Hand Tappers on Sale

[Ray Rogers]

For those of you who might like to have a hand tapper but thought they were too expensive (they usually are) Harbor Freight has what must be the deal of the century. Here is a small hand tapper with the small adapers needed for folder work for only $39.95

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46502

[luc]

Thanks Ray!
Good lookin out.

[Don Robinson]

Ray, thanks for the heads up about the tapper. I ordered one right after you posted and just got it today.

Looks like it'll work just fine.

[justice]

thanks ray i just place my order as well.glad you posted the link cuz i wread about it in the other thred. and i can not seem to navigate harborfreight if my life depended on it.


....justin

[Ray Rogers]

You're all very welcome! I'm glad it seems to be working out, I wasn't entirely sure it would. I bought one of those about 6 years ago when the price was $70 and when it arrived the adapters were missing. The device itself looked good but the box had been opened and the small parts were gone. It was the only one they had so I couldn't get a replacement and had to ask for a refund. After that, i built my own and I haven't noticed them listed again with the small adapters until now......

[justice]

i just got it today and wow!! great item it seems very well made. the base is nice and sturdy and it spins uper smooth!!

thanks for the heads up on this
i will give an update once i tap a few holes with it
.....justin

[Kelly Carlson]

I received one from HF a few weeks ago. First impression is that it is a good value, but the adapters which came with mine are all oversize for the typical 0-80 and 1-72 taps I use, resulting in eccentricity when secured firmly. Another set arrived from HF yesterday, and they are oversize and also off center. It looks like the adapters will need to be drilled out and sleeved in oreder to be useable with small, fragile taps.

[justice]

hmm that kinda sucks.i prefer using 2-56 any way but thats not much bigger so i might have some problems as well.

...justin

[Ray Rogers]

What do the adapters look like? Can someone provide a picture? Just curious....

[justice]

heres a pkc sorry it took so long. i just used the tapper for the first time and it worked very well. like a breeze!! i love it and just when i was starting to like taping holes with that small hand held tapper!
by the way i used a 2-56 tap
....justin

[Ray Rogers]

From the picture it would appear the adapters wouldn't be difficult to duplicate if you have a lathe and wanted to make more precise versions. My home built hand tapper has some eccentricity to it but it has never been a problem even with 0-80 taps. The key to making that work out is simply don't secure the work piece to the table, allow it to move with the tap. Perfection would be better but I guess we aren't going to get that for $40 ....

[navajas]

Hi Don, how do you like your hand tapper?. Are you having trouble with your adapters also. Not that you can,t make some good ones, I just want to know if that is a common thing with the HF Tapper set.
Roland

[Don Robinson]

Originally Posted by navajas

Hi Don, how do you like your hand tapper?. Are you having trouble with your adapters also. Not that you can,t make some good ones, I just want to know if that is a common thing with the HF Tapper set.
Roland

Hi, Roland.

So far, I've used it for 2-56 thru 1/4" and it works just fine. I'm starting an order for two small folders tomorrow, so I'll see if it works OK for 1-72.

I'll let you know. The adapters with mine are a good slip fit to the taps so far, and concentric enough to work.

One thing people need to understand is that the adaptor has some kind of driver in the back end of the adaptor to drive the square on the end of the tap, and you need to tap on the end of the tap to engage the flats driver before tightening the set screw.



Why don't you join us on the folder forum and build a barlow linerlock?

[Kelly Carlson]

With excess play and the eccentricity, it's a little too much for the 0-80's, but easy to sleeve to establish useable function.
I expect to use this tapper for 1-72's and larger, and continue to use Bob Greenwood's small, hand tapper for 0-80's. I think he still sells these for about $ 30. The small size and light leverage of Greenwood's unit allows me to better feel when 0-80 taps are wearing out and at risk of breaking.

[Osprey Guy]

Ditto to that...

I also have one of Bob Greenwood's tappers. So far it's been great for 1-72's (and a few 0-80's). It's not real high-end in terms of fit and finish...But it's fine for the $30 pricetag, and more importantly, the darn thing works! (If you want "high-end", contact Ted Moore...his hand tappers are really well made).

I went through a number of initial practice tappings, and had to do quite a few on my Persian Fighter. I had purchased a number of 1-72 taps just to be on the safe side, but with the help of Tap Magic (tapping fluid), so far the first one is still performing like a champ.


Dennis Greenbaum

Yeah Baby!