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Thread: DIY Tap wrench
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27th Aug 2018, 01:40 PM #1Most Valued Member
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DIY Tap wrench
I would like to make a tap wrench along the lines of this type
homemade-tap-wrench.jpeg
I would also like to harden the area where it grabs the the tap.
I dont have heat treatment furnace!!
I could use oxy etc so what would be suitable grade steel to use?
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27th Aug 2018, 02:40 PM #2Most Valued Member
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If you feel that it has to be hardened you could try a bit of 4140.
I have one I made over 40 years ago from a piece of square mild steel that had to be hand filed as an exercise, it still works as it did then,the vee section is slightly worn but not to the detriment of the tool.
Would be a good filing exercise.
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27th Aug 2018, 03:42 PM #3Most Valued Member
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Pretty much any higher carbon steel is hardenable. And if you case harden with something like cherry red then even mild steel is fine. Things to definitively avoid are any of the L steels like 12L14 etc.
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27th Aug 2018, 06:59 PM #4Senior Member
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Eskimo
This is one my dad made around 1940 after leaving school.
Tap Wrench (Fathers 1940).jpg
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27th Aug 2018, 07:08 PM #5Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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I also made one in second year high school which is some 50 years ago. I used it up until about 10 years ago and haven't been able to find it since them. It was also made of just mild steel and was still working just fine up until that point. I remember the knurling on the handles ending up a touch too aggressive and having to turn it back otherwise it was like tapping with a pair of rasps for handles.
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28th Aug 2018, 08:44 AM #6
I like them all. Every one of them much more useful than 90% of the rubbish presented as manufactured tap wrenches.
There some form of unique satisfaction in using a tool you have made yourself.
50 years on one and its still doing the job.
Grahame
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28th Aug 2018, 10:36 AM #7Most Valued Member
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28th Aug 2018, 10:40 AM #8Most Valued Member
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28th Aug 2018, 07:47 PM #9Senior Member
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Richard
"R" is our middle initial. I you want some measurements, just let me know.
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28th Aug 2018, 10:12 PM #10Golden Member
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I probably spent 3 or 4 days making this one as a first year apprentice in 1973, apart from the lathe work the rest was done by hand with files.
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29th Aug 2018, 01:20 PM #11Senior Member
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Tap wrench
Hi..
Was just about to start a similar thread.. mine needs to be the barrel type like the UK Presto type... see pic..... havn't decided on the material as yet, but 4140 seems the best choice as opposed to case hardened MS
I also have a couple of the first type pictured.. one an unbranded US made one, and the other is a Paulco.. this one is marked "case hardened"
Ken
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29th Aug 2018, 02:05 PM #12.
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29th Aug 2018, 04:40 PM #13Golden Member
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You have a keen eye for detail Bob, I didn't think anyone would notice curved body in my poor photo. Those radii were filed to a large radius gauge which was then used by the instructor to check and give a mark for that feature. All dimensions and features were assessed to come up with a final mark for that project. Did you also notice that the sliding jaw moves on vee ways?
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29th Aug 2018, 06:28 PM #14
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29th Aug 2018, 06:44 PM #15
Techno1, I noticed the curved body of your beautiful tapwrench and wondered how the fixed jaw was fixed. I didn't notice the vee ways but when you mentioned them I went back to your post and checked them out. I immediately spotted the puzzle! Let me guess: the fixed jaw has straight sides to allow the movable jaw to be placed, and when placed the fixed jaw prevents the movable one from being removed?
Peter
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