Source for rethreading taps and dies?

agent_mango

agent_mango

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Hi All,
I'm looking for rethreading taps and dies in common gunsmithing threads:
6-40
6-48
8-40
10-32
12-24

I've found some on ebay, but not all. One source for all of these would be great, but I don't know where to look.

I'm interested in these for a few different applications. One would be cleaning up threads after using a cutoff wheel to shorten a screw. I've used a nut in the past, but I imagine a rethreading die would give a cleaner result. Another application would be cleaning out loctite from scopebase screws and receiver threads. I want to avoid regular taps and dies because I don't want to cut away any additional material. I've read that running a regular die over a machine bolt can significantly weaken it.

Anyone know of a good source for these tools?
 
I can only find regular taps and dies on brownells. Can you please post a link to where their rethreading taps and dies are? Brownells is always great to order from.
 
I haven`t heard about a regular die weakening a bolt, sure wasn`t mentioned at machine shop class. The earth had just cooled down a little when i was in shop class so things may have changed. I just use regular dies, for very small screws i have a small strip of metal with holes tapped for some of the ones you list, makes grinding them down easy then when you back them out it cleans up the threads. I think the idea for the metal strip with various treaded holes was in Gunsmith Kinks, but i may be wrong as usual.
 
If you are looking for a proper rethreading die, as opposed to a standard die, you probably won't find one.
Are you looking for the hex bodied repair tool type dies, or possibly the two piece style of die?

Most guys just use regular dies in a diestock. I'd suggest to you, that for the amount that a non-commercial user would use one, a carbon steel die will work just fine.

The other option, is to drill and tap a hole in a plate that you can use to both hold the screw and to sort out the damaged bit from the sawing as it is unscrewed from the plate, This is probably the cheapest and easiest solution, as you get a bunch of threaded holes in a plate, for the price of just one tap.

Got a jewellers saw? They work great for cutting stuff like that, they don't mess up the end by skipping around. Then a quick clean with a file gets you to the races. The wee burr in the threads comes off when removed from the plate.

The watchmakers used to use a special chuck for polishing the ends of screws. Not a big deal if the end is not seen, but a nice finishing touch if it is. I figure a fella with a drill press and a few minutes of sawing and filing, could make a similar tool to use in the drill press.

Cheers
Trev
 
Like Trev said you probably won't find them in those sizes, I would place a bet that 98% of the members here don't know what thread repair dies are.
 
"...rethreading die..." There's no such thing. A die isn't needed for a shortened screw either. Just file off the burrs.
"...a regular die over a machine bolt can significantly weaken it..." That's nonsense. A 6-40 die doesn't take material off a 6-40 screw. It can be used to clean up the threads on a damaged screw though. Lock-Tite is removed with heat.
 
I didn't fully read your post, missed the RE-threading. Don't see them now, was sure they used to sell them. The rethreading taps I wore out were not hard enough for my liking and were useless for any type of real repair without cutting, not interested in buying more. I made my own dirt cleanup or repair taps for gun work with some 1" long base screws. If the top of the threads are messed up I'll start the repair with a taper tap so the not-so-hard modified screw will start ok. Adjustable dies are nice, too bad its not feasible to buy a class 3 taps for the average guy that doesn't want to make loose threads.
 
sunray, it isn't nonsense at all. I think most economical tap and dies sets are class 1 threads and such a die will absolutely cut material off a class 2 or 3 bolt. The taps make loose holes as well, not nice and not acceptable for gun work to most.
 
sunray said:
"...rethreading die..." There's no such thing. A die isn't needed for a shortened screw either. Just file off the burrs.
"...a regular die over a machine bolt can significantly weaken it..." That's nonsense. A 6-40 die doesn't take material off a 6-40 screw. It can be used to clean up the threads on a damaged screw though. Lock-Tite is removed with heat.
Click to expand...

Wrong on a couple counts, sunshine.

You should do some homework on that.

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
Wrong on a couple counts, sunshine.

You should do some homework on that.

Cheers
Trev
Click to expand...

^^^^^agreed!

The problem is that most if not all "economical" taps and dies are not adjustable or of the proper class of thread. A higher quality tool co. Like butterfeild for instance offers differnt grades of tools that outwardly appear the same but closer inspection will reveal their reason for higher cost.
A good industerial supply store or a gunsmith supply shop should carry the tools you seek.
 
My general procedure for screw shortening is to screw on 2 nuts, cutoff wheel, green tapered dremel bit to put a slight chamfer on the end, unscrew one nut, polishing wheel with automotive polish (CT) to make it smooth, unscrew the final nut. For a simple rethreading tap on scope base threads I use a long 6-48 screw. With stainless actions most of the loctite seems to stick to the scope base screw, but getting that off is tough (and believe me I've tried a lot of different solvents). To remove loctite with heat, I'd need to do further research on what is a safe temperature that won't weaken the metal.

I am looking for the hex type dies (or those cool two piece dies for use with a deep socket), although I've read that some new, poor quality cutting dies also have the hex shape.

What does it mean that a tap or die is wire gauge?

It's true about the low quality taps and dies. A while back I bought a Canadian Tire set on sale because I mostly just wanted the handles to use with a helicoil kit. A few days ago I tried running the 12-24 die on a factory 10/22 action screw and it did shave off some metal. I can definitely see how adjustability is important in a die. I wonder if any of the brownells taps are class 3.

I still think it's worthwhile to try some rethreading dies from ebay, even though they could turn out to be import crap. I'm only looking for an essentially tighter-fitting, stronger nut to really force the threads back into proper shape.
 
Hmm, the method some have suggested of tapping a piece of steel, screwing in the thread, and then grinding to length might actually be worthwhile, as brownells has all the supplies necessary:

http://www. brownells.com/.aspx/lid=13252/guntechdetail/Screw_Cut_Off_Fixture
 
agent_mango said:
Hi All,
I'm looking for rethreading taps and dies in common gunsmithing threads:
6-40
6-48
8-40
10-32
12-24

I've found some on ebay, but not all. One source for all of these would be great, but I don't know where to look.

I'm interested in these for a few different applications. One would be cleaning up threads after using a cutoff wheel to shorten a screw. I've used a nut in the past, but I imagine a rethreading die would give a cleaner result. Another application would be cleaning out loctite from scopebase screws and receiver threads. I want to avoid regular taps and dies because I don't want to cut away any additional material. I've read that running a regular die over a machine bolt can significantly weaken it.

Anyone know of a good source for these tools?
Click to expand...

Find someone who was a machinist...there are plenty of them out of work these days with this stuff laying in cobwebs in their tool boxes. As for cleaning up thread ends on cut off screws and bolts, grip'm with vice grips by the head, rotate on a grinding wheel at 45 degrees and run a 3 square file through the first few threads....works for me.
 
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