{"product_id":"micro-tap-set-m1-m3-5","title":"Micro tap set, M1 to M3.5, ten pieces","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou drilled the hole. Now something has to screw into it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen machine screw taps - M1.0, M1.2, M1.4, M1.6, M1.7, M1.8, M2.0, M2.5, M3.0 and M3.5 - straight flute, in a plastic case with a slot for each size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe sizes are the point\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost tap sets on a shelf start at M3 and climb, because that is where the volume is. Below M3 is where watch plates, small enclosures and instrument work actually live, and six of these ten taps are under M2.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLengths, from the supplier's own drawing: M3.5 is 53 mm, M3 is 51 mm, M2.5 is 46.5 mm. The smaller sizes are shorter again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow not to snap one\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn M1 tap breaks if you lean on it, and getting the broken half out of a finished part is worse than starting the part again. Two things prevent it: the tap goes in square, and it cuts rather than gets forced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSquare is what a drill press is for. Put the tap in the chuck, bring it down to the hole, and turn the chuck by hand with the power off. The quill holds the tap perpendicular while the first threads bite. Three or four turns in, the thread is started straight and you can finish it with a tap wrench.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCutting rather than forcing means backing off - roughly half a turn in, a quarter turn back, to break the chip. And a drop of oil, every time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat we do not know\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe supplier does not publish what steel these are made from, so we are not going to tell you. What we can tell you is that 201 verified buyers rate them 4.9, and the words that come up are that they arrive as described and cut cleanly. That is what we are going on.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf your work is hardened steel rather than brass, aluminium, copper or mild steel, buy a named-brand tap instead. We would rather say that than sell you the wrong one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaps only. No wrench, no dies, no drill bits.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mikrabench","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47514453541055,"sku":null,"price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0760\/5826\/3743\/files\/S9aae234763b44b538afba92d3f8ce0cfB.webp?v=1789933298","url":"https:\/\/arvonelle.com\/products\/micro-tap-set-m1-m3-5","provider":"ARVONELLE","version":"1.0","type":"link"}