Tap and die sets

[TheJDWorkmen]

I am In the market for a good fractional size tap and die set but I am not sure what brand to go with. I want a set that will last but not brake the bank either. As far as sizes I was looking for one that went from 5/8 and down. Are there any suggestion that you guys have?

 

[Anonymous-0]

I bought a Craftsman set some years ago and has worked good. I think they have a couple of grades of sets.

 

[GordoSD]

For home shop use my Craftsman has worked well for some 45 years. Have a case tied to it with all the metric and unusual suff I've added over the years

 

[Mike M]

Make sure you get HSS ones and not carbon steel.

I have some older Craftsman sets that are fine. They don't make the hex style anymore for replacements though I thought ? I got some replacements from Carquest of this style and seem fine.

 

[Butch(OH)]

+1 for Craftsman, at least the older ones. My set has served me well for 20 years of general usage like threading, chasing, cleaning rust etc.

That being said for precession work in the shop I keep another set. Why? NOBODIES taps and dies are going to perform "dirty" work like chasing rusty threads and then go to work in hardened steel same as new in the box. It's kinda like trying to have one set of shoes for cleaning the barn and going to church.

 

[scottsdad]

I have a craftsman set works well for me My son has aquired by gift an assortment all kinds i recommend to him and you just buying the ones you need when you need them you would be supprised how many you will never use and by buying a very good item you can spend more for the best rather than buying a less quality set

 

[dr sportster]

Snap-on sells one that is about the only good value for your money on any Snap-on tool truck. To me the case is as important as the set itself. I have purchased a Craftsman a a garage sale to give to my mechanic son in law and it was nice. Since you may not have contact with a Snap-on truck I would go to Sears. Make sure it comes with a thread gauge too. Now you need metrics too so its two sets you need.

 

[Rod in MN]

If you go with Snap-on 9/16 and bigger the dies are round so you to use that handle to trun them when in tight spot you have no way to trun then . I have a set thats the only bad part of them. Mac tools make then there are hexed lot nicer for tight spots

Rod in MN

 

[dr sportster]

The handle on the Snap-on {I think } unscrews to allow to fit tighter but the nice thing about the Craftsman hex dies is you can put a 12 point wrench as you are saying. If I have some chromed on threads to chase I go to Sears and buy a nice hex die and if your forcing it on a stainless rod or something it does not slip if held by a wrench.Sears does not kill you on the price either. On a sidenote there is an array of thread gauges on eBay if the set does not come with one.

 

[Ryan - WI]

I bought a new set recently (twice actually since someone stole the first) and I went with Irwin. They are actually Hanson as one bought the other.

 

[SweetFeet]

Husband says he would get one through Grainger... his is a Dayton model 6X990 77 piece set and he has had it for over 20 years and has used it A LOT on farm equipment and when restoring several old tractors.

Says he would stay away from Craftsman because they are over-priced -- and they switch tool makers frequently, so you never know if you can actually get a replacement tap/die down the road. He used to buy a lot of Craftsman - but has found Fleet Farm tools to be very good and far less costly (and Fleet Farm also has a lifetime warranty).

 

[Lou from Wi.]

Have a craftsman set for over 30 years,works great for us. havn't priced a new set from sears lately.Were happy with em. LOU.

 

[Bradracer18]

Check out gearwrench's set. Its a nice set, and has a "gearwrench" tap handle, that ratchets....which can be very handy in a few situations I've already used! This set can also be purchased through sears