Threading is a metal machining technique used to make a screw thread. A tap is used to make a screw thread inside a pre-drilled hole. Making a screw thread inside can be done by cutting or rolling: cutting produces chips, whereas rolling transforms the material into a screw thread. Cutting or rolling to form a screw thread is called "threading".
Screw thread threading is the final machining operation applied to your workpiece, so it's vital that you choose the right thread cutter or roller to avoid ruining your work in the final stage when thread cutting or rolling. Depending on the type of material in which threading is required, choose a hand tap, fluteless tap or machine tap suitable for the material to be threaded. The reliable, guaranteed production of approved screw threads depends not least on selecting the right threading tap. In 80% of cases, UNI machine taps from within our range are chosen.
Whether you require threading for a wide range of materials or generally for the same type of material, you'll find the best selection for thread cutting or rolling - depending on the material to be threaded. Taps range from an uncoated UNI machine tap for a host of different materials to several different coated versions which are easy to use with material that is tricky to machine. Depending on the material, the cutting speed and service life must be taken into consideration too in order to achieve good threading.
Fluteless taps, hand taps and machine taps are available in various thread diameters, with M6, M8, M10 and M12 being the most popular. Industry-quality hand taps and machine taps are available from the value-for-money International Tools ECO / ECO PRO brand and from the well-known premium-quality Phantom range. The Phantom range also comprises lesser-known in-between sizes and thread diameters.
The thread type also has to be determined. The most commonly used thread types are metric and metric fine, denoted by the letters M and MF. In addition to these thread types, we also offer a range of models for BSP (British Standard Pipe) gas pipe threads , NPT (taper screw threads) and UN (Unified National) threads.
When using a machine tap, a choice usually has to be made between a tap for continuous or blind holes. Hand taps and fluteless taps, however, can thread both blind and continuous holes and make the right screw thread.
Although the cutting direction is normally to the right, taps for left screw threads are also available in our range.
Using cutting oil and lubrication ensures a smoother screw thread on the one hand and a longer tap service life on the other. If you require more specific information about taps or tap sets, we've been operating in the machining and clamping tools market since 1952. With more than 25,000 products in the areas of drilling, threading, milling, countersinking, reaming, sawing, turning and clamping, we'll find the solution that's right for you and are continually developing our range.
Please contact our technical advisers by email for technical advice or use our contact form on the website.