ME thread cutting

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

Are taps and dies commercially available to cut ME threads eg,5/16 x 40 tpi.?

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

several of the normal tools suppliers stock them e.g RDG see Here:

 

http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/Standard_Right_Hand_Taps_and_Dies.html

 

Best regards

 

Terryd

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Tracey Tools advertise in ME regularly (or did) and have keen prices.

 

Neil

[OwenParticipant @owen]

HI Eric

I bought a set of ME and a set of BSB from a regular advertiser of MEW because of the good prices. I am now in the position of having to buy again from somewhere else as the quality of those is so bad that they are unusable. The dies don’t cut and the taps break. these tools are so bad that it calls into question the the very integrity of those who would sell such a thing and those who would advertise for them. You have been warned!

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Buy from Tracy Tools, if on the odd occasion you have a problem they will replace it. I have dealt with them for many many years and can remember two instances.  As for breakages, the user is usually responsible!

[Robert FosterParticipant @robertfoster47118]

I have used the taps and dies from regular ME advertisers and buy in large find their quality unaceptable i.e. typically dies cutting under size despite being at max spread in the holder. Taps are also lightly to cut oversize. I,m sure you will agree when relying on a purchased tool to finish of a job that has taken hours to make is most anoying. I have been advised to try taps and dies from a company called the tap and die company. I have purchased a set and although not cheap are supposed to be much better quality than the typical tools supplied by advertisers in MES. The web site is http://www.tapdie.com  

[OwenParticipant @owen]

Hi Robert

could you post a comment on these taps and dies when you have tried them out? I have to replace mine and This time I want to get some good ones.

[Robert FosterParticipant @robertfoster47118]

Hi Owen,

I will certainly let you know how they are doing. I had the same problem as you and my first thought was Presto or similar but the cost was prohibitive. I will see how these perform and hope they will have solved the problem.

 

Regards,

 

Robert

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

I think you get what you pay for. I have 2 metric tap and die sets. One cost about £15 and the other £40. The dies in the cheaper set are extremely difficult to use and I have yet to successfuly cut a thread above 6mm diameter. The more expensive ones work well (and so they should). I have had a similar experience with a cheap twist drill set, which was so bad, I took it back and got a refund.

[OwenParticipant @owen]

Hi Anthony

Yes you get what you pay for indeed. I thought that since I don’t use ME or British Brass much that I would buy a cheap set and then over time replace the ones I used more often with good ones. I use UNF and UNC mostly(I have to run off 20 #5-40×1/4 bolts tomorrow) and have gotten used to paying not alot of money for good HSS taps and Dies. I have absolutly no problem with these and was unprepared for how poor the cheap ones were. of course cheap was still more then what I pay for unified. This time I will be more cautious and try to buy good ones the problem for me is that I have to replace more and quicker than I had anticipated.

Hi Robert

I will appreciate any comments you have,thanks

Owen

Edited By Owen Hanam on 06/04/2010 05:25:04

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Like Owen I use mainly unf/unc, and some metric, I buy as needed, but I’m frustrated by often not being able to buy dies with splits, more and more the dies we get here are solid- virtually round die nuts. I have split a few of them with a cutting wheel in the Dremel. Ian S C

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