Tapping

[williamjernigan]

I am installing my tors kit right now and I have drilled through one of my carbs and now I have to tap it. But my drill is not a variable speed drill. I was kind of worried about that and that it might mess up the threads if I went to fast. Is their any other way I can do it.

[bigboybanshee]

i like to tap it from tha back....

 

On a serious note, only taps I've ever used we never used the drill to tap it. We used a drill to make the holes but not to make the threads. Not sure how your tap and die set is designed to be used though...

[mcaf29]

Do not use a drill to tap your carbs!! At least not the first time you ever use a tap. Go to Sears or any hardware store and get some cutting/tapping fluid and a tapping handle. When you drill the hole put a piece of cardboard down in the barrel to prevent the drill bit from striking the wall of the carb. Then hand tap the hole using liberal amounts off tapping fluid. Don't rush it!! Make a few turns, back it out, clean the tap and hole, re-oil, and repeat. Good luck.

[williamjernigan]

I got it tapped without any problems. However I did bust throuh the wall and hit the other side with the drill. It just made a tiny dent

[1sreamin350]

I got it tapped without any problems.  However I did bust throuh the wall and hit the other side with the drill.  It just made a tiny dent

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[boonman]

Be sure you polish that dent out, or your slide may hang up.

 

On the tapping note, you can do it with a crescent wrench on the tap. Or, chuck it up in your drill.... (variable speed is needed). I regularly tap 3/8" holes in mild steel with my Dewalt cordless drill. It's what we call "power tapping". We also do it in the mills and lathes... Saves a bunch of time. But for the machinery we also have what's called a tapping head. Whole different ball game. I was really surprised what my little Dewalt 18V XRP drill does. Unbelieveable. I tapped 1/2"-13 holes in some shit, but there was a little too much slippage in the chuck... No lack of power though.... And the smallest I usually power tap with the drill is about a #6-32. I've done #4-40, but the taps are a little too flimsy at that size.....

[nater006]

mcaf29 has got the good info there...

 

go slow and use a lot of cutting oil. you don't want to break that tap off in aluminum. Run a search in here, you'll find someone who got stuck in that problem and it sucked. I, also, wouldn't tap it with a drill, especially considering it is alum.

[Redlined]

You can go your whole life without using a drill for tapping a hole and you will be better for it.

[boonman]

I do it every day. (use the drill to tap a hole) works fantastically. But, it isn't for everyone. I have done it for years. Alot of oil is essential. Especially in aluminum. Aluminum likes to gall on an uncoated tap. (like the one they give you in the idle kit). For the garageman, a tap handle is a godsend. I don't even think I have one in the garage...... ANything that fits in the chuck of the Dewalt will work...

[bansheekid409]

heres what us "professionals" use to tap the 4-40's.

 

 

http://www.tapmatic.com/flash_tap.html

 

the model we got will tap up to 3/8 alum and 1/4 steal. but for taping the carbs i would just get it started by hand then use a crescent wrench.

 

i laughed when you went through to the other side when drilling. LOL

[Nightrider]

You can go your whole life without using a drill for tapping a hole and you will be better for it.

 

I disagree,if you can use a drill to tap a hole and still do a professional job,then your better than someone who can't.I've been in the machining industry for many years and it definitely takes skill to use a drill to tap holes.its very easy to break taps if you don't know what your doing.I usually use a drill press or milling machine,but I'm pretty good with a 1/2 Ingersoll or Rockwell pneunatic drill.The 1/2 drill may be bigger,but there max rpms are very slow(200-250rpm).

 

If its something that requires precision or smaller than 1/4",I use a hand tap.Also I recommend a quality tapping fluid like Tapmagic,I still have 2 gallons of the "old" formula,best tapping fluid I ever used.

[Redlined]

I agree that a machinist or someone who taps holes for a living would do just fine using the methods you mentioned. In fact there was a time in my life when I had to tap holes ranging from 1/4

Edited December 19, 2004 by Redlined

[Cotton eyed Joe]

I've been a machinist since I was 18, and been exposed to it since I was 5. Personally speaking I would never use a hand drill when you're going to tap the hole. The taps try to follow the hole, and if its wallered, out of round, or crooked you set your self up for a broken tap.

 

Find someone with a drill press that has a vice bolted to the table. Use Tap Magic when you run the tap (preferably with a tap handle so you don't put an uneven, or side pressure on the tap), but don't get a ton of it on your skin. It can cause a nasty rash if you get enough of it on you.

[boonman]

The old shit (tapping fluid) is definitely the best. Works awesome!! We use it sparingly, because we have little left.

[racer]

that tapmatic machine is badass.