Gunsmith Question.

my-handyman

If you could only have two or three taps, what sizes would they be? Would they be flat bottom or pointed taps? Is a 6/48 used very much? Thanks Vernon

perry shooter

Hello I would look at Brownell's web site they sell both parts and tools for gun-smiths and have a great tech department.

EDIT happy to see you are a mechanic The reason I suggested Brownell's was in Gun- type work one is more then likely to find much harder steel then normal and this needs experience to keep from breaking a tap. along with a tap wrench to hold the tap . IMHO you will also need the correct WIRE SIZE drill for each. On gun work you want the best threads possible and this requires the best fit as to size of drilled holes and the correct lube for each type of steel. Brownells web site has some great information and the correct quality taps for working in harden steels. Good luck [^]

nononsense

my-handyman,

It depends on how much you want to limit the type and amount of work you want to handle.

How many taps does a maintenance mechanic need to accomplish his work load? Or a real car mechanic or machinist for that matter?

The 6-48 is a common tap used by gunsmiths for tapping actions for scope bases. The 8-40 is getting a lot of use from the Tactical folks since they want everything overbuilt. But there are a dozen taps commonly and frequently used by gunsmiths in the repair category.

This is an example of the tap index that I keep full in order to have the taps on hand that I use:



My range of taps runs from 2-56 to 1.250-12 left hand. All of them get used at one time or another. Will you need them all? No. Will you have a use for more than three? Yes.

Best.

my-handyman

Nonsense: Strange you say maintenance mechanic- That's been my job for the past 15yrs. I have most, for my equipment at work, but I thought I would start getting some for my home hobby and I'm was looking for the most common ones. I'm going to town today and have some extra cash to pick up 2 or 3 today. Thanks for the info and I know how bad it is when the tool you need is at the store and not in your tool box. HAPPY HOILDAYS to ALL.

dav1965

If you can afford it try and get a set instead of individual pieces in the long run it will save a lot of money.

nononsense

my-handyman,

I checked your profile before I wrote my response.

You might get a better idea of sizes from the Brownells catalog, looking at the taps that they sell and paying attention to the type of work you might like to start doing.

http://www.brownells.com/

Sight installation and scope bases are probably the biggest users of taps unless you do custom building.

Best.

grumpygy

Get a good tap holder and then buy the ones you need as you need them.

So far from working on guns I only have a few.


But on the auto side have a couple of cheap set for cleaning out threads. Do have a couple of really good ones for special projects.

Need to go out and buy me one good set for automotive.

v35

Bottoming taps are difficult to start without screwing up the first thread. They will be most likely to break in harder material though there is no substitute when you need threads almost to the end of a blind hole.
If you need to limit your inventory, get tapered taps and grind to suit
for bottoming tapping.
Replace when they get too short.
Use cutting oil on all jobs.
To do a neat job, get a long tap wrench or use a drill press manually.

mrbruce

I would imagine you will have a hard time finding gun taps locally, unless your lucky...
A pointed tap will be easier to start than a flat bottom plug tap, so 2 is in order....

my-handyman

You guys are Great!! Thanks!! A lot of good help! Happy Hoildays Vernon