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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

craftsman taps

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C M Allen

03-02-2006 05:07:42




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I was work'n on my '38 F-20 last week and broke one of my craftsman taps, size 3/8 16. I went to Sears to buy a replacement and was told taps will no longer be sold seperately. What is currently on the shelf is it! What the heck???Anyone else know anything about this?




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Slowpoke

03-07-2006 10:18:30




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
A big multi-state hardware store no longer sells single Allen wrenches. What used to be 15� went to 2/65� then 75� for one. Now that one must be bought in a set for $5 and up. Profits have to be made, stockholders have to be paid. It all makes ��.
This company also sells Craftsman tools and Sears appliances. From now on, the Flea Market gets my money if possible.



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Bud in NC

03-02-2006 16:44:34




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
Nothing to add on taps, but here's a link to a neat tool I bought for myself for working on company equipment. About 5 years later, some of the larger tool rooms in the company started supplying them. For sure, when I retired, I carried mine with me...and I'm glad I haven't needed it in 15 years - but it sure is nice to have when you need it!
http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3918

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Fred Martin

03-02-2006 10:48:12




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
Sears sells taps and dies made from tungsten steel which is good enough for a homeowner set. They are not for production as would be high speed steel or cobalt steel or the fancy tin coated ones. Most tap drill charts recommend drilling the hole to produce 75% depth of threads which is quite suficient for home shop work....but, as an old tap drill chart says...a 53% depth of thread will twist the bolt off in most cases before the threads strip. So, drill the tap drill size a 64th over and give the tap a break...use a square to make sure you got the tap started true with the hole and go ahead and use the tungsten taps and dies. As far as getting a replacement for the broken one.....try the flea markets....ocasionally you will find some quality stuff there...just make sure that it"s good and sharp and no wear on the leading edge of the teeth. A large percentage of tap breakage is when drilling out a broken bolt and some of the old bolt is still in the hole (as in not drilling on center) and it wedges the tap and causes breakage....best to remove it all (with the drill)and tap it the next larger size. I"m a repair machinist by trade and I"ve broke my share of "em and this is how I see it. In my opinion, the harder a tool is, the more brittle it will be...so, if a high carbon tap is less harder than a high speed...it should be harder to break than the more brittle high speed. Cobalt twist drills are so brittle that I don"t dare use one in an electric drill motor. This might be 6 or 7 cents worth but if you abide by it, it"ll save you some time and headaches. Fred OH

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Davis In SC

03-02-2006 15:29:37




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to Fred Martin, 03-02-2006 10:48:12  
Good Advice, Fred... If I may add a few things... Very few taps are broken by torque, but side pressure is what breaks them... Always turn them with a Tap Wrench, never a Crescent wrench. I have seen so many people break taps by getting in a hurry, & using a Crescent wrench... Even if the tap does not break, the threads are likely to be out of square...



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Fred Martin

03-02-2006 16:58:21




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to Davis In SC, 03-02-2006 15:29:37  
Yep, the guy that discovered that a certain sized nut would drive onto the square shank of a tap so you could use a socket to drive it was probably the first one to break a tap. Fred OH



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C M Allen

03-02-2006 17:11:03




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to Fred Martin, 03-02-2006 16:58:21  
Boy you hit the nail on the head here. This was exactly what I was doing. Using a cresent wrench to turn a tap. Like I said in a earlier post, I'm green at this. I was in a tight spot and don't think I could have gotten to it with a tap wrench. I dont feel like I was in a hurry, just maybe sloppy with it. Lesson learned here.



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Midwest redneck

03-02-2006 09:49:44




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
Anything from Sears is pretty much JUNK....in my opinion. You need a HSS tap, that stands for High speed steel, which is heat treated tool steel the Sears taps are JUNK, because they are plain carbon steel not heat treated. (plus the Sears taps are likely imported JUNK. I will no longer buy imported cutting tools. The steel from China is crap.



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cornfarmer

03-05-2006 19:54:13




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to Midwest redneck, 03-02-2006 09:49:44  
Maybe you should do some research before talking.According to 2006 tool catalog, tap and die sets are made in USA. Also, 3 sets are available.Cheap-carbon steel-39 pc.,80$. Better-39 pc HSS, 150$. Best-titanium coated HSS, 38 pc,200$. Individual taps and dies are not subject to lifetime warranty-cutting tools just like drill bits and have a limited life span.I use several makes, and have never expected anyone to warranty a tap, die, or drill bit, saw blade forever.

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Kelvin

03-02-2006 07:17:53




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
Funny thing. I did the same thing 2 years ago. I was told they would no longer be available separately too. So I replaced my broken tap with one from NAPA. Then I was in a store a month ago and there are 3/8" taps on the shelf. . .

I think the problem is its a 'Craftsman' product and they don't want to warranty taps because they are apt to get broken and then the buyer wants them to give a free replacement.

Might be like the broken 19mm 12 point socket I carried in there a few weeks ago: They said we don't even have them separate in the catalog, but if you bring in your whole set we will replace the whole thin

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REJ

03-02-2006 06:43:36




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
i stopped buying anything from sears a long time ago, i won't get into that. in your case you can probably get a replacement tap from snap-on or mac or for that matter any good hardware store. it won't be a craftsman but at least you will have a replacement for the one you broke.



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C M Allen

03-02-2006 07:40:42




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to REJ, 03-02-2006 06:43:36  
Ok so I'm a green tractor mechanic. I started buying craftsman because of the quality for the price, the replacement plan, and because sears is everywhere. This is the first they have really diappointed me. I am curious REJ, why have you stopped buying from them? Or anyone else??



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Dave_Id

03-04-2006 10:25:55




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 07:40:42  
Sure, they guarantee their tools, but when you want to use a tool, you don't want it to break, and have to run down to the nearest Sears store to get another. I bought a metric combination set of wrenches there. The 10 millimeter box side rounded out removing a screw from a Ford Escort seat, and the 15 millimeter snapped removing a hydraulic fitting off a tractor. Both from the same set. No quality control at all in manufacturing. I snapped a crescent wrench from Sears once too, but I was power tapping a 3/4-10 tapped hole. I was holding the end of the tap in a center, but jammed the wrench against the carriage... So was it my fault it broke, or should have the tool held up to that????

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don t.-9n180179

03-04-2006 02:06:09




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 07:40:42  
I walked this same road bout 15 yrs ago, only w/a 3/8" socket wrench. I did an R&R on my daughters 84 tempo engine. The tools I had were junk and I knew I'd bust the ratchet eventually.
Sure enough the junk I had failed, I bought new at Sears. When the Sears ratchet broke, I went to get a new one. I argued w/the sales guy about a rebuild vs. new. Ended up getting the manager, who went to the shelf and handed me a new one. I've broken this wrench 3 times over the years, and each trip to the store is another argument. I've since moved and Sears is a 45 minute ride. I've started to buy MAC tools when I need replacements and have noticed I don't bust as many knuckles. Also I've yet to break one. Is it the tool? or is it cuz im older and have abit more patience than b/4? Just my experience....YMMV.....don t. ....

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Mike M

03-02-2006 05:14:19




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 Re: craftsman taps in reply to C M Allen, 03-02-2006 05:07:42  
Last time I broke one I was told they no longer have a lifetime warranty on them. It was a die and I was able to buy one from matco that matched the hex design of it.



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