[Jewelry making - Article 00172] - Re: [Orchid] [Source] Tap and Die Set?

[Gary Bourbonais]

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Hi Kate....

>     I'm in the middle prototype development for a slew of new tools
>     and I need to buy a Tap and Die Set. Can anyone recommend a good
>     source? I don't want shrapnel quality, I'll be using it on mild
>     steel, and need to do sizes from 1/32" and up. 

    If you're talking American National standard threaded stock and
    holes..... 

    A machine screw size set commonly runs from #0-#12...... And then at
    1/4" they go fractional.... 

    The basic tapping drill for a 0-80 tap is 3/64....which is just over
    the 1/32 size you mentioned....and the 0-80 threaded hole will be a
    little larger than that, because the tap hole is smaller than the tap
    so it has something to cut the threads out of... Another
    example.....the common tap drill used to make a hole for a 1/4-20 tap
    is a #7 drill....which is .2010".... 

    Most industrial suppliers (MSC, McMaster-Carr, etc.), can fix you up
    with a set like this off the shelf........ 

    These commonly come in either carbon steel sets, or in high speed
    steel sets...sometimes they're mixed......the taps being high speed
    and the dies being carbon steel... 

    High speed steel sets are more expensive.....but last longer...... 

    Taps and dies smaller than #0 are not common industrially, but can
    be found with a little hunting I'm sure...... 

    Uhhhhh....don't forget a set of drill bits to make the holes for the
    taps to thread........ 

    There's other stuff like different drills for coarse or fine thread
    tap holes, tapping fluid, etc.... 

    If I can be of any other help, shoot me an email..... 

Gary W. Bourbonais
A.J.P. (GIA)
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