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[metricthreadtaps-blog]

Learn how to use the metric taps to your advantage

The tap & die set should have two handles, one to hold taps (for inside threading) and one to hold dies (for outside threading).  Select the tap hIn this article, we shall see how to use the handheld metric taps to carve out the threads perfectly

Know the size well

Screws are labelled by the diameter of the outside of the threads.  To make a threaded hole that fits a particular screw size, you need to start with a hole that is slightly smaller: just a bit bigger than the size of the inner core of the screw (as if the threads were all removed).  Additionally, threads come in several different gauges, although usually there are only one or two standard options for any given screw diameter.

In our case we had 3/8" screws, and therefore needed to drill holes of 5/16".  This information is helpfully printed on the tap itself!  The thread gauge for our screw is 16 threads per inch.  The tap set had a handy little tool for measuring this, but it is also easily possible to count threads next to a ruler.

Do the right preparations

andle and unscrew it until the tap you've chosen will fit in, then tighten it again.

Clamp your metal solidly to something that won't move, or otherwise fix it in place.  Run a light coating of oil over the edges of the tap screws.  You're ready to go.

Get ready to start tapping

Insert the end of the tap into your hole.  Keep the tap as perpendicular to the face of the metal as possible, and exerting some downward pressure, start turning the tap slowly clockwise.  Very soon you will feel the teeth of the tap start to cut into the metal.  For a short while the turning will be wobbly but as the tap progresses downward into the hole, it will stabilize.

I found that a good starting technique was to hold the handle close to my body, and turn with my hips, keeping my hands in the same relation to my body the whole time.  I kept my eye on the end of the tap where it was held in the handle, and concentrated on that not moving sideways.  After the tap has set it was fine to ease off on this and turn by hand. The tap works by scraping a spiral groove on the inside of the hole.  The metal displaced from the groove in the hole is pulled into the grooves on the tap.  You're doing this by hand, and it gets hard to cut the metal pretty quickly -- after about a quarter turn the tap gets very stiff.  This is because the piece of metal already scraped out is too big now.  To cut it off so it can drop out of the way, reverse the tap direction for a quarter or even a half turn.  You will hear and feel the other side of the tap screw edge knocking off the metal scraping. Keep doing this until the tap is all the way through, and turns freely.  The bottom 1/4" or so of the tap, called the chamfer, should be entirely sticking out.  Then simply unscrew the tap out of the hole again. Don't forget to clean off the oil and metal shavings!

The same procedure applies to other kinds of taps such as ACME thread taps, etc.

[metricthreadtaps-blog]

Metric and UN thread taps have their importance

The period subsequent to the industrial revolution has seen the invention of many machines. Machines have become an integral part of life today. We require machines for everyday use as well. If you look closely at any machine, you would find that the screws and the nuts form a very important part in these machines. They play a great role in joining different pieces of the machine together. Imagine what would be the case if we did not have the screw and the nut to fasten them. The machine parts would be flying all over the place. This would make us appreciate the importance of the humble screw and the nut. When you acknowledge the role of the screw, one should also acknowledge the implements that help create the screw in the first place. These implements are the thread taps like the metric tap.

The role of metric thread taps

You know that the industry circles refer to the nut as the female part of the combination and the screw as the male part. In its raw form, the screw would be a simple and small piece of a metal rod whereas the nut would be a small piece of metal with a hole. In case you insert this raw piece of the rod into the hole, it would slip in and out and out quite easily. It would not grasp or hold on to each other firmly. You need some thread on the screw as well as inside the nut for the contraption to grip together.

The UN thread taps have utility in carving out the threads inside the nuts. These are metal instruments having sharp grooves or teeth at their ends. You have to insert them inside the nut and turn them either clockwise or anticlockwise. The surface metal inside the nuts would chip away forming threads with grooves.

Similarly, in the case of screws, you would have to insert the rod or the pipe between two pieces of thread dies. They would form a sort of a clamp holding on to the rod tightly. The turning of the pipe inside the clamp would form threads and grooves on the surface. If you match the pitch of the screw and the nut correctly, they would make an excellent fastening tool that could last forever.

Some different types of thread taps

Every country in the world would have its standardized measurements. The Americans have theirs and so do the British. The basic principle is the same whereas the measurement and sizes of the screw threads would differ. They would have different pitches. You would not be able to use one for the other. Based on the usage, the industry has classified them as follows.

Metric thread taps: This type of measurement is popular in Britain and the countries once under the rule of the British. The full form stands for British Standard taps and dies.

NPT Thread taps: The National Pipe Taper Threads are specially calibrated taps and dies used in pipes all over the world. The carving of the threads would be of a higher standard.

Conclusion:

Without the thread cutting tools, it would be difficult to imagine any kind of industry from functioning.