Thread: Storing taps dies etc.

Over the years I have had to expand my collection of taps and dies and reamers etc. I don't have a lot of space in my workshop so now I need to bring about some order with these items, what do others do?

Since the 70's mine have sat in a Gal metal box I made not including the cheap nasty set still in its plastic carry case. Another project yet to get round tuit

You need to carefully sort all items into the three standardised ISO categories that have been used in sheds around the world for generations

Large, Medium, and Small......

Obtain three empty 2L ice cream containers, label appropriately, job done

I use yoghurt pots - and put taps and dies in pots devoted to BSF, BSW, UNC, UNF, BA and ISO. Some pots are getting a bit full, so they may need to be separated into S, M and L!!!

If you can find a map cabinet, they would be pretty good..

I use fishing tackle boxes, the type that fold out with a few shelves that have the dividers in them. You can sometimes pick them up cheap at fishing places and Kmart etc
Dave

Originally Posted by jmk89

I use yoghurt pots - and put taps and dies in pots devoted to BSF, BSW, UNC, UNF, BA and ISO. Some pots are getting a bit full, so they may need to be separated into S, M and L!!!

Aren't you concerned that the taps and dies will knock each other and make them blunt?

I have a couple of boxed sets for the majority of my taps and dies -mainly metric.

The other stuff I have purchased or have acquired resides in flat trays made from empty black gunpowder cans. The cans are partially filed with a mix of oil and a brand of lanolin mix.

Grahame

Originally Posted by Tiger

Aren't you concerned that the taps and dies will knock each other and make them blunt?

If like most of us they are put in the containers and then left alone till needed Tiger.

So unless they dance around on their own not to much harm should come to them.........that is till you tip them out on the bench to find the right one

Dies on the other hand normally shouldn't become damaged as the cutting tips are inside.

A simple rack would take care of taps or like many sets of old a nice wooden box with them all laid out.

Originally Posted by Tiger

Aren't you concerned that the taps and dies will knock each other and make them blunt?

You wouldn't want to see how my files are stored. Or my odd assortment of larger drills
bollie7

Originally Posted by bollie7

You wouldn't want to see how my files are stored. Or my odd assortment of larger drills
bollie7

Ordinarily, it wouldn't bother me about their storage but if a tap becomes slightly blunt as a result of inadequate storage and then breaks on you , you are going to have a seriously bad day especially if you can't get the tap out from the workpiece.

Tiger sorry to put a damper on your fire but if yo buy them straight from the store where they are possibly store as many do in one container together unless you see that your not going to know.

I from past experience have had good quality Taps break on their first use and these have been ones out of single plastic containers

yes your about to have a shyte day more so if it breaks well in and you then have to re-drill the thing out.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Tiger sorry to put a damper on your fire but if yo buy them straight from the store where they are possibly store as many do in one container together unless you see that your not going to know.

I from past experience have had good quality Taps break on their first use and these have been ones out of single plastic containers

yes your about to have a shyte day more so if it breaks well in and you then have to re-drill the thing out.

Only taps I've broken are the small ones ie 4mm or less, they are incredibly fragile.
Ok, I'll confess that part of my motivation is that I do like an ordered workplace. My Whitworth taps and dies are stored in a wooden box and they are still going strong. I would have made more boxes but you need one for metric, UNF, UNC etc.

I have a set of file draws, Each draw is only 3 inches deep. The cabinet is the same size as a 3 draw filing cabinet, I keep all my taps,dies,reamers,press dies,lathe and mill tools..etc/etc.
In each draw I keep a few moth balls as well and this seems to keep the rust away as well..
Hope this is of some help.Matt

I too store my taps and dies in plastic tackle boxes, the sort that are about 200mm x 100mm with 5 compartments, as per the first attached picture.

But in the longer term, once I finally get around to building my CNC router, I want to make some purpose built tap and die boxes similar to the picture below (same goes for mill cuttters and collets) - so much to do, so little spare time.



You could use a hand-held router and spade bits to do the same thing. Another option for taps, would be to drill a series of holes in a piece of wood and store them upright like I have done with my MT2 drills as per the second attached picture.

Yep, I gotta clean up the workshop, saw dust and ##### everywhere