UNC or UCF

[Edd-17]

I will give this link to you all, eBay UK Shop - RDG Tools OnLine: VERTEX, MYFORD LATHE PARTS, TAPS DIES

we used them ,when repairing a camera from a WW11 bomber, a very good range of tools

[kiwidave]

the quality tip is good. you do get what you pay for.

Just spent 17 quid on one tap for the head threads on the shovel.

[weedavie_j]

Originally Posted by Limey_Dave

Jon
Something to think about,some budget sets only have one tap per size which will be a 2nd or intermediate tap.
This is ok for starting a thread and cutting a thread on a through hole,but you can't tap blind holes with it.That requires a 3rd/finish/plug tap.
Set CHT301 has both,CHT302 doesn't.

If you look here

UNI-THREAD

and click on UNC, it will give you an idea of prices for cheaper known brands of HSS taps.
At the other end of the scale my supplier quoted me a discounted (for trade account holders) price for one Dormer 7/16" x 14 tap @ £21.

There will be tool dealers at Stafford selling single taps but don't know if they would beat Uni Thread prices.
Another option would be to get the CHT301 set and buy single UNC taps from Uni Thread as required.
Confused,you will be.

Some good info there, as you say the Clarkes stuff is OK and it will suffice for most small repairs or if you're clearing out a cross-threaded hole etc. but what you get for 20 quid is never top grade steel.

I sit in front of a bloody computer most of the working day now but In the good old days when I earned a living as a machine tool fitter I was spoiled for choice and always used good quality Dormer unf / unc / bsw /bsf taps and dies. Somebody else was bying them

If you're using them daily you soon find out why the cheaper ones are cheaper as they soon loose their edge and can make cutting a nice clean thread impossible and being blunt, there is always the chance of breaking the smaller taps in the hole if you're not ultra careful.

If you need to cut a blind thread and don't have a plug tap, you can always carefully grind off most of the taper from the end of a 1st or 2nd tap to create one. This will enable you to thread right to the bottom of the hole giving you max depth.