tap and die set suggestion please

[AchillesGr]

Hi all,
i need a set of taps and dies but i know nothing about it and i am a bit confused. i saw on ebay that there are many cheap sets around.
are they hard enouth?

can anyone please suggest a set or brand to buy?maybe a webstore with reliable tools?
i see that there are hardened sets, tungsteen caoted and titatium coated. witch one do you suggest?

thanks very much for any help.

[curtis73]

I bought a cheap set at Harbor Freight. I think they were $42 and had everything from #4 up to 1/2" in both fine and coarse. I later bought the same kit in Metric.

They aren't the greatest, but they're definitely hard enough. I cut cast iron, steel, and stainless with no problem. They gall a tiny bit, but for non-critical things like head bolts or suspension pieces I feel very confident with them.

[bobss396]

If you use it once in a while, the Harbor Fright, Husky or Sears sets should do you. I have a couple of auto parts stores sets that I rarely use, I have a good assortment of name brand taps. For dies, since I use them so rarely, I just have a generic handle and buy the button dies as I need them.

Bob

[KiwiBacon]

IMO.

Get a cheap but comprehensive set, then as you wear out or break the individual pieces, replace them with better taps and dies as you go.

Probably 3/4 of the use my taps and dies get is cleaning threads (rusted or damaged) where a cheap tool is perfect.

[zzyzzx2]

IMO, a metric set is all you'll ever need.
If you are not going to be using them much, a cheap set, but with toss the handle and get a good one.
I've used my cheap Harbor Freight ones, but they don't last long if you actually use them to tap. Cleaning threads they are just fine.