Tap & Die Accessories

Tap & die accessories are essentially cutting tools that are used for the purpose of making threads on screws. The tap is utilized to cut threads on the nut, otherwise known as the female portion, while the die is for cutting threads on the screw, the male. Tap & die accessory sets are usually made to consist of taps and dies that match the common sizes of screws. They also come with wrenches which are useful to hold and turn the tools.

Tap & Die Accessories: The Tap

As mentioned before, the tap is specifically used to cut a thread into the surface of the nut, or the hole. While there are various types of tap accessories, three basic types can be classified that are used by machinists. These are:

• Plug or bottoming tap: Typically it comes with a taper ranging in between 1 and 1.5 threads. This is equivalent to almost no taper at all. That allows the plug tap to be used on partially threaded holes or a blind hole.
• Intermediate or second tap: The cutting edges of this type of tap are tapered while the rest of it is straight. The tapered threads range for 3 to 5. This feature is useful on completely untapped holes. These are the most commonly used of the various tap accessories.
• Taper tap: The taper at the edge of this tap is more pronounced with the tapered threads ranging from 8 to 10. When the material of the hole to be tapped poses a difficulty, or the hole itself is very small, this type of tap is used.

The activity of tapping may be done by hand or by machine. The tap accessories illustrated above are for the purpose of hand tapping. A different set of accessories and machines are available for machine tapping such as radial drilling, vertical milling, pillar type and other machines.

Tap & Die Accessories: The Die

The die is used to cut threads on cylindrically shaped rod-like objects, thus creating bolts. Loosely put, die accessories are circular tools with the necessary threads molded into them. A blank screw or rod is inserted into the hole in the die and rotated until the threads are cut to the required number. Adjusting screws on the die accessory allows it to be expanded or compressed to fit the screw as required depending on the material being used.          

Most tap & die accessories, while used individually, are sold as paired sets. For home use these sets are mostly available for manual use. However, for commercial use, tap & die accessories that work similarly, are made available with power tools. The drill press is used to make the use of taps effortless, while spinning tools do the same while inserting a screw into the die. For manual users, tool holder tap & die accessories are also available that make the job easier. Different tools are available depending on user requirements.

Tap & die accessories are available in many hardware stores and other retail outlets that specialize in hardware equipment. If you are looking to make an online purchase, there are several websites that stock and sell varieties of these tools.