tapmatic

D

Donald Bell

Joined
Dec 9, 2003
Messages
57
After checking old posts here I finally broke down and now have a tapmatic on the way. It will be mainly used for tapping 0-80 holes in 0.050" 6al4v(drilled with #55 drill). Does anyone have any helpful hints or "don't does" Yes I plan to read the instructions - but we all know that they only go so far -but have found the practical info available on the forums to be the most helpful.
Thanks, Donald
www.Bellknives.com
 
Start out with a very light clutch. You can break an 0-80 tap in a Tapmatic very easily with heavy clutch. Sometimes it takes me 2 or 3 plunges to tap the hole in .050 ti. They do work very well with a little adjustment.
 
I would be interested in anyones experience with them also. There are several tools I have made that I want to sell someday but there are too many holes to tap by hand. I have seen the Tapmatic videos and it is very impressive.
 
Someone was selling a tapping tool on this forum if I remember correctly. I use about the same thing, but power mine with a VSR drill. As long as the taps have been sharp I have had no problem. I use a wax type lubricant. If you are still having problems, you can reduce the drag on your tap by using a drill that is a thousandths or two bigger than recommended. Don't go too much larger than that on 0-80 though.
 
B Finnigan said:
I would be interested in anyones experience with them also. There are several tools I have made that I want to sell someday but there are too many holes to tap by hand. I have seen the Tapmatic videos and it is very impressive.
Click to expand...


Brent, when you get one, you will wonder why you didn't get one sooner. I picked up a used one on ebay a few years ago for $150, and if it broke tomorrow, I'd go out and get a new one right away. I really dislike tapping by hand, and the Tapmatic really makes it easy, as well as extends the life of the taps. Just the other day I was making up a batch of 100 burner flares with three tapped holes each. The Tapmatic made the tapping job for each flare take 30 seconds rather than several minutes (1 minute per hole is probably a conservative estimate) if I had tapped them manually. I figure it saved me close to 4 hours and 10 minutes on that one job. It's definitely paid for itself over and over again.

:)

-Darren
 
what sixe tapmatic would be best for a knife maker i see a small one for like 300 and all the larger ones are like 500+
also how well will something like this work in my mini mill
butch
 
I have had mine for over a year now and I tap nothing but 1-72 and 0-80 holes. I have never broken a tap. I've thrown them away due to them getting dull but that's about it. Before tapping, I slightly countersink the hole to be tapped. A little drop of oil in the hole and way we go. I figure I would have spent as much on broken taps as I have for the TapMatic.

Keep an eye out on eBay. You can sometimes grab one for a decent price. Try and find one that comes with the collets. Those little buggers are expensive.

Bill
 
You guys know what I am going to say! ;)

I've been getting enough folks pestering me to make another run on my tappers. I'm working a temp night job at the moment to get a little cash flow, but I'll be offering some fresh tappers and some other gizmos real soon.

By the way, I am looking for a Tapmatic 50X if anyone has one in good shape they would like to trade for a knife or machine/welding work. I have this dagger to offer for equal trade:

http://fourwinds.smugmug.com/gallery/795971/1/54058728

Holler! :D
 
so any one know what size i should look for 10x-50x something other then that
the plan is to use it for folders and other smallish projects

higgins if i cant figger out the size i need i ll be looking you up for a tapper as i have been braking taps while working Ti
 
butcher_block said:
so any one know what size i should look for 10x-50x something other then that
the plan is to use it for folders and other smallish projects

higgins if i cant figger out the size i need i ll be looking you up for a tapper as i have been braking taps while working Ti
Click to expand...

The Tapmatic 30X is the correct size and torque for #0 to 1/4" (although in my experience, I would not tax that little feller with 1/4" taps in anything tougher than aluminum). Most folder-makers who buy my tappers who use my tappers set them up with a tap and leave it. I have used the same tap in my hand tapper for almost a year now, and it still cuts great.

Remember: If the tap squeaks when you are running it in, you have too tight of a hole. My rule of thumb for tapping in Ti is to go one number drill size larger than what is recommended on the chart, use a good lube, and ALWAYS use an H2 tap tolerance.
 
I have several 30X tapmatics. They work perfectly for knife size tapping. I have not tried on ...say...1/4-20 or thereabouts. Use it for 0-80, 2-72, 2-56 etc. without problems. If you buy a used one on ebay make sure you get the proper arbor for your drill press. Changing shafts can set you back more than the tapmatic cost on ebay. I think most may be changed...but you must buy the shaft from Tapmatic and they get you for it
 
I use a 30x Tapmatic on Ti for folders and vastly prefer it over hand tapping. I have broken a couple taps with it but way less than by hand. I got mine used on eBay and like Darren, I buy another one if this one broke. I have it set up in a cheap HF drill press and leave it there.
 
jhiggins said:
.

Remember: If the tap squeaks when you are running it in, you have too tight of a hole. My rule of thumb for tapping in Ti is to go one number drill size larger than what is recommended on the chart, use a good lube, and ALWAYS use an H2 tap tolerance.
Click to expand...
squeak, squeak, ping $#@$^%$# dam it
yep thats been most of my tapping
the next size up # drill is a big help or at least it should be :)
and the H2 thing is nice the last tapper i got was an H2 and it workes much better
so whe you gong to have more tappers ready you have made me want one instead of a tapmatic
butch
 
joe sangster said:
Jeff, excuse my ignorance but what is an H2 tap tolerance ? I have never tapped a hole previously.

Joe
Click to expand...

Not at all, Joe. A tap tolerance designation determines the amount of "slop" if you will, between the screw thread and the thread in the hole. The H2 tolerance is the most-common used by industry, which will leave you somewhere between 75-80% thread depth using the recommended drill size. You can play around with this somewhat, by choosing a higher or lower numbered drill size depending on the material you are using.

For aluminum, I typically can go a drill size smaller, and get some very precise, tight threads. On Ti, you would want to go a numbered size larger. On tough steels like ATS-34/154CM and S30V, I usually go with the larger tap hole also.
 
Now wait a minute Higgy......
I was getting ready to post that you were making them, then you post that you will be making some more......
THEN you post that you will trade a Dagger for a Tapmatic 50

:jerkit: :jerkit:
:foot:
:D :D :D :D
 
peter nap said:
Now wait a minute Higgy......
I was getting ready to post that you were making them, then you post that you will be making some more......
THEN you post that you will trade a Dagger for a Tapmatic 50

:jerkit: :jerkit:
:foot:
:D :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Yeah I know Don, but the 50X would be for making the 1/4-20 holes in the tapper frame. Each one has two, and although I have a large manual tapping jig for that, its still tedious work when I am making 40 tappers at a time. Thats 40 tappers x 2 holes each = 80 blind holes to tap. Frankly, it sucks and is very time-consuming. That's why I need a new power tapping head.

Its one of the things I neglected to buy before I went full-time last year. :grumpy:
 
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