Question for the pros and others in the know on this subject.

Where do you get your taps?

I am trying to find a metric M3 x 0.6 fluted bottoming tap.

You would think I was searching for a pink unicorn!

I have found one place (on Amazon) that will get me one with a 3-6 month delivery time.

I'm thinking the long lead time has to be because the tap I want is not the garden variety M3 x 0.5 finer threaded model, but still 3-6 months for such a tool seems like a looong time.

Is there a better (and quicker) source out there?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Here's where I buy nearly all my taps; they have the one you want:

https://www.victornet.com/detail/TAMB-3-.6.html

Brownells.
What is the 3mm tap for?

MSC has them.
C.G.B.

Michael,

I usually check MSC direct and McMaster Carr. Then I'll google the thread and look for a company I recognize or seems reputable. Home Depot carries this, I think:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dr...DWTSMT3X-6/305700600

Thanks to all.

ssdave, I placed an order with Victornet, but after a week had passed with nothing but confirmation that they had received my order, I called them. I ended up talking to two people and getting no satisfactory answers, so cancelled my order. Not customer friendly.

dpcd, I need to chase the threads for a tiny set screw in a Recknagel front sight ramp.

dcpd, cgbach and skl1 - I'll check out Brownells and MSC. I saw the tap that Home Depot carries, but it's a plug tap. I may end up buying it anyway and seeing if it will work, but I really need a bottoming tap.

Thanks, again.

Making a bottoming tap from a plug tap takes about 30 seconds.

You did yourself a favor canceling your order with Victor. I bought some taps from them that they claimed were excellent quality. They were cheap chinese garbage.

M3x.6 is a bastard, and bastard metrics are hard to find. Who do you buy your tooling from?

3-6 months for a custom tool is not long especially if they are willing to make you one. Last time I had custom taps made it was over 6 months and I had to order a minimum of 20 pcs.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Thanks to all.

ssdave, I placed an order with Victornet, but after a week had passed with nothing but confirmation that they had received my order, I called them. I ended up talking to two people and getting no satisfactory answers, so cancelled my order. Not customer friendly.

dpcd, I need to chase the threads for a tiny set screw in a Recknagel front sight ramp.

dcpd, cgbach and skl1 - I'll check out Brownells and MSC. I saw the tap that Home Depot carries, but it's a plug tap. I may end up buying it anyway and seeing if it will work, but I really need a bottoming tap.

Thanks, again.[/QUOTE


Pretty easy to just drill I out and tap for 4 40 or 4 48

Duane, that is excellent advice and I did think about it. But I don’t have a drill press and am a master jury-rigger, so have to go my own wrong or hard way sometimes.

BTW, neither Brownells nor MSC has what I need.

quote:

Originally posted by Fal Grunt:
Making a bottoming tap from a plug tap takes about 30 seconds.

I have done this myself and it seemed to work fine for what I was doing, but maybe you can explain how to do this the right way(because I’m sure that I did it the wrong way, like most things I do...)

You don't have a drill press? why not take it to town and have someone drill it for you, doubt they would even charge you to do that,do what Duane sez makes more since than any other posts!

If I remember right, and someone will correct me if I am wrong, a plug tap has around 4 threads of chamfer, where as a bottoming tap around 1 or 1 1/2.

So Mike's question was for a .6mm tap.

.6x.03937=.0236"

So to remove around 3 threads worth, you'd want to remove about .075".

I grab a V-block, put the tap in it, set it on my surface grinder, and dust off the required amount.

Using a pedestal grinder works almost as well.

Total time for math and typing = 2 minutes 18 seconds.

I'm just starting my first cup of coffee this morning so all content is subject to error.

I’ve decided to drill it out to M4 and tap to M4 x 0.7.

I guess I’ll buy a drill press.

Any suggestions for a drill press for the likes of a jury-rigger like me?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
I’ve decided to drill it out to M4 and tap to M4 x 0.7.

I guess I’ll buy a drill press.

Any suggestions for a drill press for the likes of a jury-rigger like me?

Bridgeport made a really nice one

Thanks. I’ll have to pass. I’m just trying to move up from the adapter they make for Dremel tools!