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Jack, do you have your taps ready?

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Trevor Jessie

Trevor Jessie

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I was cleaning out my toolbox today I realized that my 1/4" tap was missing. Then I remembered that I broke it cleaning out threads after I painted my car. Then I remembered that Jack was looking for things to do while waiting for his shell to get painted. So... Jack, get an extra set of taps that you'll need to clean out the paint. I don't think I had a need for any blunt taps, but you might. So.. if you only have tapered you might considered some blunt ones for blind holes. Or... wait until you need them...then go out and buy them.

I wish I had time/space/money for another project...sigh.
 
Good idea Trevor, what sizes and types do I need. I'll get right on it.
 
You want a list?
Honestly, I bought a cheap HF set that had fine thread and some machine threads. They are poor quality steel (but for cleaning paint should be fine). But... like I said, I broke the 1/4" , so maybe tht aren't even good for cleaning paint.
 
i've got an HF cheap set of taps and dies. Basically everything under the sun to 3/8". Work fine for me, I use them all the time. I have an assortment of larger taps from NAPA that I've bought as needed, and I can't say that I can see any difference in quality.
 
BTW, not sure if it's the case with the bugeye, but it seems almost everything on the chassis is 3/8-24 on my car....
 
[ QUOTE ]
BTW, not sure if it's the case with the bugeye, but it seems almost everything on the chassis is 3/8-24 on my car....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep. And get a 5/16-18 tap and a 1/4-28 tap and you'll be all set for about 95% of the threaded holes on a Spridget as well as most classic Brit-cars.
 
Hello all,

taps, in the UK anyway, are available as carbon steel or high speed steel. I wouldn't waste my money on carbon steel items, make sure they have HSS marked on them. For small taps even good quality ones are not expensive and so very useful, and not just for cleaning paint out.
If you have no taps, grind or hacksaw a groove down the length of an old bolt, this will also do the job of clearing paint.

Alec
 
These taps are all in SAE sizes?
 
Yeah Jack! Buy some taps! You won't have to ship your backplate half way across the country to get a breather fitted! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif LOL!
BTW I guess it got home all right?

Cheers!
Dave G.
 
that's just dangerously cheap. Mine was around $60 and about 50% more parts. Still a cheap kit all things considered.

I'd take Nial's advice and purchase the three taps mentioned.
 
Or two sets of the $14 ones...

Seriously, if you have the cheapies there's gonna be a time when you're tempted to use one to chase a real thread and: *SNAP!* ....they don't drill out well, even when they're cheap. Get the 3 or 4 you know you need, of a good material. HSS ain't THAT expensive by "onesies". Most of the fasteners on LBC's are NF. NAPA has 'em. 8-32 and 10-32 machine screw sizes are likely a good investment too.

I hate to think what I've got in tap$ and die$...
 
Ok here is the list so far. All SAE.

3/8-24
5/16-18
1/4-28
8-32
10-32
 
With those in HSS you should be able to BUILD a frogeye! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Sounds good to me, will pick em up tomorrow.
 
Jack, you're missing a 5/16" x 24, and a 3/8" x 16. About the only place you'll find a 5/16" x 18 is in an aluminum part, and there are a few places you'll find the coarse thread 3/8". Don't be cheap, and buy bottoming taps at the minimum. This will ensure you get all the way down into blind holes. If it's a through hole, plug taps work fine.
As an example of the importance of chasing threads, the guy that bought my Spit racer was building a new engine for it. Now, he's got the mechanical ability of a golf ball, didn't chase any of the head stud holes, and couldn't get the head gasket to seal, just putting water in the block. He hadn't cleaned the threads, so the studs weren't seated properly. There was probably 3/16" of the unthreaded portion of stud above the head, so when the nuts were torqued, they were bottoming on the threads, and never actually tightening the head. When he was going to install the 4th head gasket, I felt sorry for him, and went over and did things right. End of problem.
I just went through a Production Tool catalogue, and you can get both plug and bottoming taps in all the appropriate sizes for about 35 bucks. Quality, made in the USA stuff.
Jeff
 
Oh where oh where Jeff. Please share with me, my credit card works over the internet.
 
JACK!!! GRANGER'S if no other place. NAPA would be a bit less $$$ I think.

Jeff, IIRC his engine is already wound together.
 
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