I thought I'd try and tap some holes for bolsters and scales on a few knives but wasn't sure about the tolerance needed for heat treat scale. Paul Bos will do the heat treat so there really isn't much to begin with but would typical tap sizes work or should I go with a looser tap higher on the 'H' scale? thanks for any help...
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tapping before heat treating?
- Thread starter tmickley
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 6, 1998
- Messages
- 2,300
Tracey,
I've always used H1 or H2 and never had a problem. The hardened tang will "resize" the screws to fit
I've always used H1 or H2 and never had a problem. The hardened tang will "resize" the screws to fit
- Joined
- May 14, 2002
- Messages
- 117
Tracy,
I have always found that using oversized taps sure makes life easier on steel that has to be heat treated afterwards. The only thing though is I have never seen one that is under 4-40. How you use them is, drill and tap for a normal thread and then run the oversized tap back through the hole, re-threading it. The taps are .005 oversize, limit H11. Works wonders. pick em up at Msc, Enco, McMaster Carr etc.
Jerry.
I have always found that using oversized taps sure makes life easier on steel that has to be heat treated afterwards. The only thing though is I have never seen one that is under 4-40. How you use them is, drill and tap for a normal thread and then run the oversized tap back through the hole, re-threading it. The taps are .005 oversize, limit H11. Works wonders. pick em up at Msc, Enco, McMaster Carr etc.
Jerry.
- Joined
- Aug 31, 1999
- Messages
- 716
I tap all of my thumb stud holes for 2-56 or 1-72 thread using what ever taps I got on sale. I've done this for the whole range of steels (stainless, tool, damascus) and I've never had any significant problems after heat treat. On occasion, I get a slight increase in friction after heat treat but nothing a few passes in and out won't solve. Tap away!