Tap alignment in the mill and lathe?

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Good morning,

I have many taps that are devoid of either a cone or point on their tail ends.  This makes using a spring loaded tap aligning tool out of the question.  Plus, even if small taps have a point, the tool plunger can obscure the tap wrench square.

A tapping chuck sounds like a good idea, but the hard tap shanks and chuck jaws can limit grip.

A ‘T’ style tap wrench with a centre also seems a good idea, but after watching Joe Pie’s video about said tool, that’s not a reliable method.

My most successful approach has been to loosely clamp the tap in a 3 jaw chuck, with a small flat ground on the tap shank to secure a tap wrench.  I’m not keen on the idea, but it does seem to work.

Any thoughts?  I’m sure there has to be a better way, or am I missing the obvious.

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

I use the method you describe but release the jaws so they only act as a guide:

My most successful approach has been to loosely clamp the tap in a 3 jaw chuck, with a small flat ground on the tap shank to secure a tap wrench. I’m not keen on the idea, but it does seem to work.

 

Emgee

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Simply putting paper between jaws and tap increases grip but select the paper type, ie not glossy magazine.
I once set out to make discs with a square hole to fit in my sliding die holder but gave up after filing the first one which of course I have now lost.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I Put the tap wrench onto the round shank then the square is not obstructed. Bonus is it will slip if the tap goes tight and may save a breakage

A bit of silversteel with a Ctr drilled hole will locate pointed and chamfered and even square ends. A point on the other end will guide taps that have a ctr hole

Leave the tailstock unclamped and just push against the handle to keep pressure on the tap. In the mill light quill pressure is all that is needed.

One I did about 20 mins ago

[Bo’sun]

On 2 November 2024 at 09:07 Bo’sun Said:

Good morning,

I have many taps that are devoid of either a cone or point on their tail ends.  This makes using a spring loaded tap aligning tool out of the question.  Plus, even if small taps have a point, the tool plunger can obscure the tap wrench square…

Eeek, I’ve obviously been lucky in that all my taps came with a cone or point. Are Bosun’s machine taps, not intended for hand use?   So I can avoid buying plain ones by mistake, who sells them?

I’d be inclined to grind points on the end of all the small ones.  Cones more difficult, perhaps a Dremel with a pointy grinding tip?

If the tool-plunger obscures the flat, not difficult to make one that doesn’t.   Assuming you have the time!  It’s just a spring loaded plunger in a tube.  This is mine, home-made.

Dave

 

 

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