bolts and nuts? I've never seen them but assume they must exist.
FR is the best place in the world to ask a question like this!
Thanks in advance!
go and get yourself a thread file.... this will clean up 90% of all problems you will see.......
I always used Carbide drills taps and dies.
Spend the extra money, avoid Chinese products as their certifications are worthless. I have seen taps from China that were dead soft at the center.
Go carbide buy the best use REAL cutting oil not recycled motor oil, always go slow, and back out as you go forward to clear chips.
bkmk
I live 13 miles from the closest hardware store, and find myself needing bolt od different lengths all the time.
I go to Tractor supply and buy them by the poound, when I need one that doesnt have enough thread, I thread a longer one to the length I need. I also keep some threaded rod around and use that.
I sharpen my drill bits on a grinder, It isnt that hard to do, it just takes a little practice.
I have tried some of the drill but sharpeners and find that the grinder does a better job.Wear safety goggles.
I can only suggest to the OP of the thread to learn as much is possible about fasteners, the grades, the thread types, why there is a coarse thread and why a fine thread such used for clamping where a coarse thread is for pulling.
being the chief nut turner at a concrete batch plant and having to keep a fleet of concrete mixers on the road in Alaska I have used a lot of different types of bolts and nuts.
Bowman industries used to come around selling me their fasteners but their prices went way too high. And being in a small town 35 miles from Anchorage doesn’t help either, fortunately we do have now several industrial supply houses now and thats excluding Lowes and Home Depot.
possibly the best alternative would be for the OP to order from Harbor Freight.
“and back out as you go forward to clear chips.”
Grandpa taught me that when I was 6 years old!
The only time I’d make a bolt or machine screw was when a replacement wasn’t available. Restoring ancient shotguns for club members was the only circumstance that forced me to make machine screws. Otherwise? Not worth the time and effort. But get a good set!
Cheap tools are never a bargain.
Stainless is horrible about "work hardening". When you cut it, the friction leaves a very hard surface, but just a few thousandths think. The trick to cutting or drilling it is that you have to get under the hardened layer from the previous cutting operation, and feed fast enough that it never gets a chance to harden under your bit. If you're drilling a hole and try to stop and restart the drilling process it's very difficult, and hard on the bits.
It's much easier to cut threads in stainless on a lathe because it's a continuous operation. Using taps and dies forces you to stop and back it out to clear chips and then restart.
Tap and die:
What would happen if Laz were caught hitting it with a married woman.
I’m just sayin’.
I would find the nearest Tractor Supply Center (TSC) where they sell “grade 5” nuts and bolts for under $3.00 per pound. Buy 10 pounds of assorted items, and you will likely have half of what you would ever need (of SAE threaded fasteners. Metric fasteners are another completely different story.) It is not realistic plan to to thread your own bolts. The only steel that threads easily is usually too soft to make strong bolts.
I would find the nearest Tractor Supply Center (TSC) where they sell “grade 5” nuts and bolts for under $3.00 per pound. Buy 10 pounds of assorted items, and you will likely have half of what you would ever need (of SAE threaded fasteners. Metric fasteners are another completely different story.) It is not realistic plan to to thread your own bolts. The only steel that threads easily is usually too soft to make strong bolts.
Thanks!
Excellent advice from all.
I’m not talking about opening up some specialty shop or whatever, just that I like to tinker. I’m not going to rebuild the suspension in my car or whatever, but if something breaks or quits my first inclination is not to buy a new one, it’s to see if it’s fixable.
Also, I’ve had times when I could not find a part. If I can manufacture a fix then that works for me!
When possible I used that to my advantage by rolling the threads on. The cold worked threads were incredibly strong.
You can chew with false teeth. You can walk with a wooden leg. You CAN'T see with a glass eye. Wear safety glasses!!!
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