Maybe one of you guys can help me out. I inherited a half dozen taps and I would like to find out what sizes they are. I have a thread gauge but it only goes down to 40 TPI. I also would like to be able to find out the diameter. Since the tap is threaded on 3 sides I don't know how to measure it. And you can bet my eyesight even with a magnifying glass can't read the print on the tap.

Thanks in advance !

Hip

Send them to me and I will tell you. If you can't see the print then calculating the TPI with a caliper is probably a no go too.

Strange, don't think I have ever seen a tap that did not have the size marked on it...

He said he couldn't read the print on the taps due to his eyesight.

May or may not help, but try putting the tap in Vinegar for about 5 minutes...might brighten up the etched info enough to read. Nothing ventured...

one I can read, it's a 1/4-28. Another I can almost read, it's either a 6 or 8 -32. The other are just too small to read, I'll have to get a better magnifying glass.
dpcd, you're right I can just barely read the gauge at 40 TPI.

Hip

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
He said he couldn't read the print on the taps due to his eyesight.

Sorry, missed that.

Pick up a 10x jeweler's loupe.

Dull,
Thanx, I'll try that.

Lap, Great idea-I think I have one or two that I inherited also. Will have to give them a try.

Thanx to all !

Hip

I cheat with little words on drills, taps and other such-as. I take a quick photo with my cell phone and use the pinch zoom. I also use it to look at things in areas my fat head won't fit into. I just snap a couple of pictures and get a birds eye view. I use it on the mill all the time instead of a mirror to look at the back side of stuff by switching it to forward cam view. I can count the hemorrhoids on a gnats asshole with that thing. LOL

Damn; you always have the best ideas; I am always squinting and trying to get my head around the back side of the vise.

Anyone use those new magnifiers that plug into your computer ?

Them smart phones are the wave of the future dontchaknow. They do a hell of a lot more than find porn and cold beer stores ! LOL

Could you get some young person to read the sizes to you, then slap a sticky label on and set them out in order in a box?

Turns out that I have a 7x loupe. That worked but needed really good light.

Recorded the sizes, laid them out in the tool box with a note stating the sizes. PROBLEM SOLVED !!!

Thanx! Hip