....
Hand grind a few flutes onto an old pipe plug and use it as a ****ing tap
for christ sakes.



What old pipe plug? The local hardware stores only carry blumbing
fittings in plastic, brass, cast iron and some (?) kind of zinc-plated
steel.

I'd have had to order something anyway.... It aint an emergency though.

Don't think the metal in pipe plugs is good enough. You *could* turn
some tool steel between centers and then cut flutes and harden to make
a tap. But, I'd just shop eBay for the real thing.

Karl