Tap and die set. Suggestions?

I need to get a tap and die set to chase some fucked threads but also intend on using it on other projects. Any suggestions for a decent set that isn't silly money but will actually work more than once. Budget up to about £40. I once had a (came out of a christmas cracker) set and to be honest it would have been more useful not to have had it as the taps broke off mid-chase and made more problems... Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Just go to a decent hardware store and get the one size you need. You'll get a top quality one for not a lot. Buy a decent set and you'll have a lot of stuff you'll likely never use.

I have a lidl one and its been perfect. Its a metric one btt see what you'll need.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht303-28-pce-tap-die-set

Same as mine but doesn't say clarke

One quality tap vs big box of shiny bits. I'm conflicted.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220329284537&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_572wt_692

everything you need and nothing more - what's not to like?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220329284537&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_572wt_692

everything you need and nothing more - what's not to like?

Nice tap set but I'd like the dies to.

For non-bike stuff I guess? The only die I've ever needed for bikes is 1" for steerer...

For non-bike stuff I guess? The only die I've ever needed for bikes is 1" for steerer...

Sorry not tried to be odd, but am noticing sstuuf i'm taking apart that i like to run a die to clean the threads on pedals and odd bolts to but then that me being fussy or not being so fussy as what goes on my bike.

Just go to a decent hardware store and get the one size you need. You'll get a top quality one for not a lot. Buy a decent set and you'll have a lot of stuff you'll likely never use.

yes to this ^^^

its exactly what i did, so now i own m5 and m6 taps as they are the only ones i've ever used, and if i needed to get another size i'd just get that one size. while i like having shiny tools, i really dislike having shiny tools that i never use, especially if they are in a set, cos then you cant even get rid of the surplus cos noone wants to buy a set with bits missing.

Sorry not tried to be odd, but am noticing sstuuf i'm taking apart that i like to run a die to clean the threads on pedals and odd bolts to but then that me being fussy or not being so fussy as what goes on my bike.

brass wire brush will sort you out for pedal threads, though not as satisfying as running a die round it. however, i suspect that pedal threads as an example are of a weird size that wouldnt be included in a normal set anyhow?

for those who've never used them, this is what i was always told: full turn on, half turn off remove swarf, full turn on, half turn off remove swarf.....

One quality tap vs big box of shiny bits. I'm conflicted.

Depends what you intend tapping. If your just chasing out old threads or cutting alu or plastic a shit £40 set is probably fine. If you intend cutting threads in steel you'll be better off getting them seperately (taper, plug and finishing). Personally I wouldn't touch a cheapo set - removing broken taps is a ball ache.

Always try and use a cutting fluid, if you haven't got any 3 in 1, wd40 or parifin oil works ok.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220329284537&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_572wt_692

everything you need and nothing more - what's not to like?


Can you use this ^ to chase out BB shells?

And just to be clear you need a die for a threaded headtube stearer, right?

u cannot cut corners by buying cheap thread cutting tools. I suppose you could if you were cutting threads into soft metals all day, but steel, you really need proper quality stuff to get the job done properly, if at all

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'll get M4,5, and 6 separately. Am I right in thinking that you need a taper to start the thread and a separate finishing tap to clean it up. Also, what is a plug? Oh yeah, can you tap an imperial thread with a slightly larger metric taper to convert it or is it a case of drilling out the thread completely and starting a new one in metric? I hope this is comprehensible...

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'll get M4,5, and 6 separately. Am I right in thinking that you need a taper to start the thread and a separate finishing tap to clean it up. Also, what is a plug? Oh yeah, can you tap an imperial thread with a slightly larger metric taper to convert it or is it a case of drilling out the thread completely and starting a new one in metric? I hope this is comprehensible...

Wise. No-decent one will have tapered nose and straight body-all you need. Thread conversion as you describe is not possible-it will be a bugger's muddle of a bodge. You might be able to get away with it, but not a proper job by a long way. Plug is a thing you screw in to block up the hole.

Nice one bigtwin. Off to hardware shop or more likely the screwfix catalogue...

the screwfix catalogue...

Aaaah - the laminated book of dreams....

Re the bodge. If you need to do that, you MIGHT pull it off with slack tightening, but remember most pedals etc are made of far harder material than Al cranks, and thus will rip the buggery out of threads at the drop of a hat. Sort of think you might do to get you down to the LBS to find a new crank, but no more.

Can you use this ^ to chase out BB shells?

no

And just to be clear you need a die for a threaded headtube stearer, right?

yes

Can you use this ^ to chase out BB shells?

And just to be clear you need a die for a threaded headtube stearer, right?

Not for BB shells as you really need a set that clamps from both sides to align the threading:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/42813.jpg

that carries these taps:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/75/42814.jpg

Unless there is some serious damage to a BB shell, the judiciously careful application of a stiff wire brush will normally suffice, certainly to a steel one. If not, you need good quality stuff and considerable care not to bugger it up.

Nothing like a long stint in the loo with some tool porn. The Japanese handtool section in the axminster catalogue does it for me every time... I need to tap the mudguard eyes on an old steel viking. The bolts for the mudguards are m4. Would the best thing be to swap them for m5 bolts and widen the eyes by drilling them out and taping them afresh?

Why you tap? R they stripped or just cruddy? If the latter, M4 again, former, drill n tap. That said, if anything like old, ain't gonna be M4, but you could make them M5.

Nothing like a long stint in the loo with some tool porn. The Japanese handtool section in the axminster catalogue does it for me every time... I need to tap the mudguard eyes on an old steel viking. The bolts for the mudguards are m4. Would the best thing be to swap them for m5 bolts and widen the eyes by drilling them out and taping them afresh?

Pah, I see your Axminster catalogue and raise you a Dick (snigger) tools one: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/homepage/detail.jsf

Pah, I see your Axminster catalogue and raise you a Dick (snigger) tools one: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/homepage/detail.jsf

Yeah, but their carpets are rubbish.

I think the threads are imperial pitch but seem in vaguely decent nick apart from one eye that is clearly mangled. @danb: phwoar! shiny.