Alan F.
Well-known member
I went with a cheap Harbor Freight set but I've replaced the ones I break with higher quality pieces. I don't use them often but when needed I've got them.
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Milling & Machining
- Thread starter MVI
- Start date
Alan F.
Well-known member
Cheap taps have improved my technique, I'll give them that.
Punkinhead
Well-known member
I'm not a fan of arguments like, "I don't use them a lot so I want cheap ones." One broken tap in an expensive, fragile part or in a hard to reach spot will teach you how false that notion is. A lot of cheap taps are carbon steel. Those are brittle and pretty much guaranteed to snap. At the very least buy HSS taps. If you mostly work on metric then you'll be miles ahead to buy individual high quality taps & dies because a set will be full of sizes you'll never use. Metric has done a much better job at standardizing than imperial. The overwhelming majority of metric threads are coarse, unlike imperial where fine, extra fine, and coarse threads are used willy nilly. So if you're mostly working on metric bikes and cars buy good quality course individual taps and dies in M4, M5, M6, and M8. Maybe M10 too. That will cover 95% or more of what you'll encounter. You'll occasionally run into fine metric threads, but those are rare enough that you can buy an individual tap or die when the situation arises. McMaster Carr is a good source of quality taps & dies.
ThePanzerFurher
Member
Once you use a non made in China tap you’ll never want to use that garbage ever again. A good quality tap with some moly dee tap oil will almost spin itself into the hole. 
Alan F.
Well-known member
I completely agree, the way my collection evolved wasn't optimal or cheaper in the long run.
FLrider
Well-known member
Cheap is usually more expensive as you have to buy the stuff twice..... 
Once you use roll taps, all else sucks.Once you use a non made in China tap you’ll never want to use that garbage ever again. A good quality tap with some moly dee tap oil will almost spin itself into the hole.
Pretty well, I have done it plenty. I also keep the 2 main spark plug sizes on hand. Those were not cheap but it's a way better method of fixing holes than cut taps. Actually, pretty much any time you need to touch up a thread it's a better choice.
Nepa Cheeseburgers
Well-known member
And I thought they were sparky for a pumpkin 🎃
GasGas and Sherco.
Adding a Scott's damper to my 890 causes a problem with the gas cap in that you need to remove the key so the cap swings out of the way.
You then need to reinsert the key to close the cap.
AdvRonski on the other forum figured out you could remove some material from the latch pawl so you could push the cap closed without the key.
My son has a Sherline mini mill that was perfect for the job.
Were gonna need a full report on that little Sherline please
In for knowledge. I recently bought a mill for a project bike I'm starting ( needs custom yokes) and lathe skills aren't transferring over at all 😁 I'm very comfortable on the lathe and making chips with the mill feels like I'm starting all over again.
But it's also dirt bike riding time, so I don't foresee much playing in the shop until winter rolls back around.
But it's also dirt bike riding time, so I don't foresee much playing in the shop until winter rolls back around.
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Punkinhead
Well-known member
All that from a drawing generated from a tape measure?
Sure, It's all fun and games until someone breaks out a micrometer....
CrossFire PRO CNC Plasma | Langmuir Systems
www.langmuirsystems.com
thank you for the update and report.
Looking at their offerings I though it was geared for models, and light machining..
I need ( or I think I need ) something more substancial...
here are some fun Engine Kits to build when it is too cold to ride
www.pmmodelengines.com