I need some info about Tapmatics!!

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
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I want to get a Tapmatic and checked em out on Ebay and there's different kinds. I don't know diddley about em so I figured I'd ask you knowledgeable folks about em before I put a nickel towards one.
I've got a real good drill press, so that's no problem, but how do you attach the tapmatic to the press?
I always thought you just chucked it up in the drill chuck but most of the ones I've seen for sale have a tapered shank on them. It doesn't seem like you could put that in a drill chuck, or am I wrong? Also, how are the taps held in the tapmatic?
The ones I've seen look like the end is just open with a bearing for a detent in it.
Anyway, any help and info you care to share with me will be greatly appreciated and wisely used!!!
Thanky!!!!
 
Michael,

You need to find one that has a straight shank so that it will work with your drill press. the tapered shanks are ment to go right into the spindle in place of the chuck adapter. The taps are held in place with a collet that is inside the tapmatic chuck. One collet fits any tap that has the correct sized square end on it. Have you noticed that the square end on taps only come in a few sizes no matter what size the tap is? There should also be some means of holding the barrel from turning. It is usually some kind of bracket that attatches to the body of your drill. there is a graduated scale on the body of the tapmatic that is for adjustments to the clutch assembly so that you don't break your taps. If I were to buy one off e bay I would make sure that I had some kind of gaurantee so that I could make sur the cltch was good and not get stuck with a broken pos.
 
I have a European import version of one.
It’s the coolest thing I have ever used. It’s fast, simple, taps a straight hole, and makes taps last much longer for me.

The first day I had it I tried to break a 0-80 tap, & couldn’t do it. It just kept tapping.

As you say you have a real good drill press, then likely you have a tapered spindle and don’t need to use a straight shank in the Drill chuck.
Feed your spindle down all the way and use a drift to knock out the Morse taper holder for your drill chuck.

You have to pick the model based on the screw sixes you want to use
Assuming a model 30X for small screws # 0 to ¼...

Jacobs tapers JT3, JT4, JT6, and JT33 are available.
This is the input end of the tapmatic- the small taper that holds the drill chuck on your drill press.
(Likely printed on your chuck)

If you are buying new, you can get the one that fits your adaptor – same as the drill chuck.

If you are buying EBay, buy the taper adaptor to match your drill press and the tapping head...

A good drill press will have Morse Taper spindle such as MT2 or MT3

You can buy the adaptor that fits between the taper on the drill press and the taper on the Tapmatic.
Such as:
This one is a MT 2 to JT 33 – very common. $10 or less

http://grizzly.com/products/G1435

Taps are held in with rubber jawed collets and a set screw.
There are only a few sizes as Burke mentioned one of each size collets should come with.

Those instructions posted by mark should help.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Enco-5400-50x-r...236QQitemZ360042183445QQrdZ1#ebayphotohosting
This one is a 50X and won’t go down to the small screw sizes
It is missing the collet in the photo


http://cgi.ebay.ca/TAPMATIC-30X-TAP...tcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
This is a complete 30X that will do folder sized screws.
The tapered shank attached is changeable to suit your drill press.

Tapers – Whack on, Whack off.

I can take photos if I didn’t explain properly – pm me for more info.
 
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