Tapping 2-56 holes with a cordless drill

rivett608

Diamond

Joined

Oct 25, 2002

Location

Kansas City, Mo.

• Jun 27, 2019

• #1

I had to tap a bunch of 3/8” deep 2-56 holes in aluminum today and was in a hurry. I was doing this by hand the normal way when I remembered I had bought a Festool CXS cordless drill because it was small and had a very good feel to the speed control. I thought I would give it a try, something I don’t think would go so well with a heavier DeWalt, remember this is a 2-56 tap going in a deep hole.

It worked fantastic! Very fast, no broken taps and I could really “feel” that small tap through the drill. Now I’m even happier I bought that drill.

Just thought I would mention a good tool that worked in an application I didn't expect.

 

M

MCritchley

Stainless

Joined

Mar 22, 2007

Location

Brooklyn WI

• Jun 27, 2019

• #2

Did the same thing with a cheap cordless screwdriver. I found a drill chuck with a 1/4” hex shank that fit the spindle. Agreed, the lighter tool the better with small taps.

 

Chip Chester

Diamond

Joined

Dec 13, 2007

Location

Central Ohio USA

• Jun 28, 2019

• #3

When I read a thread title like this one, I usually think no-f'in-way someone did that. Clickbait. Spam. Whatever.

But then I looked at who started it. And read it to find that yes, they did do it.

The "no broken taps" was just icing on the cake.

 

plastikdreams

Diamond

Joined

May 31, 2011

Location

upstate nj

• Jun 28, 2019

• #4

Smallest I've done is 440 with a Milwaukee m18 fuel drill lol...the biggest issue is wandering off level and causing the tap to bind and then snapping, the second biggest thing is reversing with all that torque, it can cause you to react and snap the tap lol.

 

A

atomarc

Diamond

Joined

Mar 16, 2009

Location

Eureka, CA

• Jun 28, 2019

• #5

I would have never ever thought a screw size that dinky could be tapped with anything other than a small T-handle and a bunch of Hail Mary's..certainly not accomplished with a drill. As I recall, your stock in trade is very small stuff so 2-56 may be a walk in the park for you.

Stuart

 

I

Illinoyance

Stainless

Joined

Aug 24, 2015

• Jun 28, 2019

• #6

Shaky old guys probably should not try it.

 

rivett608

Diamond

Joined

Oct 25, 2002

Location

Kansas City, Mo.

• Jun 28, 2019

• #7

Thanks guys, honestly I wouldn’t have thought it was possible or a good idea which is why I posted it. I think it was the combination of my delicate touch and the Festool drill which is both light weight and has great sensitive slow speed control.

I also think McCritctley might be on to something with the cheap screwdriver idea, about $300 less than my drill. Light too....

 

M

MattiJ

Titanium

Joined

May 31, 2017

• Jun 28, 2019

• #8

Yup, small cordless works suprisingly well. I use small 10.8v makita.
I have tapped some M2.5 holes to 10...12mm steel. Not quite as small as 2-56 but same ballpark.

 

Cole2534

Diamond

Joined

Sep 10, 2010

Location

Oklahoma City, OK

• Jun 30, 2019

• #9

I find power tapping small holes the way to go. I can focus more on alignment while knowing the tap will be driven straight in.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

R

Ron Hofer

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jul 7, 2007

Location

Brookfield, WI

• Jul 1, 2019

• #10

I've drilled endless holes for 2-56 threads with a cordless drill. Of course, they were in brass. Probably makes a difference.

 

D

dsergison

Diamond

Joined

Oct 23, 2003

Location

East Peoria, IL, USA

• Jul 2, 2019

• #11

I have a dewalt gyro screwdriver YouTube
It's a really neat tool and I have been thinking about attaching it to my tapping guide.

It takes a slight amount of practice to "debounce" your hand but after you get that down the speed control is quite amazing.

I wish I could tell you I tapped 1-72 with it, but I haven't tried tapping yet. I was wondering if anyone else has tried them. It's a very unique control and amazingly precise.

 

3

3t3d

Diamond

Joined

Nov 1, 2004

Location

WI

• Jul 2, 2019

• #12

Rivett688,
What are you doing with such an Enormous tap?

 

eKretz

Diamond; Mod Squad

Joined

Mar 27, 2005

Location

Northwest Indiana, USA

• Jul 4, 2019

• #13

dsergison said:

I have a dewalt gyro screwdriver YouTube
It's a really neat tool and I have been thinking about attaching it to my tapping guide.

It takes a slight amount of practice to "debounce" your hand but after you get that down the speed control is quite amazing.

I wish I could tell you I tapped 1-72 with it, but I haven't tried tapping yet. I was wondering if anyone else has tried them. It's a very unique control and amazingly precise.

Click to expand...

Yep, I've got one. I like it a lot too. Does take some getting used to for sure. I had my Dad try it when we were installing a new screen door, he kept messing it up, couldn't stand it. I find the low speed control and modulation to be about the best of anything I've tried.

 

T

tech610

Plastic

Joined

Sep 15, 2018

• Jul 5, 2019

• #14

I second on the cordless screwdriver. I'm lucky to have a 4 AA batteries slow turning screwdriver. Gives you a good control and I use rechargeable batteries.