I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for 
*occassional use* cuttting mild steel.

I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.

I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get 
something for? Can it be done for say £20?

What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for? 
Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.

On 7 Aug, 22:36, "Rich"  wrote:
> I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for
> *occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
>
> I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
>
> I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get
> something for? Can it be done for say £20?
>
> What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for?
> Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.


Well if you are talking draper may as well talk aldi.
the ALDI ones are quite good ...been using them for 18 months
now ...they ain't monkey metal and  they do the job well without
chewing up wearing or going blunt so far. ..

They stock them about every 6 months ...they are about due now

Think they are about £6 for the whole set .

But if you want the best ...look for split dies .

all the best.markj

On Aug 7, 10:36 pm, "Rich"  wrote:
> I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for
> *occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
>
> I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
>
> I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get
> something for? Can it be done for say £20?
>
> What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for?
> Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.

Although I've not bought anything labelled Draper for many years, of
the half-dozen Draper brand things I have bought have been useless
with the modest exception of a wire brush and a tool roll. Useless
items included a countersink bit which didn't cut, a ratchet which
failed first week, pozi screwdrivers which didn't work - the common
factor appeared to be Draper. Apparently they're better these days,
but I've not risked it further.

J&L industrial might be a good start as they do stuff on their flyer
fairly regularly, which can be (albeit slowly) read on their website.
They do cheap, medium and Dormer grade stuff. Might find something
there, but I can't comment on the brands as such

Hywel

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 22:36:57 +0100, "Rich"  wrote:

>I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for 
>*occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
>
>I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
>
>I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get 
>something for? Can it be done for say £20?
>
>What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for? 
>Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA. 


tracytools.com £40 for carbon steel metric coarse set taps+dies M2 to M12
inclusive.


Their stuff comes from various manufacturers, but is usually ok. If you want
good rather than ok expect to pay twice as much, from them or anyone else..


Mark Rand
RTFM

Rich wrote:
> I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for 
> *occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
> 
> I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
> 
> I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get 
> something for? Can it be done for say £20?
> 
> What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for? 
> Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY-17-PCE-METRIC-TAP-DIE-SET-NEW_W0QQitemZ380052033492QQihZ025QQcategoryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I haven't got one, and have never seen one in the flesh, so caveat 
emptor - but I have bought Hilka stuff before and they seem to be two 
steps up from the cr*p, and a step above aldi/silverline/amtech.

YMMV

-- Peter Fairbrother

"Peter Fairbrother"  wrote in message
news:489B77E4.9010708@zen.co.uk...
> Rich wrote:
> > I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8
for
> > *occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
> >
> > I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
> >
> > I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can
I get
> > something for? Can it be done for say £20?
> >
> > What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out
for?
> > Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY-17-PCE-METRIC-TAP-DIE-SET-NEW_W0QQitemZ380052033492QQihZ025QQcategoryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
>
> I haven't got one, and have never seen one in the flesh, so caveat
> emptor - but I have bought Hilka stuff before and they seem to be
two
> steps up from the cr*p, and a step above aldi/silverline/amtech.
>
> YMMV
>
> -- Peter Fairbrother

I always worry a bit when advertisers have to call their kit
'professional quality' <G>

AWEM

On or around Thu, 7 Aug 2008 14:49:33 -0700 (PDT), hyweldavies
 enlightened us thusly:

>On Aug 7, 10:36 pm, "Rich"  wrote:
>> I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for
>> *occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
>>
>> I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
>>
>> I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get
>> something for? Can it be done for say £20?
>>
>> What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for?
>> Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA.
>
>Although I've not bought anything labelled Draper for many years, of
>the half-dozen Draper brand things I have bought have been useless
>with the modest exception of a wire brush and a tool roll. Useless
>items included a countersink bit which didn't cut, a ratchet which
>failed first week, pozi screwdrivers which didn't work - the common
>factor appeared to be Draper. Apparently they're better these days,
>but I've not risked it further.

Stuff called "expert" is OK, but of course has a higher price tag.  It's
like Kamasa, they do a whole range ogf quality from "utter shite" to "not as
good as snap-on", the high end of both ranges is pretty good.  Draper also
own Elora now and still sell Elora tools which are still OK.

>J&L industrial might be a good start as they do stuff on their flyer
>fairly regularly, which can be (albeit slowly) read on their website.
>They do cheap, medium and Dormer grade stuff. Might find something
>there, but I can't comment on the brands as such

The "Value" J&L is pretty good - I've not had anything that's shite. Branded
stuff tends to be better though, such as Dormer or Hertel or Cleveland for
drills.  

However, for mild steel and occasional use the Value stuff will be fine.
There's an issue with price though, J&L are only cheap if you happen to find
what you want on special offer.

Picked up a 7"x4" approx magnetic clamp, "Value" brand, the other day, for
about half normal in the August flyer.  It's quite good - holds 2-3" sort of
sized flat work well enough for light milling (making a 10mm slot, in this
case) although cutting too hard/fast will make it move. 

It also usefully has bars on 2 sides which can be raised or lowered, so you
can position your workpiece up against same.

-- 
Austin Shackles.  www.ddol-las.net  my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy!  Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\   
   >>  http://www.schlockmercenary.com/  <<      \  ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

On Thu, 7 Aug 2008 22:36:57 +0100, "Rich"  wrote:

>I'd like to get a tap and die set going from M3 say to M6 or M8 for 
>*occassional use* cuttting mild steel.
>
>I don't want it just for cleaning and rethreading.
>
>I just want something that is not basically ?rap! But how much can I get 
>something for? Can it be done for say £20?
>
>What are the manufacturers names I perhaps should be looking out for? 
>Dormer too expensive, but say Draper? TIA. 
The "Linear" range of HSS taps are not bad. I have a set 3-12mm (1st,
second and plug and split dies) no problems, cost £40 IIRC. Quite nice
as shanks are reduced for the 8mm 10 and 12mm allowing deep tapping.

--

Richard

Email address is valid but remove burrs before sending!

Andrew Mawson wrote:
> 
> I always worry a bit when advertisers have to call their kit
> 'professional quality' <G>

Yeah - it normally means the exact opposite.

   BugBear

> Picked up a 7"x4" approx magnetic clamp, "Value" brand, the other day, for
> about half normal in the August flyer.  It's quite good - holds 2-3" sort of
> sized flat work well enough for light milling (making a 10mm slot, in this
> case) although cutting too hard/fast will make it move. 
> 
> It also usefully has bars on 2 sides which can be raised or lowered, so you
> can position your workpiece up against same.

Is the Magnetic Chuck part number AUIMG-00407C the one you mean ?

-- 
Boo

On or around Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:23:46 +0100, Boo
 enlightened us thusly:

>> Picked up a 7"x4" approx magnetic clamp, "Value" brand, the other day, for
>> about half normal in the August flyer.  It's quite good - holds 2-3" sort of
>> sized flat work well enough for light milling (making a 10mm slot, in this
>> case) although cutting too hard/fast will make it move. 
>> 
>> It also usefully has bars on 2 sides which can be raised or lowered, so you
>> can position your workpiece up against same.
>
>Is the Magnetic Chuck part number AUIMG-00407C the one you mean ?

sounds like the right number.  ah, I see I still have the paper to hand...
yes, that's the one.  I've no idea how it shapes up CF "good" ones, mind,
but at the price it's not bad.

You need the AU bit in the code.

I was milling using a 10mm 2-flute cutter, in BMS, the piece is about
40x70x6mm, with various holes in it..  It's critical that the work piece is
flat and clean, mind, or it doesn't grip well enough.  It was OK taking cuts
up to 0.5mm deep, provided you took it easy - but since I only wanted a 1mm
deep slot, that wasn't a problem.

A lot less hassle than setting it up in a normal vice and getting it level.

I daresay it'd be fine for surface grinding.
-- 
Austin Shackles.  www.ddol-las.net  my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy!  Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\   
   >>  http://www.schlockmercenary.com/  <<      \  ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

> sounds like the right number.  ah, I see I still have the paper to hand...
> yes, that's the one.  I've no idea how it shapes up CF "good" ones, mind,
> but at the price it's not bad.

Yes,  that's why I queried whether it as the same one.  I'm tempted, but my main 
application would be aluminium and they don't make one that will work with that :-)

-- 
Boo

On or around Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:11:07 +0100, Boo
 enlightened us thusly:

>> sounds like the right number.  ah, I see I still have the paper to hand...
>> yes, that's the one.  I've no idea how it shapes up CF "good" ones, mind,
>> but at the price it's not bad.
>
>Yes,  that's why I queried whether it as the same one.  I'm tempted, but my main 
>application would be aluminium and they don't make one that will work with that :-)

you'd have to generate eddy currents or something.
-- 
Austin Shackles.  www.ddol-las.net  my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy!  Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\   
   >>  http://www.schlockmercenary.com/  <<      \  ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!