Easy Tapping Method

I learned about this new tapping method over on CNCcookbook.com I decided to give it a try and impress with the results. It takes about 3 seconds to tap 1/4 1018 steel and 15 seconds to tap 1 1/4" inches into 6061. Enjoy the video.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Tapping

[TsmnnDvl5]

WD-40 for lube?? Nuts!! Also, you need to clean out the threads, turn so far, stop, reverse, this is the key to NOT breaking taps!! Using an impact on a tap, I guess it works for you, I'll never do it, I'll stick with the good ol' fashioned way, by hand. Plus I can keep it straight and square far better than a drill or impact. I like you idea, don't get me wrong, I'm just thinkin expense an safety here. Cheers.

[Regnarrussell]

@TsmnnDvl5

I will agree that this is probably the worse case senario but it works.

I now use a spiral flute tap (Gun Taps) and tap magic. Still to this day I have not broken a single tap using an impact wrench. The impact applies no more force than a tapping arm.

Keeping a tap straight is childs play with a tap guide. If you use a impact or drill you dont have to secure the guide as it only requires one hand to do the tapping.

[Regnarrussell]

It is a Kurt D675. Almost every tooling supply store. 

[escafallen]

do note that taps break pretty easy, and getting one out it nearly impossible...

dont forget to sink the holes afther you prolly did but its pretty importand

[Regnarrussell]

The tap in the video had done over 100 tnuts and a lot of 80/20. I have broken taps in the past using a battery drill.

[exanchorite]

@Regnarrussell

Really impressive, especially for production tapping wow!.

[MSmifffy]

What a bodge!

[SpecialNerfServices]

Why don t you house your vice on the table? that way it will not move

[cosast54]

yep! the American way........

[bjjindiana]

what kind of work do you do with the 80 20?

[jhareng]

Touch wood never broke a tap using mill or battery drill.

Difference is when time costs money tap 6 holes M3 X 3/8" deep through 6082 took well over 8 mins each and several lockups by hand with cutting fluid. By drill 12 secs total for 83 off 100 mins!

So 6 off x 83 units saved a lot of time like 65 hrs.

Wouldnt risk it in the mill though, usually M5 and bigger.

[valveman12]

I like your vise. Very robust!

[PeteZ28]

My goodness lad, there is nothing wrong with power tapping but for the love of all things holey (hole-y.. that's a pun, son), use a cordless drill like a civilized person! Hardened steel taps are not meant to be beaten on by the likes of an impact wrench. Also, cheap 4 flute, actually any 4 flute, taps are not intended to be used in a power tool. They are for hand tapping where you can frequently reverse for chip breaking and clearance. Use a proper 2 flute for power tapping.

[causticblood]

@TsmnnDvl5 using WD-40 for cutting fluid is more common then you may think. I know machinists who love using it, and I have used it myself for flycutting. It stinks up the shop, though.

[Simpsons36]

@Regnarrussell Just a couple of tap tips: Spiral 'point' A.K.A. gun taps 'shoot' the chip ahead of them (into the hole). Spiral 'flute' taps are the opposite and pull the chip out of the hole in the style of a drill bit. Since these types eject the chips as they cut, both types can have continuous motion. 'Hand' taps as used in your video collect chips between the flutes and need to be backed out to break the chip and/or clear the chips from the flutes.