K: Tools Need tap/dies advice

[Robert Watson]

Yes they are. The helicoils are all in another drawer!
You don't restore an A twin that was owned by 6 teenage boys consecutively in the 50s and 60s without needing most of all of that!

 

[Albervin]

Try restoring a 1920s Douglas that has 25 TPI threads!!!

 

[danno]

It takes a few years to collect! Plus I have sets of metric and BA. And still I find I am missing one now and then!View attachment 36155

That drawer cabinet looks like it was made for those. Wider drawer underneath for
handles.
Currently it would take half an hour for me to find what I need. Some taps I can hardly read due to condition but most are ok.
Will try to clean those up but if too bad I guess they’re no good to anybody.

To match taps and dies, I take it the tap should thread through the die with ease.

 

[Nulli Secundus]

To match taps and dies, I take it the tap should thread through the die with ease.

I do not think that would do the tap and die any favours, so personally I would not do that. Perhaps find a nut that threads on a tap and a corresponding screw or bolt that fits the nut, that then should fit the die you are after.

Or make male and female test pieces to see if they fit together.

 

[ClassicBiker]

To match taps and dies, I take it the tap should thread through the die with ease.

I wouldn't try that at all. If I can't read what is written on a tap I measure it up with a mic and check the pitch with a gauge. If I can't get a pitch gauge into a die to measure the pitch I would run it down a suitable piece of aluminum rod and measure the pitch produced on that. Trying to thread a tap and die together is not going to end well.

 

[highbury731]

Try restoring a 1920s Douglas that has 25 TPI threads!!!

are you sure you don't mean 25.4 TPI ?

 

[danno]

I wouldn't try that at all. If I can't read what is written on a tap I measure it up with a mic and check the pitch with a gauge. If I can't get a pitch gauge into a die to measure the pitch I would run it down a suitable piece of aluminum rod and measure the pitch produced on that. Trying to thread a tap and die together is not going to end well.

Ok thanks. I wouldn’t try it either.

 

[danno]

Looking through the tins of taps & dies and KTB book, I have all the sizes for the Vincent.
BA t&d’s are together but everything else is separated. Don’t think it matters as
I’ll more likely need a tap or a die.
I’ve never used them but will keep anyway and label the tins rather than pair them up.