Ratcheting Tap Wrench/ Die Stock

Tool Talk
#1

Over on the main ToolGuyd site, Stuart posted about a Sears ratcheting tap wrench / die stock set

that looks a lot like one sold by Gearwrench:

https://www.amazon.com/GearWrench-3880-Ratcheting-Wrench-Piece/dp/B000HBDW3O

I commented about an alternative ratcheting tap wrench style made by General:

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-161R-Ratchet-Wrench/dp/B00004T7SF

It comes in 3 sizes.

I think the spam filter at Toolguyd may have intercepted my other post about some other tapping tools to improve alignment – and potentially prevent tap breakage:

Guides from Big Gator

https://www.amazon.com/Gator-Tools-MTG500NP-V-Tap-Guide/dp/B0076OAODG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1487357500&sr=1-2&keywords=big+gator+tap+guides

https://www.amazon.com/V-Tap-Guide-Standard-sizes-0-80/dp/B000ZN30U4/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1487357500&sr=1-5&keywords=big+gator+tap+guides

https://www.amazon.com/Gator-Tools-Standard-STI-UNF-V-TapGuide/dp/B008MPEILW/ref=pd_sim_263_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZSWDA5TNE3MF5C0X1XX2

I also talked about broken tap extractors – sold individually or in sets:

https://www.amazon.com/Walton-Tools-18001-Tap-Extractor/dp/B0006NGGCM/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1487357755&sr=1-1&keywords=walton+tap+extractor

https://www.amazon.com/Walton-18015-3-Piece-Extractor-Square/dp/B003D3O552/ref=sr_1_cc_6?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1487357755&sr=1-6-catcorr&keywords=walton+tap+extractor

and Tapping Guides for use with a Drill Press:

https://www.amazon.com/Brown-Sharpe-599-792-30-Adjustable-Tensioned/dp/B005317ZMC/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1487357907&sr=1-1&keywords=599-792-30

and this hand alignment jig – that’s much cheaper ($36.89) at Zoro:

https://www.amazon.com/Westward-2CYU5-Reamer-Aligner-Holder/dp/B001H4OM8O/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1487358388&sr=1-1&keywords=2CYU5

I think that I also mentioned that I used more round split dies and acorn dies (my old 50 year old Greenfield Tap and Die Sets came in this style) than hex dies – but that I found hex dies handy for some situations – especially where access is limited.