Understanding and using a tap and die set

https://www.youtube.com/embed/QpFr_RbBd90

Ever find yourself working on a project and realize that those two pieces of metal that need to be securely bolted together don’t have any threads? Or maybe you’ve found that your fastener’s threads have all but vanished?

As it turns out, both situations can be solved by using a tap and die set. Here is how to use one properly, as well as some tips we’ve picked up over the years through working on our numerous project cars.

Presented by CRC Industries.

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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
2/14/22 12:08 p.m.

Love it. Hope it helps out the rest of the class.

Thanks, Tim and Chris, for putting this together. 

CyberEric
CyberEric Dork
2/14/22 2:21 p.m.

Thanks for this, super helpful tips! 

Noddaz
Noddaz UberDork
2/14/22 6:08 p.m.

Thank you for making this!

 

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner MegaDork
2/14/22 7:26 p.m.

Part 2: how to drill out a broken tap....

I like to think the background music is the ambient sound from Tim's workshop. Pretty good basic guide, especially on cutting new threads.

 I think the differences and roles of rethreading tools ("thread chaser") and taps/dies were glossed over a bit too much. Factory threads are usually rolled and stronger for it. A rethreading tool is designed to move the metal back into place, a tap/die will cut a new thread through the banged up metal. The rethreader isn't tapered, either, which makes it harder to accidentally cross-thread a damaged bolt hole.

If there's a lot of rust, maybe clean the fastener first with something like evaporust. I rarely reach for my tap and die set anymore when working with existing threads.

 

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