"DanG" wrote in message
...
I do it every chance I get. My big problem is that the
chuck can't grab the hardened tap well enough. Any
thoughts or ideas? I'm not quite ready to grind 3 flats on
the tap.

Maybe a "tap socket"?? Chuck up a 1/4 hex by 1/4 square
adapter, snap on the
tap socket, insert tap. Find out just how good all those
slip clutch settings really are on
your cordless drill.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....&group_ID=1158

I've actually used these before to hold 3/8-16 taps and
drive them with a 3/8 air
butterfly. Worked well in 1/4 steel flatbar.