[clemsparks]

hey all,

I could use a pointer or two on where to find a thread chaser tap for the head bolt holes. I believe it's an M12x1.25 tap I'm looking for.

I want to make sure I get a thread chasing tap and I only want to buy the one tap (not a whole set).

I see that Mcmaster-Carr has an M12x1.25 "Bottomming" tap for $15.75. This is as close as I have been able to find so far.

Anybody know where to look locally or online?

Thanks,
Clem

 

[D.Camilleri]

I just use a standard tap and chase the threads with that. You don't need a bottoming tap, because the holes aren't blind. The size is 12mm but a can't remember without looking if the pitch is 1.25 or 1.5mm. I chuck my tap in a heavy duty drill and chase the threads fairly quickly with some lube on the tap.

 

[Bolyard]

Craftsman tap & drill combo set, 12-24 tap $4.99
www.sears.com/tools

 

[Craig M]

Clem is going by what the manuals say. A cleaning tap is different from a normal tap that is cutting new threads. Books specifically state to use cleaning tap.

 

[clemsparks]

Craftsman tap & drill combo set, 12-24 tap $4.99
www.sears.com/tools

I'll have to see if they have the size I need...12-24 is a small standard size tap...I need a 12mm not a number 12.

Thanks,
Clem

 

[clemsparks]

Clem is going by what the manuals say. A cleaning tap is different from a normal tap that is cutting new threads. Books specifically state to use cleaning tap.

I'm actually going off other posts I've read. But the problem I've run into so far is that I can't actually source a "cleaning" "Chasing" "Chaser" etc. Tap.

I was hoping someone here could point me in the right direction. I'd prefer to do it on the cheap and not buy an entire metric tap and die set...

I can get this from McMaster-Carr: 26015A233 for $15.75. Go to www.mcmaster.com and plug that number into the search. It's a bottoming tap (they also have "taper" and "plug" taps for the same price under different part numbers). I don't suppose I'll find much better deal, but I'll check otu Sears and such before I order.

Thanks for the input so far!

Clem

 

[truckie481]

Whats different between a tap and a chasing / cleaning tap?

 

[clemsparks]

Whats different between a tap and a chasing / cleaning tap?

I gather that a thread cutting tap is designed to do just that...cut threads into metal. And that a chasing or cleaning tap is designed to clear crap out of the threads and massage any boogered up places back into order.

From an engineering standpoint, it makes sense. however, I think they must be made from unobtanium and solely distributed by the same ACME company that Wile E. Coyote got all his fun stuff from...that is to say: I can't find a "chasing tap" anywhere yet.

Thanks,
Clem

 

[truckie481]

I gather that a thread cutting tap is designed to do just that...cut threads into metal. And that a chasing or cleaning tap is designed to clear crap out of the threads and massage any boogered up places back into order.

From an engineering standpoint, it makes sense. however, I think they must be made from unobtanium and solely distributed by the same ACME company that Wile E. Coyote got all his fun stuff from...that is to say: I can't find a "chasing tap" anywhere yet.

Thanks,
Clem

lol unobtanium. Thats why I asked.

 

[holtzer1]

there IS a difference. I have a set of thread chasers, a set of cutting taps, and a set of clean up taps.
cutting taps do just that, the cut threads. thread chasers do not cut threads, they merely clean up existing threads.

to aquire a thread chaser, go to a local automotive shop, ask the mechanics when the snap-on or matco tool guy comes around (usualy once a week), and buy one from snap-on or matco.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/tools.asp?tool=all&Group_ID=1151&store=snapon-store
^thread chaser set

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1147&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
^ thead restoring tap..(not an actual cutting tap, but a clean up tap for existing threads) *this is what you need, and the entire set is 40 bucks*

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/9863/cid/3076
^ thread cutting taps...will tap a freshly drilled unthreaded hole.
(couldnt post a url to snap-on or matcos thread cutting taps, they had javascript url's)

 

[Gvus]

That was suggestion also.... tool truck .oO(god i owe them a small fortune)

 

[clemsparks]

Thanks for all the help all,

Here's what I've found...first off

It's NOT an M12x1.25 like I posted above. I "think" it's M12x1.75, but will have to post later when I pick up the tap.

The best source I've found for the taps was my local NAPA. Even with them charging me shipping, it was half the price of what I paid for a tap, shipped from McMaster car.

I settled on a regular bottoming tap, figuring it will do the job fine and was available (special order) locally.

When I find out for sure the tap size, I'll go back and edit my earlier posts in this thread to help keep someone from reading them and buying the wrong tap...

Thanks,
Clem