This is your complete guide to types of taps. There are many different types of thread taps, and knowing exactly when to use each will make your tapping faster and easier.
Note: If you’re familiar with tap types, but need to learn best practices in their use to avoid breaking taps, try our article and video7 Ways to Avoid Breaking Taps.
A great variety of thread taps are available with varying advantages and disadvantages:
Hand Taps (Tap Set Taps, Straight Flute Taps)
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Hand taps, typically bought at the local hardware store, are the most common types of taps, but they are generally to be avoided for CNC work.Buy some good quality taps and try tapping by hand versus the hardware store set of thread taps. You’ll be surprised at how much better taps made for machines work.
One applicable standard for Hand Taps is ISO 529.
There are two types of Hand Taps:
Taper Tap
A taper tap has quite a lot of taper to help it ease into cutting threads gradually. Typically, the first 8 to 10 threads are tapered. Taper Taps are the most common types of taps and are typically what you’ll have in a Tap and Die Set.
Bottoming Tap
A bottoming tap has almost no taper at the end because it is designed to thread all the way to the bottom of its reach. Only 1 to 1.5 threads will be tapered.
Bottoming Taps are useful for threading blind holes. It’s desireable to thread most of the hole with a Taper Tap first, and then finish the bottom of the hole with a Bottoming Tap.
Plug Tap
Plug Taps are in between Bottoming and Taper Taps because they have 3-5 threads tapered, which is more than a Bottoming Tap and less than a Taper Tap.
Unfortunately, terminology is not always consistent. Some vendors call these “Second Taps” and refer to Bottoming Taps as Plug Taps. Check to be sure what you’re getting and using.
Power Taps
These are the types of taps you should choose from for CNC applications or for manual machining work.
Spiral Point Taps (Gun Nose or Bull Nose Taps)
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These thread taps have a spiral cut with relief grooves. They’re common and look like most of the hand taps you’ll see around. But, the spiral angle on the front cutting edges helps eject the chips and the angled edge also gives superior cutting performance. Hence, they’re really the least expensive thread tap you might consider using for power tapping, and can be run at slightly higher speeds than hand taps.
Like hand taps, sprial point taps can be had as a taper tap has a tapered end, or a plug tap (intended for blind holes) has much less taper.
They’re cheaper than the other two types, but I typically prefer the other two. The primary disadvantage of these is they push the chips ahead of the tap–down into the hole in other words. This is not a big deal for through holes, but is a bad idea for blind holes.
Spiral Flute Taps or Gun Taps
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Spiral Flute Taps have an open spiral just like an endmill. Their primary advantage is they eject chips up and out of the hole. They’re always preferable over spiral point taps when you have a blind hole.
They’re also preferable for an interrupted hole where another feature intersects because the spiral helps restart the threading past the open feature.
Sometime, take a spiral flute tap and a regular hand tap and tap a couple of identical holes by hand. You’ll be shocked at how much less effort the spiral flute tap requires. Choosing the right types of taps really helps!
Interrupted Thread Tap
These thread taps only have a tooth for every other thread. The idea is to provide improved chip extraction. Removing every other tooth helps break chips and also provides more room for the chip to escape and for lubricant to come in and do its job.
Types of Taps for Tapered Threads: Pipe Taps
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As you might expect, Pipe Taps are the types of thread taps used for tapping pipe threads. There are both straight and tapered pipe taps depending on whether the pipe thread is intended to be straight or tapered. The photo shows a typical NPT Thread Pipe Tap. You can see the taper of the NPT thread profile.
Taps for tapered pipe threads have to work harder because you can’t drill a tapered hole. There’s quite a lot more material they must remove at top of hole than bottom. Use a pipe taper reamer to taper the hole so the tap doesn’t work so hard.
Form or Roll Taps (Thread Forming Taps)
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Thread Forming taps don’t cut threads at all. Instead they cold form. Threads made this way are often called “rolled” threads.
With this process, the metal is pushed out of the way and compressed into position rather than being cut. There are no chips to remove. As a result, the taps themselves are less likely to break and the threads they make are stronger. If your application allows Form Taps, they are generally the best thing going for those reasons.
Form Taps do require different feeds and speeds and they require a different starting hole size, so be aware of that before using one.
While many believe they’re only good for soft materials like aluminum,they can actually be used on materials up to a hardness of 36 HRC, which is about 340 BHN. That covers a surprisingly wide range of materials including a lot of steels.
I will almost always choose a Form Tap over a Cutting Tap out of the available types of taps if the material isn’t too hard for thread forming.
Kelly offers this tip for form taps:
“One minor hiccup with quite a few of the roll forming taps…unless they have a groove to allow cutting oil to escape, or there is no room at the root or crest of the thread, the oil will build up back pressure as the tap goes in, and eventually act like solid metal plug blocking further entry of the tap into the hole. I figured this out the hard way after breaking a few taps.”
Extension Taps (Long Shank Taps)
These are just thread taps with a long shank to facilitate reaching difficult holes that are blocked by other features on the part.
Exotic Types of Taps: Punch Taps
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This proprietary technology jointly developed by Audi and Emuge can save you up to 75% of your tapping cycle time. Check out our article for more about Punch Taps.
Standard Tap Markings
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Taps are marked on the shank so you can tell at a glance what kind of thread tap you’re dealing with. The markings typically will include:
- Nominal Size: This is the description of the thread size that tap will make.
- Thread Form Symbol: This describes the thread family.
- Tap Material: Usually Carbide or HSS
- Pitch Diameter LImit: Tells what tolerance thread will be made.
Pitch Diameter Limits (Threads < 1″ in diameter)
L1= Basic to Basic minus .0005
H1= Basic to Basic plus .0005
H2= Basic plus .0005 to Basic plus .0010
H3= Basic plus .0010 to Basic plus .0015
H4= Basic plus .0015 to Basic plus .0020
H5= Basic plus .0020 to Basic plus .0025
H6= Basic plus .0025 to Basic plus .0030
Note: You can find these limits in G-Wizard’s thread database too.
Thread Form Symbols / Abbreviations
ACME 60° STUB 60° Stub thread form
ACME STUB Stub Acme thread form
ACME-C Acme thread – centralizing
ACME-G Acme thread, general purpose
ANPT Aeronautica National Form taper pipe thread
AWWA American Water Works Association
BA British Association Standard thread form
BSF British Standard Fine thread series
BSPP British Standard Pipe Parallel
BSPT British Standard Pipe Taper
BSW British Standard Whitworth
MM ISO Metric thread form
N BUTT American Buttress screw thread
NC American National Coarse thread series
NEF American National Extra-Fine thread series
NF American National Fine thread series
NGO American National gas outlet threads
NGT American National gas taper threads
NH American National hose & fire hose coupling
NM National Miniature thread series
NPS American Standard straight pipe thread
NPSC American Standard straight pipe thread in couplings
NPSF American Standard internal straight pipe thread (dryseal)
NPSH American Standard straight pipe thread for hose couplings & nipples
NPSI American Standard intermediate straight pipe thread (dryseal)
NPSL American Standard straight pipe thread for locknuts
NPSM American Standard straight pipe thread for mechanical joints
NPT American Standard taper pipe thread
NPTF Dryseal American Standard taper pipe thread
NPTR American Standard taper pipe thread for rail fittings
NS Special threads of American National Form
PTF Dryseal SAE Short Taper pipe thread
SGT Special Gas Taper thread form
SPL-PTF Dryseal Short Taper Pipe thread
STI Special Threads for Helical Coil Wire Screw Thread Inserts
UN Unfied and American thread series
UNC Unfied and American Coarse thread series
UNEF Unfied and American Extra-Fine thread series
UNF Unfied and American Fine thread series
UNIV Unified Miniature Thread Series
UNJ Unified Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNJC Unified Coarse Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNJF Unified Fine Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNR Unified Constant Pitch thread series with Controlled Root Radius
UNRC Unified Coarse Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNRF Unified Fine Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNS Unfied and American threads of selected special diameters and pitches
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![10 Different Types of Taps for Threads [Definitive Guide] (8)](https://i0.wp.com/www.cnccookbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/WeraScrewdrivers-266x300.jpg "10 Different Types of Taps for Threads [Definitive Guide] (8)")
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FAQs
What are the 3 main types of taps used to make threads? ›
So what are the types of taps? There are 3 main taps you should be familiar with and they are: Taper, Plug, and Bottoming tap. The taper tap can be identified by the visible and pronounced tapering of the cutting edges.
What are the types of hand taps? ›Hand taps come in three basic configurations -Taper, Plug and Bottoming.
What are the 3 types of taps describe them and give examples? ›Hand taps are made in sets of three: the taper tap, the plug tap, and the bottoming tap. The taper tap has 7 to 10 chamfered threads; the plug tap has 3 to 5 threads chamfered; while the bottoming tap has one thread chamfered. Hand taps have short square-ended shanks and are used for both machine and hand tapping.
What are different taps used for? ›Basically, taps are used to cut nuts and dies are used to cut bolts. Taps are also used to cut threads into a hole so that they will receive a bolt more effectively. There is a difference between threading and tapping. Both threading and tapping produce screw threads.
What is tapping and how many taps are there? ›A tap cuts or forms a thread on the inside surface of a hole, creating a female surface that functions like a nut. The three taps in the image illustrate the basic types commonly used by most machinists: Bottoming tap or plug tap.
How do you identify a tap? ›All standard ground thread taps are marked with the letter "G" to designate Ground Thread. The letter G will be followed by the letter "H" to designate above basic; or the letter "L" to designate below basic. The number following H or L signifies the number of .
What is a pipe thread tap? ›Pipe Taps are used to cut internal threads in parts or fittings that will be mated with threaded pipe or fittings to make a pressure tight joint. Pipe threads require higher cutting forces than regular machine thread tapping because the threads require 100% thread depth. Most threads on tapered pipe taps are cutting.
What are the 4 types of taps? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap, and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
Which tap do you use first? ›If you are tapping a hole that goes through the material then the taper tap is the one to use, the other two are to allow you to make a thread down to the bottom of a blind hole, and would be used in turn after starting the thread with the taper tap.
Which tap is used to size the thread? ›Intermediate Tap
It is used to provide proper depth and shape to threads that have been made by the taper tap. If threads are to be cut through the drill holes then only these two taps are used.
How do you use a thread tap tool? ›
Learn to use a Tap & Die to Cut Threads - YouTube
What is a second thread tap? ›SECOND TAPS have a lead of 3-5 threads at 8 degrees per side. They are the most popular and can be used for through holes, or blind holes where the thread does not need to go right to the bottom. TAPER TAPS have a lead of 7-10 threads at 5 degrees per side.
What is first tap? ›The one with the longest lead is referred to as the taper or the first tap. The second or intermediate tap and the third which has a very short lead, as the bottoming or plug tap.
Why is a set of 3 taps used for threading? ›If a thread is required in a 'blind' hole (a hole NOT drilled all the way through), the taper tap is used first, followed by the 'intermediate' tap and finally the 'plug' tap. Using all three taps on a blind hole, ensures the thread is cut almost to the bottom of the hole.
What does m5x0 8 mean on a threading tap? ›Thread. 5 mm Shank Diameter. 0.075 mm Pitch Diameter Undersize.
What are taps called? ›This is a bugle call that was used during the Civil War. It's called "Extinguish Lights" and it's found in the early manuals. And it was the call prior to the Civil War that would tell soldiers to put out the lights and go to sleep.
What is C type tap? ›C-Type Compression Taps connect two copper conductors with the use of a hydraulic crimping tool. Available individually or in bulk packages. Other sizes available on request.
How do you open different taps? ›How to remove different type tap handles in order to repair the tap.
How do you make thread taps? ›How to make a Thread Tap - Putting a tread into metal. - YouTube
What are the 5 steps to tapping? ›- Identify the issue. That being what the distress is about. ...
- Rate the intensity. How strong is it on a scale from one to 10 — 10 being the most intense. ...
- “Tap in” and repeat. ...
- Tap through the sequence points. ...
- Rate the intensity.
What is a cut tap? ›
Cut taps, or cutting taps, are identifiable by the grooves called flutes that are cut into the longitudinal axis of the tap blank. Flutes are necessary when shaving away pieces of metal (or plastic or other work material) from inside the hole.
What is a lead tap? ›Lead tap means the pouring hole though which molten lead flows from a kettle or furnace.
How do you read tap threads? ›Example: 1/4 - 20NC The 1/4 represents the diameter of the thread in inches. The 20 represents the number of threads per inch or TPI. Standard taps are either standard coarse series threads NC (1/4-20), fine series threads NF (1/4-28) or extra fine series NEF (1/4-32).
How do you measure tap size? ›Use a ruler to measure across the thread diameter where the connector would attach. Include all the thread in your measurement. Now you've got your tap thread measurement, you can easily work out which tap connector is compatible for your tap.
What is roll tapping? ›Unlike most CNC cutting tools, Thread Forming Taps, otherwise known as Form Taps, Forming Taps, or Roll Taps, work by molding the workpiece rather than cutting it. Because of this, Form Taps do not contain any flutes, as there is no cutting action taking place, nor are there any chips to evacuate.
What is a 1/2 inch tap? ›As an example, if you have a 1/2" quarter turn ceramic disk tap valve, the 1/2" refers to the thread on the cartridge that screws into your tap - it is this thread that will measure approx. 20.9mm across.
What's NPT stand for? ›NPT (or National Pipe Taper) is a U.S. standard for tapered threads widely used on pipes and fittings for over 100 years. NPT connections rely on thread deformation- a metal to metal sealing design where the threads of the connectors themselves form together.
What is bottoming tap? ›Definition of bottoming tap
: a hand tap cutting a full thread to the bottom of a hole.
The difference between threading and tapping is the tool used and the surface on which the processes happen. The threading process creates threads outside of a hole with a die tool. The tapping process makes threads inside a drilled hole with a tapping tool.
What size is a standard tap fitting? ›The flexible pipes as a standard come with a 9-9.5mm inside diameter, although large bore tap connectors can be purchased with a 12-12.5mm inside diameter, increasing the water flow rate, used where there is a low water pressure and water flow rate is a problem for the tap or appliance.
Are taps a standard size? ›
The standard kitchen sink tap hole size is 35mm in diameter.
This is the size that the hole in the sink or cut-out in the worktop will typically be to fit a standard single tap.
The most common reason why taps break is because they become bound up in their own chips, which can't happen with a form tap. Form taps also have a greater cross section, so the taps themselves are stronger than cutting taps.
What is tap explain different types of tap used in fitting? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
How do I measure thread size? ›How to Identify Thread Pitch and Size | Tech Tips | Swagelok [2020]
What can a hand tap thread? ›A hand tap, Figure 2, creates internal female threads within a piece of material. These internal threads act in place of a nut. External male threads are created using a different device called a die. Dies are used to add male threads to things like studs, bars, or pipes.
What metal is used for taps? ›Brass, steel, zinc, and plastic are all options for bathroom faucet body materials.
What is a drill tap? ›A tap drill is a tool used to cut a cylindrical opening in a piece of stock, usually metal, prior to tapping it, which is the process of cutting threads in the inside surface to accept a screw.
How do you tap a screw? ›Insert the end of the tap into your hole. Keeping the tap as perpendicular to the face of the metal as possible, and exerting some downward pressure, start turning the tap slowly clockwise. Very soon you will feel the teeth of the tap start to cut into the metal.
What is an intermediate tap? ›Plug tap (intermediate)- An intermediate tap is tapered back from the edges. It has about three or four threads and is used after the taper tap has been used to cut the thread as far as possible.
What is a spiral point tap? ›What is a spiral pointed taps ？ Spiral pointed taps have straight flutes for coolant distribution. They have a slanted angular gash in each flute on the front end of the taps flute at the cutting chamfer to manage the chips. The tap is used mainly for tapping threads in through holes.
How many taps are in a set? ›
Normally, a hand tap set consists of three taps: taper tap, center tap and finishing tap.
Why are serial taps used? ›For deeper holes and in tougher or difficult to work materials serial taps can be used. Serial taps come in sets of three and have leads similar to ISO 529 taps. They are however graduated in diameter so that the first tap used, recognised by one groove on the shank, is smaller than the second which has two grooves.
What is used for removing a broken tap? ›A tap extractor is a tap removal tool specially designed to take out the taps broken inside metal holes, without damaging the workpiece or substrate material.
What does M10x1 5 mean? ›The thread pitch is the distance between each thread in mm. For example, an M10x1. 5 (coarse) thread has a 1.5mm pitch, while an M10x1. 25 (fine) thread has a 1.25mm pitch. To simplify metric thread callouts, the international (ISO) standard for metric threads eliminates the pitch callout on coarse threads.
What does M4x0 7 mean? ›M4x0. 7 - These holes have a Metric Thread, with 4mm outer diameter, and 0.7mm pitch.
What does 6H mean on a thread? ›m8 means metric thread 8mm of ISO standard and 6H refers to tolerance of threaded hole (know more about it in ISO 2768)
What does taps stand for? ›| The official TAPS logo | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | T.A.P.S. |
| Legal status | Volunteer organization |
| Focus | Paranormal investigating |
| Headquarters | Warwick, Rhode Island |
The origin of the word “Taps” is thought to have come from the Dutch word for “Tattoo”- “Taptoe.” More than likely, “Taps” comes from the three drum taps that were beat as a signal for “Extinguish Lights” when a bugle was not used.
What are the two types of tap handles? ›The most common types of faucet handles are lever handles, blade handles and cross handles. The type of handle that a faucet can accommodate is somewhat dependent on the type of faucet itself. Some faucets are by nature double-handled in design, while others are made to be used with a single handle.
What are the 3 types of hand taps? ›So what are the types of taps? There are 3 main taps you should be familiar with and they are: Taper, Plug, and Bottoming tap.
How do I change a tap fitting? ›
How to replace bathroom taps - YouTube
What is a plug tap? ›PLUG taps are like taper taps in that they have tapered threads at the starting end of the tap, the difference is there are fewer of them, usually the first 3-5 threads, so you get to cutting a full thread sooner. Although not as easy to start as a taper tap, they can be used to start a thread.
How do you remove a tap spindle? ›Remove the tap spindle and washer by holding the outer part of the spindle, then turn the tap handle clockwise until it falls loose. Using a small screwdriver, remove the spindle O-ring and body washer. Now use the bucket of water to give the whole spindle a wash.
How do you tap Aluminium threads? ›DIY: Drilling & Tapping Threads Into Aluminum - YouTube
How do you tap steel? ›How to tap steel | tapping steel | ultimatehandyman - YouTube
How do you make threads without a tap? ›Threading Holes Without a Tap (MonkWerks) - YouTube
What are the 4 types of taps? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap, and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
What is the difference between threading and tapping? ›The difference between threading and tapping is the tool used and the surface on which the processes happen. The threading process creates threads outside of a hole with a die tool. The tapping process makes threads inside a drilled hole with a tapping tool.
What does m5x0 8 mean on a threading tap? ›Thread. 5 mm Shank Diameter. 0.075 mm Pitch Diameter Undersize.
What is the difference between a regular tap and a bottoming tap? ›A bottoming tap has nearly no taper with a thread count of 1-2. These are used to get close to the bottom of a blind hole. Plug: Plug taps have about 3-5 threads.
What are taps called? ›
This is a bugle call that was used during the Civil War. It's called "Extinguish Lights" and it's found in the early manuals. And it was the call prior to the Civil War that would tell soldiers to put out the lights and go to sleep.
What are taps? ›Definition of taps
: the last bugle call at night blown as a signal that lights are to be put out also : a similar call blown at military funerals and memorial services.
Seal, Aerator and Nozzle – This is where the mixed water exits the tap. It goes through an aerator, which is housed in a nozzle and screwed into the tap body. The nozzle is made water tight using a seal.
How many types of taps are there? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap and forming tap.
What is tapping operation? ›TAPPING is a machining process for producing internal threads. A tap is a cylindrical or conical thread-cutting tool having threads of a desired form on the periphery. Combining rotary motion with axial motion, the tap cuts or forms the internal thread.
What is a starter tap? ›Taper chamfers, also known as starter taps, have a longer chamfer and require a less aggressive cutting action. They have 7 to 10 chamfer threads. Plug chamfers are the most commonly used chamfer and are designed for efficiently threading through and blind holes.
What does M10x1 5 mean? ›The thread pitch is the distance between each thread in mm. For example, an M10x1. 5 (coarse) thread has a 1.5mm pitch, while an M10x1. 25 (fine) thread has a 1.25mm pitch. To simplify metric thread callouts, the international (ISO) standard for metric threads eliminates the pitch callout on coarse threads.
What does M4x0 7 mean? ›M4x0. 7 - These holes have a Metric Thread, with 4mm outer diameter, and 0.7mm pitch.
What does 6H mean on a thread? ›m8 means metric thread 8mm of ISO standard and 6H refers to tolerance of threaded hole (know more about it in ISO 2768)
What is a lead tap? ›Lead tap means the pouring hole though which molten lead flows from a kettle or furnace.
What is a 2nd tap? ›
They are used to produce threads close to the bottom of blind holes. SECOND TAPS have a lead of 3-5 threads at 8 degrees per side. They are the most popular and can be used for through holes, or blind holes where the thread does not need to go right to the bottom.
What does NS mean on tap? ›NS means special thread. Pitch Diameter is the basic dimension of a screw, threaded hole, or a tap the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, the surface of which passes through the thread where width of thread and space between threads are identical. This cylinder, of course, would be a cone for tapered taps.