In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Tim Lamb wrote:
I think the idea of the taper was that the tap would follow the hole
rather than cut the thread at an angle.

Sadly, you still need to keep it square to achieve this.

A tip that might help some. Put the tap in your pillar drill. Work square
in its vice. Turn the chuck by hand while applying downwards pressure via
the handle.

Yes. I also use the lathe for anything that can be clamped in the chuck.
Gripping HSS in the tailstock takes some doing.


--
Tim Lamb