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  1. #1
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    Question Tap and die sets.....tap magic

    I have just purchased two "consumer" tap and die sets for hobby use. I will mainly be using the sets to tap into hardwood and occasionally metal (steel and aluminum).

    It has been suggested to me that I use a product called "Tap Magic" as lubrication when tapping into metal.

    Does anyone know where this can be obtained in small quantities, or recommend any other products?.

    This will only be for infrequent hobby use.
    James,

    Sydney, Australia

  2. #2
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Hi James,
    Not sure where you might get it locally but if you search eBay for tap magic metal you will get a few results, fairly cheaply too. Great stuff, I use it all the time.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  3. #3
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    Just use you nearest can of WD-40 or CRC. Best tapping fluid ive found )

  4. #4
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    Go with a locally made product.... A few of them about.. Trefolex is the main one that comes to mind..
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  5. #5
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    PM me your name and address and I'll send you a small container with some Trefolex Cutting Compound
    Cheers

    DJ


    ​ADMIN

  6. #6
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    Trefolex is also available at Masters.
    Chris

  7. #7
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    Robson's Tool King sell Tap Magic

    TAP MAGIC cutting fluid - Robson's Tool King Store

    Findlay.

  8. #8
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    Rocol RTD used to be manufactured in NSW, I'm not sure if it still is? but it is readily available from engineering shops like Thomas Warburton, Backwoods etc but it is on the pricey side.

  9. #9
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    I have just purchased two "consumer" tap and die sets for hobby use. I will mainly be using the sets to tap into hardwood and occasionally metal (steel and aluminum).
    ...Ok...Now that we know of some good lube for tapping, what consumer tap and die set did you get and does anyone else have an opinion as to what is reasonably good.
    I've been looking into this subject on and off for a while now only to put it in the "gunnadoitlater" basket.
    Any help JW would be appreciated.
    Sorry to hijack...


  10. #10
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
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    Quote Originally Posted by wolften View Post
    ...Ok...Now that we know of some good lube for tapping, what consumer tap and die set did you get and does anyone else have an opinion as to what is reasonably good.
    I've been looking into this subject on and off for a while now only to put it in the "gunnadoitlater" basket.
    Any help JW would be appreciated.
    Sorry to hijack...
    I can suggest not to buy the frost ones bunnies sell.....they are rubbish.
    The only sets i have ever bought was an old BSW sutton set, all my others are one off purchases. I just buy what i need when i need it. Mostly i get HSS Dormers in gun nose, you can find heaps on ebay.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  11. #11
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    I have always had success with Goliath HSS taps (English so you get the FULL range of BS BA UN NTP MM (Metric M profile) And they are available in some of the the most obscure sizes such as M11x0.75 or LeftHand M18x1.5. )

    Sutton taps HSS and dies are also excellent.

    Both companies offer a broad range, Sutton is my prefered brand as it manufactures some of their product in Melbourne; mostly their drills.

    This set is not bad value for metric coarse as it has the tap drills and Taps (taper, intermediate and bottoming) for M3-M12.

    -J

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    I have a consumer type tap and die set made from carbon steel. My short answer would be it is junk. It does however has its uses. I would recommend only using it for cleaning up damaged threads. Using them to form threads has distorted the edges. The die holder has a use for sitting on the mantle as an ornament. Nothing else. It is only there to make it look like a complete set. The big tap holder I have never used but is probably not much better. The small T-handle tap wrench however is quite usable and is stored in with my other threading gear. It also has a workable thread gauge. These two items are the pick of the lot.

    I have a wooden boxed P&N set inherited from my father. It would be older than me. Only in Whitworth but it is a fabulous set. I am slowly building up my range of taps and dies as I need them.

    Dean

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ueee View Post
    I can suggest not to buy the frost ones bunnies sell.....they are rubbish.
    The only sets i have ever bought was an old BSW sutton set, all my others are one off purchases. I just buy what i need when i need it. Mostly i get HSS Dormers in gun nose, you can find heaps on ebay.

    Cheers,
    Ew
    I did buy the "Frost" branded ones. I don't use them often, but for the occasional use they have held up well. I mainly use them on soft metals like aluminium. Not the best brand you can buy, but I didn't know any better at the time.

  14. #14
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    I have this set and bought the additional dies from H&F as well. I find them quite good quality.

  15. #15
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    +1 for Goliath taps(though watch out for the tee handle, tap wrenchs and dia holders, unless I got fakes they are just rubbish, not even good rubbish!)
    I near died when I saw the price of the Sutton taps Josh linked to, but when you add it up its not to bad. Down the road a set of 3 M10 taps would cost me about $150

    Stuart

    p.s.moral of the story, never add up just how much money that "draw of stuff" cost

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