Repairing Stripped Nuts and Bolts: How To Use Tap and Die Sets | Eastwood

Summary

In this tutorial, Joe from Eastwood walks viewers through the essentials of using a tap and die set, covering both imperial and metric fasteners. He explains how to read fastener sizes, use a tap to create female threads, and use a die to cut male threads. Joe also shares tips on choosing the right tools, ensuring proper lubrication, and avoiding common mistakes. Whether you're restoring damaged threads or creating new ones, this video provides essential knowledge and practical advice for using tap and die sets effectively in the garage.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tap and die sets are essential tools for any garage, helping with cutting both male and female threads.
• 😀 A tap cuts female threads (tapping), while a die cuts male threads (threading).
• 😀 Eastwood offers two main tap and die kits: a 60-piece set (m3 to m12 and number 4 to ½ inch) and a 110-piece set (m6 to m18 and number 4 to ¾ inch).
• 😀 To get started with tapping and threading, you'll need cutting fluid, drill bits, and a drill.
• 😀 Metric fasteners follow the format of diameter (in millimeters), thread pitch (in millimeters), and length (in millimeters).
• 😀 Imperial fasteners use diameter (in inches), thread pitch (number of threads per inch), and length (in inches).
• 😀 A fractional pitch gauge or a tap can be used to measure and identify the size of threads on a fastener.
• 😀 When tapping a hole, always use cutting fluid, drill a hole to the correct size, and go slow to prevent the tap from binding or breaking.
• 😀 When using a tap, back out frequently to clear chips and avoid breaking the tap, using the half-turn forward and quarter-turn back technique.
• 😀 Dies are useful for cleaning or restoring damaged threads, as well as cutting new threads on a rod, with cutting fluid and slow, steady work.
• 😀 Properly using tap and die kits can save projects from unexpected thread issues, and it's always better to have these tools ready when needed.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of a tap and die set?

A tap and die set is used to create or restore threads on fasteners: taps cut female threads, while dies cut male threads.

What items are typically included in an Eastwood tap and die kit?

The kits usually include taps, dies, handles for spinning them, gauges, and sometimes additional accessories depending on the kit size.

What is the difference between the 60-piece and 110-piece Eastwood tap and die kits?

The 60-piece kit covers metric sizes M3 to M12 and SAE sizes #4 to ½ inch, while the 110-piece kit covers metric M6 to M18 and SAE #4 to ¾ inch.

How do metric fastener measurements work?

Metric fasteners are measured by diameter, thread pitch, and thread length. For example, M10×1.5×30 means a 10 mm diameter, 1.5 mm thread pitch, and 30 mm thread length.

How do imperial fastener measurements differ from metric?

Imperial fasteners are measured by diameter, threads per inch (TPI), and length. For example, 3/8×16×1.25 means a 3/8 inch diameter, 16 threads per inch, and 1.25 inches length.

What are the two common ways to determine the size of a bolt or fastener?

The first method is using a fractional pitch gauge to match the thread pattern. The second method is using a tap that fits into the fastener's threads and reading the size from the tap.

What is the recommended procedure for tapping a hole?

Drill the correct size hole, deburr and chamfer it, apply cutting fluid, insert the tap straight, rotate half a turn forward and a quarter turn back to clear chips, and proceed slowly to avoid breaking the tap.

Why is lubrication important when using taps and dies?

Lubrication reduces friction, prevents binding or breakage, and helps the cutting process go smoothly for both taps and dies.

How is threading a rod with a die performed?

Select the die according to the rod diameter, secure it in the holder, secure the rod in a vise, lubricate the die, thread it slowly with a half turn forward and quarter turn back motion, then clean the threads after completion.

What precautions should be taken when using taps and dies?

Go slow, always use lubrication, clear chips frequently, avoid applying excessive force to prevent breaking taps, and back off periodically when threading with dies.

What is the practical value of having a tap and die set in the garage?

Tap and die sets allow you to create or repair threads on bolts and rods, saving time and preventing project delays when encountering damaged or missing threads.