What is the NAME(s) of that tool??

4

440roadrunner

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jun 4, 2006

Location

N Idaho

• Aug 22, 2012

• #1

I know you're laughing. I can hear it from here.

What the heck are some generic name(s) of manual tap guides which you can use in a lathe/ or drill-mill?

I'm not looking for a fancy tapping head.

I'm thinking of something I saw that was a manual sort of guide sleeve that allowed the tailstock chuck of the lathe, or chuck of the mill to center the tap without really putting any pressure or drive on the tap, allowing you to control the tap by hand.

Yeah. I've Googled. Found lots of tapping heads.

 

R

rbent

Stainless

Joined

Mar 1, 2011

Location

Kansas

• Aug 22, 2012

• #2

Are you looking for a tap guide like McMaster 2550A65?

 

TeflonDave

Aluminum

Joined

Sep 9, 2009

Location

NY, USA

• Aug 22, 2012

• #3

Try - tap guide or tap pilot, they are usaully spring loaded with a point and/or cup end. There is also a technique of running the tap on low rpm/speed and using the tail stock or mill spindle loose, but well cleaned and oiled as a rigid but responsive aligning tool.

 

Robert Campbell Jr.

Diamond

Joined

Aug 20, 2006

Location

Hesperia, SoCal

• Aug 22, 2012

• #4

A spring-loaded center in the tailstock, that fit's the center drilled end of the tap, which is held stationary with a tap wrench against a fixed portion of the lathe, is efficient and as accurate as any.

A "self centering" tap holder, (looks kinda' like a collet) is common, though unlike the spring-loaded center above, one size does not fit all.

Bob

 

4

440roadrunner

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jun 4, 2006

Location

N Idaho

• Aug 22, 2012

• #5

Yes, thanks. I Googled "tapping guide" among other terms and got hits on "how to tap" instead of a tool

I think I can build one now that I know what to look for!!

 

B

burchdb

Aluminum

Joined

Mar 28, 2010

Location

Los Altos California

• Aug 22, 2012

• #6

Is this what you're looking for?

Spring Center at Wholesale Tool

 

B

bryan_machine

Diamond

Joined

Jun 16, 2006

Location

Near Seattle

• Aug 22, 2012

• #7

I have some devices that mount in a drill press to guide hand tapping, which I'm sure I bought from Penn tool years ago, but cannot find in their current catalog.

Penn tool does list a "hand-tap guide".

Google of "hand tapping jig" brings up some relevent stuff
National Supply Source Tapping Tools

Another thread on PM talks about a "piloted tap wrench" - googling on that term brings up related things too.

Also, mcmaster under "tap wrench" lists what they are calling a "machine mount with guide"

See also "tap and reamer aligner" where "aligner" is a made up word you have to discover by accident.

(Bryan, who is annoyed he can't find a current catalog entry for the device which the OP would like to see.)

 

Gordon Long

Hot Rolled

Joined

Oct 25, 2006

Location

San Leandro, California

• Aug 22, 2012

• #8

Some of this stuff was covered recently here;
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/need-floating-taphead-250888/

 

S

S_W_Bausch

Diamond

Joined

Jan 15, 2010

Location

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

• Aug 22, 2012

• #9

There are some terms that just don't "Google" well. The difficulty may be a firm paying for placement. Try Googling "Amazon.com working conditions" to research the reality of Amazon.com paying for ambulances lined up, waiting for the next worker to faint in those 115 degree warehouses.

Well, uh, that search actually does work.

 

T

thedave

Cast Iron

Joined

Feb 23, 2011

Location

Houston, TX

• Aug 22, 2012

• #10

I have one of each size, work great

Piloted Spindle Tapper | Walton

 

Putch

Hot Rolled

Joined

Nov 15, 2011

Location

Butler, PA

• Aug 22, 2012

• #11

thermite said:

If you are to shop-fab such, consider also mounting to the toolpost, not in the TS.

Do my drilling that way, so swapping to the tap need not require a change in alignment.

TS always seems the harder reach, clumsier feed, and a ready volunteer for damage, even though already on-center.

Bill

Click to expand...

Bill,

how do you center up your drills in the tool post (dial it in every time?). I have considered this for heavier drilling. Maybe a Morse taper holder set on center height at least, to swap out morse taper drills, but the diameter centering would eat some time unless you have any tricks you'd like to share?!

Dave

P.S.- I guess you could pop a center in the headstock socket and feel it into center...but that's not always possible when you're chucked up on something you don't wanna remove

 

4

440roadrunner

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jun 4, 2006

Location

N Idaho

• Aug 22, 2012

• #12

Thank you guys for so very much helpful info in this thread!!

I've got some work to do............

 

4

440roadrunner

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jun 4, 2006

Location

N Idaho

• Aug 22, 2012

• #13

thermite said:

If you are to shop-fab such, consider also mounting to the toolpost, not in the TS.

Click to expand...

I'll have to look, but I believe I actually have an MT mount for my toolpost

 

M

Mike Henry

Titanium

Joined

Aug 18, 2001

Location

Batavia, IL USA

• Aug 25, 2012

• #14

Fisher makes these tap guides in the US ($11.50).

Edge Finder Fisher Machine Welcome to our site. All of our tools are made by us in the USA.Feel free to search our database. Call us if you need help.