Shop Talk 21: Taps

[@thomasutley]

My first rule for taps: Don’t buy “high carbon” steel taps from the hardware store (like the Irwin brand everybody carries when you need one on the weekend). Now I only buy high speed steel taps from a reputable source like Greenfield. That has made all the difference for me in my home shop. BTW I’m still learning about the various coatings they add to the HSS. Not yet sure where the hype begins on those.

[@Abom79]

Very true Tom! For those reading I'll second Tom's comment and I should have noted that in my video. Don't waste your money on high carbon steel hardware grade taps. Buy high speed steel. Even the high speed steel taps I have used that were made in China were better then the carbon steel taps.

[@kyleherald2394]

MrShobar yeah good for common taps but isn't worth the cost for those oddball taps

[@LateNightHacks]

yep, black nitride seems to work best for me

[@SMOBY44]

I think it's worth the extra cost. You may need it again some day. If you've ever extracted a broken tap from a hole you already know the value of not using a brittle material for a tap. What is an extra $5 or even $10 dollars compared to hours dealing with a broken tap. Or worse, you can't get the broken tap out! Stick with HSS.

[@alexanderkramer6047]

I think the coatings are useless in the home shop. Same with twist drills, coatings are only really for high production work. When getting the maximum life out of a tool is needed.

[@clham612]

Adam, please let me thank you for providing these videos. I am a 70 year old retired computer programmer who volunteers at my local railroad museum. I work in the steam locomotive restoration group and have been learning how to be an "old school" machinist. Our shop is equipped with machine tools dating from WWII vintage all the way back to an 1874 planer. Your videos have taught me so much about setups and procedures that I am now working nearly independently. So thanks for sharing your skills with all of us!!

[@Abom79]

Great to hear!

[@wwtrkr3189]

THIS! This is what I love about KZbin. I'm far too old and far too far into my career to have the time to go back to school and learn the basic skills I want to apply to my hobbies. Thank you for spending your time to teach, even the basics. Bit by bit, in my own spare time, I can increase my skill set. I've not tapped a hole in 30 years. Thanks to you, Adam, and folks like Kieth Rucker, I'm able to do the things I dream of.

[@kentvandervelden]

Wonderful video, please consider more educational videos like this one and pass your knowledge on

[@DFWKen]

I'm one of the people that didn't know much at all about tapping and taps. Thank you for taking the time to post. Reading comments below, it appears that there's even more to learn.

[@forrestaddy9644]

Almost a word for word lesson on tap basics I received as an apprentice on my first rotation through drills. Dennis Armstrong on the neighboring machine and a veteran of 30 years or more in the machine shop was my mentor. He taught me the basics of drilling to the layout, drill selection, hand sharpening drills (slightly different from my Dad's way,) drilling out broken studs, etc, along with a body of information about taps including what you discussed here. You younger guys and early learners pay close attention to Adam. He knows his stuff and teaches it well. Best of all, unlike yours truly, he doesn't hose you down with too much information when teaching the basics. He gives you an excellent start on the topic then expects you to apply it learning the lessons experience will bring to you. Well done again, Adam.

[@toddwmac]

Thanks, great stuff. FWIW, a while back I asked an old machinist why he called it a gun tap. His response, "Well, my daddy told me it was because it shot the chips out the front of the hole like a bullet" made sense to me. Thanks again!

[@SuperAWaC]

you're a good teacher, abom! i always learn a lot watching your videos, shop talk or otherwise. you're great at explaining what you're doing and why, and are very methodical about how you work. i say that good teachers had good teachers, so you must've had a very good teacher.

[@Abom79]

Thanks!

[@tomscorner3838]

Thanks Adam for the talk on Taps. I'm one of those that didn't know anything about them. I have a tap and die set and about all I've ever done with them is chase a thread with them. I have a couple of spiral taps but didn't know what they were used for and how to use them. Thanks again for your shop talk on Taps.

[@Neffers_UK]

One of those subjects that has been covered many times over, but always worth repeating from the creators views and experience from each of the creators vids. You can't learn enough. Great vid Adam, and thank you.

[@josephwilson6651]

Another succinct explanation and demonstration of practical machining!! Thanks Adam

[@BruceBoschek]

Not being a machinist this was very valuable for me. I have a bunch of different taps, but honestly, was not always sure what the differences were or when to use them. Thanks very much. This was a big service to those of us who are not in the know.

[@xenaco]

Outstanding demo and explanation. I have see you and others use different taps but never really understood the functions clearly. Love to see more of these Shop Talk teaching moments. Thanks.

[@AndrewBeveridge461]

Great explanation, very easy to understand. I don't do any machining or metalworking personally, but I like learning about how the processes work - just for expanding my understanding of the systems we all depend on. Thanks, and keep on posting these well-produced videos.

[@5tr41ghtGuy]

Thanks, Adam. This is helpful for us guys who have never had access to a large tool inventory. Now I'll know when to spend extra money on taps!

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

This kind of information is priceless, I grew up without the benefit of the internet and home computers were not much more than expensive toys, a time where shop class was being phased out. One of the things you learn early on when you find yourself thrust into the real world and you're forced to make repairs on your own because you have no money (because the crap they taught you won't get you a good job), is that there are no suitable tools to extract broken taps.

[@gk6305]

Thank you, Adam. You have the tools and experience to point us in the right direction. I have been waiting for this video, again thank you so much. Keep the shop talks coming.

[@PureFormSolutions]

I really like this format! I'd love to see most educational videos like this.

[@imdeplorable2241]

You've picked the right one. This guy is one of the best.

[@CreamyCornCob]

Great shop talk! Merry Christmas Adam and to yours. Look forward to Saturday!

[@xuanxie9085]

Your videos are so educational, I learn a lot from you. Thx Adam!

[@YaksAttack]

Hey Abom, I wanted to thank you for making this video. I tapped my first holes last summer when I was swapping an S10 I bought from a 4 cylinder to a 6 cylinder. Even though I don't currently regularly machine anything, I still like watching these videos because I never know when this information will come in handy. God bless and take care.

[@Abom79]

Always good to watch and learn new things! 👍🏻

[@patricksullivan9951]

Hi Adam, nice little course on tapping tips & techniques. It makes perfect sense... Whether it's Milling or Grilling, you da man!

[@gohuskies583]

Thanks Adam. Very nice lesson. Keep up the great work. Your videos are appreciated by many!

[@TimeWasted8675309]

I know better by now Adam... your "basic" discussions always learn me new stuff I didn't even know that I didn't know. Seriously, best damn machining channel on the Tube. Merry Christmas.

[@Abom79]

Thanks Warren

[@EverettsWorkshop]

Thanks for continuing to make videos with good information in them, both your Shop Talk videos and the Saturday Night Specials. I'll also wholeheartedly concur with Thomas Utley's comment - a few weeks ago after sitting for 1-1/2 hours with a Dremel and a small burr to grind out a broken cheap carbon steel tap from a hole (where it broke on the way OUT), I won't use them in anything harder than aluminum. Now saving for a set of HSS taps and dies.

[@PristineTX]

I think you do a great job with these machining basics videos. I think you have a good style of presenting the knowledge in a way someone new to the topic can easily understand. I watch them even if I already think I know everything about the topic.

[@Abom79]

Thanks!

[@nashguy207]

Adam thanks for taking the time to make this video. I learned something from it as i normally do from all your videos.

[@3347861]

Thank you for a great video, Adam. I was familiar with the basics, but this "unit of instruction" filled in the gaps and answered some long standing questions for me. OUTSTANDING. Thanks for everything you do, good Sir.

[@Abom79]

Good deal John! Thanks!

[@3347861]

H.S. machine shop teachers (I took every offered class) taught me the basic procedures, but folks like you, Keith Fenner, Keith Rucker and others are teaching me the nuances of machine work every day via KZbin. Question. Do you have a Patreon account or other way I can contribute, or can I donate to a charity in your name? Point is this. I value learning and knowledge. You're an excellent teacher and all around good guy. Let me know how I can support what you're doing.

[@kalijamies]

Very clear and good explanation of how to use taps! Thanks Adam!

[@danfloyd695]

Adam Great video. In the fab shop I worked in right after high school, we used nothing but spiral pointed taps in our tapping guns. perhaps that is why they are called gun taps. For lube we used nothing but Anchor Lube on both the drill bits and taps. It amazed me the amount of life we got out os small taps and drill bits. This was back in the early '70's.

[@Abom79]

I have Anchor Lube and use it sometimes but it's harder and messier to apply then using my cutting oil from my Eagle, so I just use what makes my job easier.

[@frankfaller6404]

glad you have the patiencs to take time for us basic guys ... much appreciated

[@RickRose]

Great video! Wish you had made it a couple of years ago--I had sorta figured most of this stuff out from "here and there" comments, but this episode lays it all out in plain English. Thanks for taking the time.

[@Abom79]

Good to hear Rick, glad I could help out in some way.

[@deemstyle]

Thanks for this video, and especially for mentioning gun taps. I've never quite known what a "gun tap" is and always assumed it was the same as a plug tap. I'm glad to have this clarification. Great video as always!

[@Abom79]

Remember that most “gun” taps will have the same grind as a plug tap. 👍🏻

[@geckoproductions4128]

Great video Adam. I never new the dif, just used whatever I had. Now I get it. Very thorough and well presented.

[@khoavu3216]

Thank a lots adam. This video is very usefull for me. Please keep making these talk-video like this.

[@thomashornerjr.6616]

Thank you sir! I knew about and used everything but the spiral tap, been a little intimidated by those. Now I know and I see I need them for certain applications; awesome!!!

[@stevenkirkham2297]

Hi Adam. Thank you for passing your knowledge on to us lesser would be machinists. Keep the videos coming.

[@TupmaniaTurning]

Very useful video. It’s amazing what you learn off this site - even when you’re 60!

[@aarontempletononemgroup4618]

Thanks bud, I was about to buy my first set of taps but had no idea what to get your vid was pirfect timing and cleared up all my confusion. Off to buy taps

[@jesperdahl1486]

Where I am at the 3 tap set is designated, Pointy, middle, bottom. The spiral fluted tap is normally referred to as, Machine tap. And the spiral pointed tap I have plain never seen before. Thanks for the video, no matter what we already know, or don`t know, it is always important to bounce knowledge off each other, it keeps us sharp.

[@musicbro8225]

You're a wealth of knowledge brah and a pleasure to learn from!

[@lukewoodwalker6977]

Hey Adam. Thanks for this video. It’s nice to get those info. Keep on. Always love to see your videos. You explain everything very understandable.

[@ashleyward427]

As always a great video. Any chance you could talk about drill sizes for different taps. Also, could you talk about die's and major/minor thread sizes. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill with us.

[@razorworks9942]

As many holes as I've drilled and tapped, it's always nice for a refresher course once in a while! You'd make a great instructor/ teacher Adam!! Razor!

[@Abom79]

Thanks Ray!

[@Wolfy_80]

Great video Adam :) as always I learned something new from your video. Keep up your fine work, always looking forward to your new videos :)

[@girliedog]

Thanks Adam that was an excellant primer.

[@jacobestridge686]

great video. shop talk ideas, fixtures do and donts would be a good one

[@brosselot1]

Fantastic information. Thanks for sharing. I've got to get me some spiral taps.

[@RookieLock]

I appreciate the basic tips for us newer guys, great info Adam, thanks for that

[@prenticeemler7709]

Thanks for explaining about the different kinds of taps ,enjoyed it and learned something 🤗

[@joneseyjones9374]

Adam, we use Dormer spiral taps at work and they work great. They are a little pricey but when you can power tap a few dozen holes before you see any changes (rough threads or binding up) is worth it to me. Nicely explained in this shop talk. Keep up the good work.

[@Abom79]

Yes Dormer is another good brand. I have a few sets viewers have given me.

[@Uncleroger1225]

Thanks Adam for some more basic machining knowledge. The chickens did look good too!

[@michaelcerkez3895]

Abom, Hey thanks a lot on informing us/me on the brand of taps you use. Very much appreciated and thanks for your videos they're Great!

[@subaruVaggos]

Nice video Adam! Keep up the good work! As a rookie in machining I found this video very informing. Please make more videos like that! Also I wish you good luck with your project (concrete patio video and future videos should be a playlist as episodes)

[@Abom79]

Good point on the playlists.

[@tivnator]

Great video from a great man. Thanks for the really nice video. I would like to add that there's another one used for aluminum and soft material. It has a lot of names like fluteless tap, roll tap, conforming tap. And like the name it doesn't cut, it forms the thread from cold deformation which makes the thread stronger in softs materials.

[@TheJoyofPrecision]

Great stuff, Adam! I agree about the spiral flute taps, they're great, I've been adding them to my supply too.

[@817charger]

You would have made an excellent shop teacher. Glad you chose to be a machinist !

[@Adiiii87]

817charger He is already a teacher by producing this videos.

[@817charger]

Adiiii87 He certainly is, that’s lucky for us!

[@RGSABloke]

Hi Adam, agree with the comment down below re AvE, I guess you guys are 'Brothers in Arms'. Keep up the videos, I always learn something on your channel. Thanks for sharing. Kindest regards. Joe.

[@skjoldhjvrkstedsforening4930]

Hey King Bear..!! It's also nice as an experience CNC dude .. to get to listen to big your Sisseren Voice and your point of views about the fitter stuff the machinist way... so 5 stars and Merry X mas to all of you. From Dinmark EU ( we pay 50% in tax ) :D ... auch

[@dlwilliams76]

Thanks Adam! I'm just getting started in machining. Great info!

[@johnnypruett7169]

Adam You may want to talk about End Mills and why they come in 2 flute , 3 flute , 4 flute and the other styles , what some are used for ie, milling , rough milling and other types of End Mills . Please some people would appreciate the understanding of what these do , and why they are designed that way ! Thanks JWP

[@SlowEarl1]

You do a great Job Man!

[@rjstiles80]

Nothing wrong with bringing it back to the basics.

[@mhaight]

New to me man. Thanks. I know nothing, just love watching your channel.

[@katherinemontgomery1404]

nice job

[@v.e.7236]

I have never had a hand tap go in so easily. It always seems like a battle - quite often w/ me losing said battle. Quite frustrating to watch someone else use a tool successfully, that just hasn't worked for me. C'est la vie! You are so much easier to listen to than your Canadian counter-part; no mumblings and oddity phrases that translate like Greek to me. Had to find different channels (like yours) after watching one video about halfway through. smh

[@tonyfrederick2715]

Thanks, Adam. Excellent basic info.

[@geezer945]

These are sometimes called “Gun” taps. Because they do shoot the chips forward. They were invented and patented by Greenfield Tap & Die in 1913.

[@benpbraun]

MIKE PLANKEY Mrpete222 would be proud.

[@ZaphodHarkonnen]

Huh, I would have guessed that the design was used for barrel rifling. As a barrel is one long open ended hole you can push any chips out. Only a guess and it doesn't really work as rifling patterns look nothing like screw threads. :/

[@9deviltiger9]

James Sullivan rifling is imho far to shallow, elongated and the barrel length is to high to use a tap for that kind of work...

[@crazyedo9979]

@@ZaphodHarkonnen Making a gun barrel is a multi step procedure of drilling, honing and a special forging process called "cold hammering"

[@jcs6347]

Thanks Adam, I learned a lot. How about a similar video on dies? thanks again, Joe

[@horseshoe_nc]

Another great video for those just starting out. One type you didn't cover is form taps (roll taps.) They are great for blind holes in brass, copper, aluminum and mild steels. They don't work well in plastics or cast metals. We use them all the time on our CNC mill. The tap does not cut. It roll forms or cold forges the thread. Because of that they call for drill sizes different than cut taps. Example: with a 1/4"-20 cut tap. You drill a number 7 (0.201") hole. With the same size form tap. You drill a number 1 (0.228") hole.

[@robertwatsonbath]

Thanks Adam. The casual (mainly armchair based!) machinist in me never thought about this before but, presumably one issue with the partially threaded spiral flute tap is, if you go all the way through the work-piece such that the threads of tap are no longer engaged you have to be careful getting the tap back up and out again? Best not to let it go right through in the first place I guess!

[@Abom79]

You are correct. For my manual machining I visually inspect the tap as it clears the bottom of the hole then reverse it. But for through holes best to use a spiral point tap.

[@robertwatsonbath]

Makes sense. Thanks for speedy reply Adam! - hope you have a good day at work! :)

[@eliebitton6196]

Awesome information as usual. Thanks!

[@leicmick]

fantastic video abom very informative, keep um coming thanks I've learnt a lot from it

[@keithpitman7473]

Well done. Good teaching presentation.

[@bobvines00]

Great video Adam. I've used the basic "plug" hand taps for most of my life since that's all that came/come in the hardware-store-type tap sets. If you decide to do a follow-up to this video, please explain for those who don't know, the reason for using a spring-loaded follower and also (especially for manual machines with no digital readouts) why it's a good idea to drill & then tap each hole before moving to the next hole to be drilled & tapped. Watching you do these close-ups of spiral-pointed & spiral-fluted taps makes me want to add some to my tap sets. I think my oldest tap & die set came from Western Auto, so I'm probably dating myself a bit here, ;)

[@jimm2442]

Thanks Adam, for another helpful video!

[@mattpiehl7122]

Thats great man thanks keep it up looking forward to a vid on lathe tooling basics and what tools to use for what

[@joewger]

Great video work! Learned a lot as an amateur gunsmith.

[@o.t.n_ofthenightproduction1952]

As a maintenance technician in training i love you're channel bro, tho im not ignorant to this kind of work, you definitely make my job and schooling alot easier if not putting me ahead of the game 🤙.

[@jamesciampi6392]

Good video, It is easy to forget the beginners when making a videos.some of us forget you have to begin somewhere.

[@jimzivny1554]

James Ciampi You said it, and its very important to pass on the knowledge to young people starting out. Not everything is CNC and computers, there's still a need for real machinists who can create and repair. I'm not throwing stones at CNC.

[@jamesciampi6392]

James Zivny Amen

[@salsyou]

I love your shop talks Adam. Maybe one you can do is one on drill bits? Im an electrician I am always drilling into wood with different wood bits and steel. Maybe something about best drill bit for different metals? Some tips on sharpening the drill bits?. Im always burning through spade or paddle bits for wood maybe there is a way to regrind or sharpen them to get a longer life? Thanks Adam

[@weshowe51]

I've only broken taps in stainless, and I don't usually power tap anything except aluminum.Hand tapping is much easier if you go a little larger on the tap drill than the "chart" says. For example, using a #7 drill instead of a #9 for an M6 tap. If you have more than minimal amount of thread length it will still be strong, although a little sloppier feel when starting.

[@TgWags69]

A suggestion to a follow up video would be the H Limit and class of fit. This may out of the norm for most home gamers, but sometimes it can have some practical applications. For example, I used to have to tap 300 series stainless bars that would work harden and snap taps like crazy. I found that if I used an H0 tap instead of the common H3 it would tap like butter since it was 3 thou smaller. Of course that changed the class of fit, but the standard hardware had plenty of clearance and did not pose an issue in this circumstance. Anyway it is something people can keep in mind when ordering their taps and drills for each job. I'm sure you could make it interesting for us!

[@RobinWilkinson]

Hey Adam, great video. Any chance on doing something similar about the different types of end mills?

[@Stan7670]

Thanks. Nice to get that basic info.

[@raymondmucklow3793]

AvE sent me here, or us here. Only seen a few vids but enjoying and learning.

[@WatchWesWork]

No love for roll form taps?

[@blacksheep9734]

Wes Johnson okay ave lol

[@joeh.3135]

Good center punch.

[@PorkBarrel.]

Thanks Adam..wondered if you were going to do anymore shop talk vids.

[@Abom79]

Yes I plan to keep them coming, but I do these when I can instead of every week.

[@DanSheldon48]

Thanks that's was a great video. Can you do one on dies also?

[@timramich]

I love how the data on spiral flute taps have a maximum tapping depth, and that it's always just the length of the threads cut on the tap. Even though you can take it down way deep, because the shank is slightly smaller than the tap drill size. If they have a fatter shank up top where it gets driven, then that, to me, is the maximum tapping depth.

[@breezeblockindustrie]

hey Adam love the videos could you do a shop talk on broaching please

[@rajeshrengarajan1455]

Fantastic video.

[@johnstrange6799]

Thank you for some midweek video action. We all need everything we can get to make it though another week.

[@Abom79]

I try and do what I can for ya'll

[@johnstrange6799]

Every last moment is most appreciated. :)

[@martinschuessler1936]

Thanks for the great video. Why would one use a taper tap over spiral point tap for a through hole? It seems like the spiral point tap is superior in every way because you don't have to reverse the bit to break up chips.

[@garbo8962]

Years ago I worked at a large candy company and were not allowed to use plywood to mount electrical boxes. We would purchase 3 different sizes of 1/4" Aluminum plates. I could get several hundred 1/4-20 tapped holes with a single gun tap using a hand drill & alumni tap fluid. Have some Greenfield tap sets that were my dads.

[@STEADYEDDIE880]

Thank you ADAM great video you would make a great teacher

[@American_Valor]

Thanks as always! Looks like I am moving down your way soon for a new job.

[@DLMachineWorks]

Adam I have been watching your videos for a long time and I think they are great and I have a home shop and am looking at milling machines. I am wanting to do engine and head work ,boring and decking blocks and heads and valve work my question is witch would be better a vertical or horizontal mill and could you explain the pros and cons of both thank you and keep up the great videos. Thanks David Loftis

[@nickoneill7892]

How about form taps? We use them for basically every cnc mill production run that needs a tapped hole

[@JLSoftware]

I learned a lot from this video. - I learned that taps have a couple of threads at the tip to get them started - always wondered about why they started as easily as they do. - I learned what a "bottom tap" does and why you need one and when you need one. - The one thing I'm still confused about is: did you say the power tap was "loose" in the chuck?

[@kwd57]

Good basic info. Thanks