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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight

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Mark 2 in Ohio

12-01-2006 08:55:17




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How are these sets? They have a set that goes up to 1", both fine and coarse thread and metric....it is $85. Chrome Vanadium they say -lifetime warranty - I guess the warranty is only good as long as they are around...
For the ocaisional use - like 5 times/yr.
Cant go wrong for $85 right?

I cant spend $300 - $500.

Thanks!




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Mark 2 in OHio

12-03-2006 13:14:55




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 On Sale Dec 11 - for $49 - good deal in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
The 45 piece tap and die set goes on sale Dec 11 for $50...I'm buyiung it!



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Jon Hagen

12-03-2006 14:20:37




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 Re: On Sale Dec 11 - for $49 - good deal in reply to Mark 2 in OHio, 12-03-2006 13:14:55  
I bet it serves you well. The metric tap/die set I just bought is better than the sae set I got 4-5 years ago. They are both in identical metal cases,but the molded plastic organizer insert is made of thicker plastic than the old set.



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pjw

12-03-2006 05:32:17




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
HI Mark,
I have the same question on the $89 metric set. A few years ago I bought SAE set from Cummings tool for about the same price and it has been great. Cummings does not sell the metric set by the HF looks real close. I too would like to hear if anyone has bought the $89 metric set and how it has held up.



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KEB

12-01-2006 18:56:56




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
I have a couple of those cheapie sets from Harbor Fright, complete waste of money. I do notice, however, that there seems to be a large variation in quality of the stuff you get from HF. Sometimes it works great at a very reasonable price, and sometimes its totally junk. You might get lucky...

After wasting time dealing with the cheapie ones, I've been just buying good ones individually as I need them. Probably haven't used more that three or four in the last five years.

Might also check the local pawn shops. I've seen several sets in one of the local shops while looking for other tools, although I haven't looked closely to see what kind of shape they were in.

Keith

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Eddie in MI

12-01-2006 16:16:07




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
I have a Snap On SAE set that I acquired through a trade and I have a small Craftsman metric set. I also have a set of thread chasers from Craftsman (and the look IDENTICAL to the set sold by Snap On) and those BY FAR get the most use.



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TimV

12-01-2006 14:09:24




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
I bought a set 7-8 years ago from one of the traveling tool shows for $20 that goes up to 1/2". I've got many, many times my $20 investment from them, and they're still going. A couple of notes, however--I've found that for ones I use a lot (1/4"-20, for instance), I'm better served by buying a good name-brand tap or die, as they tend to start better, cut cleaner, and are less brittle. Also, the cheapie tap wrench and die holder that come with the set leave something to be desired. Still, the old $20 set gets used quite a bit, even if it's only to clean out an oddball thread that I don't have a "good" tap or die for.

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dr.sportster

12-01-2006 13:21:59




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
I bought a Blue point set from a Snap-On truck 30 years ago.I have used them alot even ran them over chromed bolts and cleaned out chromed and rusted holes.They are still servicable.At the time it was an eighty dollar set.I bought the same set in metric several years back and other than for referencing sizes with the thread gauge and checking bolt sizes I dont think I have ever used the metrics to tap a thread.For stainless I buy the die at sears and them use it as a throw away [but they have held up and remain in my toolbox as spares]The six point sears will fit in the twelve point Snap-On holder or a twelve point one inch socket.Sometimes a "softer" cheap tap is better than a whole box of sharp brittle ones.I had some at work that I just kept snapping even taking care not to overstress.Im thinking you may want a known made in USA brand.You did say lifetime warranty but if they are brittle[taps] they can cause major headaches and cost time and money if you have to have one removed by an EDM machinist.Walton Tap Extractors only work on four flute taps and when its not jammed in real good.Id check pricing at Sears too.

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Jon Hagen

12-01-2006 12:01:22




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
I have a HF,I think Drill master brand Sae tap & die set up to 1 inch in fine and coarse,quality seems excellent,have used them for 5-6 ? years
Just bought another set up to 32 mm of the same brand in metric fine/coarse, as we are seeing more and more metric fastners in farm machinery I can tell no difference in quality between them and high $$ american made. They do everything I need to do around my farm shop for a price I can justify. 2 years ago I rebuilt the openers on my JD 750 drills and needed an adjustible reamer to fit the pins to new closer arm bushings. I found a listing in an online tool catalog with two side by side rows of adjustible reamers,one row anerican made and the other import. Both reamer listings were tool steel rated for nothing harder than brass/bronze. The US made reamer was listed at $127,the import from India was $17. You don't have to guess which one I bought. The import tool did the job of fitting 96 bushings,and within a week I found the same brand in HF where I bought a set of 10 common size adjustible reamers in a fitted wood case for $70.

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LPGASONLY

12-01-2006 10:39:42




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
Mark:
I used to sell tools. Go buy the one or two sizes you want and a handle. You will buy an 85 pc. set and only use 3 or 4 anyway. Buy a few GOOD ones and have them forever for half the money.



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jhill52

12-01-2006 09:58:24




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
If you are going to use them to clean and straighten threads they might be OK but I wouldn't count on them for any real work.

Jerry



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Stan in Oly, WA

12-01-2006 09:28:01




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
Hi Mark,

You could go $85 wrong if the set is completely useless. Years ago I bought an absurdly low priced set on the mistaken assumption that it couldn't be totally worthless.

On the other hand, I bought a $20 pipe threading set from HF (1/2", 3/4", 1") which turned out to be perfectly adequate for occasional use.

My advice would be to not bother with the tap and die set if you have a mail-order relationship with HF. If there's a retail outlet which is convenient for you it might be worth a shot. Be sure you use the set a bunch when you first get it so that you can go get your money back right away if it's N/G.

I wouldn't worry about HF not being around to honor a lifetime warranty. They've already demonstrated that low quality and poor service is no obstacle.

All the best, Stan

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Buckeye Bill

12-01-2006 09:21:02




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 Re: Taps and Die set from Harbor Freight in reply to Mark 2 in Ohio, 12-01-2006 08:55:17  
Mark:
Have you considered attending an auction at a factory that has been closed? Lord knows that we have had our share here in Ohio. You can usually find top quality at a reasonable price and many times they are new.

Go Bucks



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