I've seen machinists use a small block with a bunch of holes
in it where the tap would be inserted to guarantee that the
tap threads straight into the hole to be threaded. I could simply
drill a clearance hold in some scrap metal, but if I wanted to
machine such a guide,there must be some good ideas out there.
It could be a rectangular solid with a row of holes different
diameters, it could be a disk, etc. What do most people use?

I know of other techniques using the drill press chuck, a spring-
loaded tap guide, etc, but in this application, I would like a simple
guide.

Jim

"hoseman" wrote in message
news
I've seen machinists use a small block with a bunch of holes
in it where the tap would be inserted to guarantee that the
tap threads straight into the hole to be threaded. I could simply
drill a clearance hold in some scrap metal, but if I wanted to
machine such a guide,there must be some good ideas out there.
It could be a rectangular solid with a row of holes different
diameters, it could be a disk, etc. What do most people use?

I know of other techniques using the drill press chuck, a spring-
loaded tap guide, etc, but in this application, I would like a simple
guide.

Jim

A narrow long object with a series of properly sized holes would be most
useful, although there are likely instances where almost nothing would work.
The narrow one would allow for tapping near shoulders, but might not allow
getting into corners. I'd avoid a large round object, which would likely
be very restrictive except for flat objects. Regardless of configuration,
you're bound to encounter projects where the guide will get in the way.

If you make a guide, make sure you mic the taps to determine the size your
holes should be. They (taps) are always oversized. For example, a random
sampling of 1/4" taps will reveal diameters from .253" to .256" on the major
diameter. Even the body of the taps will be oversized, so you want to make
sure it will clear the holes in your guide for the deep holes you are
likely to encounter.

Harold

Remember that you need the hole drilled vertical if you are going to
use a guide to make sure the tap is vertical.

I have two sorts of drill/tap guides. One in a bit of scrap 1 by 4
that I drill the hole on a drill press so it is vertical. It is quick
to make and easy to dispose of.

The other are some drill guides I got a Boeing Surplus. They are
plastic about 1.5 inch in diameter and about the same height. They are
threaded for a half inch bolt. Bolts with different size holes can be
screwed in to them.

Dan

Thanks for the info, it was what I was looking for. - Not to make it
too big, can't get close to edges. The idea of using inserts, I
hadn't thought of. I remember years ago on jigs making hardened drill
guides. Thanks for all the tips -

Jim


On 1 Apr 2005 08:34:00 -0800, "
wrote:

Remember that you need the hole drilled vertical if you are going to
use a guide to make sure the tap is vertical.

I have two sorts of drill/tap guides. One in a bit of scrap 1 by 4
that I drill the hole on a drill press so it is vertical. It is quick
to make and easy to dispose of.

The other are some drill guides I got a Boeing Surplus. They are
plastic about 1.5 inch in diameter and about the same height. They are
threaded for a half inch bolt. Bolts with different size holes can be
screwed in to them.

Dan

hoseman wrote in
news
n it where the tap would be inserted to guarantee that the
tap threads straight into the hole to be threaded. I could simply
drill a clearance hold in some scrap metal, but if I wanted to
machine such a guide,there must be some good ideas out there.
It could be a rectangular solid with a row of holes different
diameters, it could be a disk, etc. What do most people use?

I know of other techniques using the drill press chuck, a spring-
loaded tap guide, etc, but in this application, I would like a simple

Another option would be to make a small hand tapper like the one Flexbar
makes:
http://www.flexbar.com/machine-tools.htm It's a little more than half way
down the page. It's also handy for hand reaming holes. You can also see
what their tapping block looks like there as well.

--

Dan

Keywords:
In article , hoseman wrote:
I've seen machinists use a small block with a bunch of holes
in it where the tap would be inserted to guarantee that the
tap threads straight into the hole to be threaded. I could simply
drill a clearance hold in some scrap metal, but if I wanted to
machine such a guide,there must be some good ideas out there.
It could be a rectangular solid with a row of holes different
diameters, it could be a disk, etc. What do most people use?

I know of other techniques using the drill press chuck, a spring-
loaded tap guide, etc, but in this application, I would like a simple
guide.

Jim

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.
aspx?p=6748&title=TAPRITE+TAP+GUIDE

This one works great, and for the price, it's a bargain.

Doug White

Doug White wrote:

snipped

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.
aspx?p=6748&title=TAPRITE+TAP+GUIDE

This one works great, and for the price, it's a bargain.

Doug White


Just a tip you may have missed hearing about Doug:

If you enclose a "long" URL between "angle brackets" like this:

Your looooong URL

It'll be much easier for folks to click on it and get to where you are
directing them.

Without the angle brackets long URLs which get displayed on more than
one line won't get you there with a simple click. You have to use copy
and paste to piece them back together again in your browser's affress bar.

Do it like this:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=6748&title=TAPRITE+TAP+GUIDE# specs

Course you could also use tinyurl.com to "shrink" it, but I find it
faster to just stick the angle brackets on both ends, and users may be
able to get an idea of where they're heading when they click on it.

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

Keywords:
In article , Jeff Wisnia wrote:
Doug White wrote:

snipped

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.
aspx?p=6748&title=TAPRITE+TAP+GUIDE

This one works great, and for the price, it's a bargain.

Doug White


Just a tip you may have missed hearing about Doug:

If you enclose a "long" URL between "angle brackets" like this:

Your looooong URL

It'll be much easier for folks to click on it and get to where you are
directing them.

Without the angle brackets long URLs which get displayed on more than
one line won't get you there with a simple click. You have to use copy
and paste to piece them back together again in your browser's affress bar.

Do it like this:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...&title=TAPRITE
+TAP+GUIDE#specs

Course you could also use tinyurl.com to "shrink" it, but I find it
faster to just stick the angle brackets on both ends, and users may be
able to get an idea of where they're heading when they click on it.

Thanks for the tip. It doesn't work with all newsreaders, however. I
use NewsXpress, and I still have to cut & past long URLs, brackets or
not.

Doug

hoseman wrote:
I've seen machinists use a small block with a bunch of holes
in it where the tap would be inserted to guarantee that the
tap threads straight into the hole to be threaded. I could simply
drill a clearance hold in some scrap metal, but if I wanted to
machine such a guide,there must be some good ideas out there.
It could be a rectangular solid with a row of holes different
diameters, it could be a disk, etc. What do most people use?

I know of other techniques using the drill press chuck, a spring-
loaded tap guide, etc, but in this application, I would like a simple
guide.

Jim

This is a perennial apprentice project. Most are something like you
mention, just a block with tap-sized holes in it, pattern and variety
to suit your preferences. You probably could find any number of
designs in high school metal shop texts.

I've got one I purchased from Brownell's long ago, it's a round puck
with interchangeable bushings. The bottom has a V cut in it so the
user can easily line it up on round stock, like a barrel. It's still
for sale, but I think the current price is rather out of sight.
www.brownells.com You could bore the jig's hole so you could use
standard die bushings that can be had from the usual industrial
hardware suppliers. I use mine a lot for the smaller taps, it keeps
tap breakage down to virtually nothing. One thing I think I'd rig up
is some sort of clamp so it could be held to a workpiece. Kind of hard
juggling jig, drill and workpiece some days. These days, one or more
rare-earth tooling magnets might work, if you could find some way to
keep the chips from sticking permanently and you work mostly with
steel.

Stan