Useful Tool

[Historian]

A gunsmith buddy touted me onto a wonderful set
of tools that makes drilling and especially tapping
accurate at easy.

Big Gator Tools V-Tap Guide finally made my tapping
on a cylinder for set screws so embarrassingly easy,
Previously I had to visually align the tap visually for
pieces clamped on my X-Y drill press table, press with
chucked and wobbly tapped.

<< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lps3_ADLTjA >>

The hardned V-Tap Guide rested on the cylinder with its base
notched to rest firmly, clamped it to piece, and tap went perfectly
and easily. I got full set of drill guides also.

They allowed me to drill and tap my lathe cross slide for a DTI
holder. No way to to task accurately without mounting slide
on drill press ... 'good luck, Charlie".

Also told about, bought, and used to access back of lathe
the ⅜" Irwin 3095001 2PC Tap Adapter Set.
e.g., << https://www.jbtoolsales.com/irwin-30950 ... hgodMnEOLw >>

I was able to tap into the cross slide with 18" extension on ratchet from the back
with the V-Tap Guide making it simple.

Hope some will find info useful in can smithing.

[Zombie1969]

I rarely use drill guides so when I need one I make one. I would never use all those sizes so it would be one of those tools that never gets used for me.

[Historian]

Found useful reference document* on accurate threading, especially
for internal threads, that I fortunately ran across.

Anyone please explain the differences in the insert grades for a miniature
threading toolholder:

e.g., IR A60, U60, A55 (Whitworth), U55.

Which would be best for SS and Al?




<< http://www2.coromant.sandvik.com/coroma ... tech_c.pdf >>

[partsguy22]

IR = INTERNAL RIGHT HAND
IL = INTERNAL LEFT HAND
ER =EXTERNAL RIGHT HAND
EL = EXTERNAL LEFT HAND

A60 = 16-48 TPI
G60 = 8-14 TPI
AG60 = 8-48 TPI
N60 = 5-7 TPI

As far as what insert grade for what material ?

I don't know

[T-Rex]

If the surface is flat, I'll usually just use an appropriate size V-block. Turn it on end, center tap in hole, slide block up to tap, Viola!