Tip #5 EZ tapper

Rene E. Roy · Oct 17, 2003

This is a jig, I copied from a friend of mine...I was having trouble breaking taps all the time...he has used a jig like this for years with great success!....The picture shows how simply it is to make....as you see in the photo...all you do is apply pressure to the jig and turn the tap back and forth.....the spring pressure pushes the hardened steel point into the top of the t-handle and gives enough pressure to send the tap into the hole....works very slick...I haven't broken a tap since....

It's best to put the piece you are tapping in the vise...I just set it on top for the sake of the picture.

I used this jig to tap 1/72 holes in the 1/4" plate shown...(the 6 smaller holes)...no breakage!!!!!

allan lanigan · Oct 17, 2003

Thanks Rene, a picture is worth a thousand words,that will be my project for the weekend.

Rene E. Roy · Oct 17, 2003

Originally posted by allan lanigan
Thanks Rene, a picture is worth a thousand words,that will be my project for the weekend.

Allen,
Once you have built and used this jig...you will wonder how you got along without one......

Polock · Oct 17, 2003

I clamp the work in a vise, get it all lined up, clamp the vise down, drill the hole, remove the drill bit, insert the tap in the chuck, lower the quill then HAND turn the chuck while applying slight pressure.

It's got to be lined up with the hole.

Rene E. Roy · Oct 18, 2003

Originally posted by Polock
I clamp the work in a vise, get it all lined up, clamp the vise down, drill the hole, remove the drill bit, insert the tap in the chuck, lower the quill then HAND turn the chuck while applying slight pressure.
It's got to be lined up with the hole.

Polock,
I've done it that way to.....but because of the spring center...you don't have to apply the pressure, so this way you can "feel" the item being tapped and you know when to back off and not break the tap....

J. Neilson · Oct 18, 2003

Thanks for the tip Rene. I'll have to make one of those. Pretty cool.

Peter Atwood · Oct 18, 2003

Slick!

Polock · Oct 22, 2003

Yea, it does take some getting used to but I almost never break a tap this way. I turn in 3/4 turn, back out about 1/4 turn or until you feel/hear the chip snap. repeat. I used to do some microscope repair and used a lot of 0-80 screws/taps in all kinds or material. It does take a gentle touch, but it can be learned.

Lube, lube, lube! I use 10 weight, non-detergent motor oil for just about every thing. Stuff is getting hard to find around here but a quart lasts for dang near forever. The non-detergent stuff won't get as "sticky" with age like regular motor oil. To tell the truth, I find it to be as good as anything else and I have used just about every tapping/drilling fluid there is. As long as it is slick and carries away heat, it helps.

indian george · Oct 22, 2003

Rene: the Polock is still trying to put a round tape in a square hole.

PS: It has something to do with the configuration of his HEAD [].

Polock · Oct 23, 2003

There is nothing wrong with my head configuration, except for the 20 mile an hour hairline.

On 1/4" and bigger stuff in soft steel, I used to drill, put in the tap, fire up the motor, shut the power off and just drive the tap down in one motion. Works real good on a milling machine.

Just remember; Lube, lube, lube!

Tip #5 EZ tapper

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