Metric Carbon Steel Tap and Die Set AC72 - Apex Tools Ltd

Apex Tools Taps and Dies

British manufactured taps and dies suitable for the model engineer and professional alike. The performance of high quality taps and dies is appreciated by anyone with regular metalworking experience - and Apex are second to none. We can attest to their quality having been put through their paces in our workshop, whether it be brushing off light duties on thin material to rebuilding a steam loco. We are confident that the broad range of Apex taps and dies we are able to offer, in both carbon steel (CS) and high-speed steel (HSS), will be greatly suited to the requirements of the discerning model engineer.

Sold as:

Metric AC72 Set Including:-

Tap Holder & Die Stock Holder

Taps - Supplied as Taper and Bottoming

M2 x 0.4
M2.5 x 0.45
M3 x 0.5
M4 x 0.7
M5 x 0.8
M6 x 1

Dies

M2 x 0.4
M2.5 x 0.45
M3 x 0.5
M4 x 0.7
M5 x 0.8
M6 x 1

We offer an expanding range of sizes and cover the large majority of commonly used taps and dies for model engineering applications. For our full listed range, please refer to our workshop tools and equipment page as we offer both sets and individual tap and die tools. For any non-listed sizes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch as there is a good chance that we will be able to supply a suitable tool providing it is in a standard format.

Using the taps and dies

The taps and dies are suitable for use with the large majority of commonly used model engineering metals, however if you do have material specific questions please do not hesitate to contact us. To prolong tool life and improve cutting quality and accuracy, we strongly recommend using a general purpose cutting oil applied directly to the workpiece. 

Care and attention should be used when it comes to hand tapping technique. Ensure the tap or die-stock holder is as perpendicular as possible to the workpiece, making no more than ½ a turn before backing off by ¼ to clear swarf build up. Even the strongest of taps will break with improper technique and if you are tapping a hole more than 5mm deep, it is strongly recommended you wind the tap out of the hole a t reasonable intervals to clear swarf build up. This will greatly reduce the chance of breakage. 

It is best practice to start with a taper tap, move onto a second tap and finish with a plug/bottoming tap. This ensures that an appropriate amount of material is being removed with each cut, reducing premature tool wear or the chance of breakage. This also ensures a correctly formed thread is achieved in the workpiece. When tapping through-holes in a sheet or plate, a plug tap can be used directly after a taper if the workpiece thickness does not exceed the portion of the taper tap where the full thread depth begins.

You should take care particularly with dies to not start a cut in a non-perpendicular fashion. This will create a ‘drunk’ thread, where the thread is not straight on the workpiece and nuts threaded on will not sit flush to the clamping face.

For power tapping, we advise that only HSS taps are used and Apex taps are well suited to all but the hardest of metals. Whilst carbon steel is excellent for low speed hand tapping, it dulls quickly when exceeding temperatures of even 120 degrees centigrade. HSS on the other hand remains hard up to red hot temperatures and is a much better choice for power tapping applications. Our full range is available in both carbon steel and HSS.

Details about the design and manufacture

The taps and dies are produced by the last remaining UK manufacturer of these tools. Apex have provided high quality tools for hobbyist and commercial applications for decades.

Making a purchase

Please note we keep a small stock of these packs on the shelf. We aim to dispatch within 7 days of receiving your order and will endeavour to contact you if there is a delay in delivery. If you are intending to order a large quantity, please contact us to confirm lead times.

This listing is for one pack; select the number you require from the drop down menu.