Taps for base screws in Canada ?

The size i mostly see is 6-48. It's not in Canada, but the tap and drill set from Brownells is a really good start. It has carbon steel taps. Not really high end taps, but certainly usable.
 
The kits that come from Brownelles have very good taps in them. I have found the quality of taps carried by Canadian businesses are offshore sourced and don't hold an edge. They are fine for cleaning up existing tapped holes but when you are drilling and tapping new holes, the surface hardened receivers on some rifles will cause all sorts of issues.

I suggest you clamp the scope mounts to your receiver where you want it and use it for a drill guide so that your holes are true to the bore. Then, be extremely careful to either heat up the holes to remove the hardness or make darn sure you use a lot of cutting oil and take very short turns on your tap handle until you have cut away the hard surface. Some people actually counter sink the holes a bit to make it easier.
 
Any of your bolt supply places can get you the taps, dies, and the numbered drill bits that go with them. I found a place in Lloydminster that carries all sorts of mechanical supplies. They didn't have those sizes, but were more that happy to get them in for me. They are both (6-48 and 8-40) standard threading. They are classed as extra-fine. (As is 1/2-28 the most common .223 barrel thread)

Crappy Tire does not carry them as they are a specialty item. They carry National Coarse, and National Fine taps/dies, the most commonly used.
 
Any place that supplies tooling for machine shops or the like. In other words, and industrial, rather than consumer goods, supplier.

Probably going to be a special order item, but they can get the stuff if you are capable of asking the correct questions.

Like, you ask for a Number 8-40 Bottoming Tap, instead of a "tap for the scope base on my Remington 700", as they will not likely know what one is, nor care.

In reality, you can get taps in about any size and thread pitch you want, if yo are willing to pay, and wait.

Brownells will probably come out cheaper.

Cheers
Trev
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.
I will check out the Fastenal Store by me (3 blocks away)and see if they can get what I need and if they don't I will order it from Brownells. I don't need then very often but would like to have therm on hand to chase threads and clean old loctite and dirt out before new installs.
Thanks again for all the help and insight.
Scott....
 
Do yourself a favor. When you order the taps get all three styles. Taper, plug and bottoming. For the short holes used for scope screws it is easier to start the first couple of threads into the hole with the middle tapered plug tap and then finish it with the bottoming. Starting out with a bottoming tap doesn't always produce a clean entry. You don't need the longer taper style for this job but it pays to have it for the next one.

While you're at it if you're buying through KBC order up a bottle each of Tap Magic for both steel and aluminium.
 
BCRider said:
Do yourself a favor. When you order the taps get all three styles. Taper, plug and bottoming. For the short holes used for scope screws it is easier to start the first couple of threads into the hole with the middle tapered plug tap and then finish it with the bottoming. Starting out with a bottoming tap doesn't always produce a clean entry. You don't need the longer taper style for this job but it pays to have it for the next one.

While you're at it if you're buying through KBC order up a bottle each of Tap Magic for both steel and aluminium.
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I was wondering about that. I didn't know what to call the different styles of taps, but in a closed ended hole like a receiver, you sure don't want a tap with a guide nubbin on it.

I had no idea machining sounded so dirty.
 
Raton57 said:
I bought mine from the Snap On dealer.
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They usually have very good taps. They usually carry two grades. Which grade did you buy?? The best they offer are expensive but they cut nice threads and stay sharp. Dull taps have a nasty tendency to snap off even with the receiver.

I have a block made up to hold the receiver to the base plate on my drill press. It is just a V notched 3in by 10in by 1in thick piece of Aluminum with holes drilled in for different actions. It has a slot cut in one end for flat bottomed receivers as well. This really helps to keep the receiver and taps square to each other when I chuck up the tap. I only used hand pressure to turn the chuck and start the tap for at least two turns. After that I use regular tap handles. Makes for nice straight threaded holes.

BCRider is right about getting all three taps in the set. That being said, get a couple of proper sized drill bits as well. It's to bad they don't make self piloting bits that small. That's where a pre made drill guide comes in handy. Often the hard exteriors on some actions will deflect the bit and result in crooked holes that can't be repaired and sometimes can't be covered up with the base. I did that ONCE many moons ago and have been looking for a set of receiver trammels ever since. The last set I saw was in Kamloops at their show about 5 years ago. It was being sold in front of me when I saw it.
 
Good point about the proper size drill bits. The smaller the screw and finer the thread pitch the more important this is. And 6-48 and even 8-40 qualify on both aspects. A set of number drills is a must when working at these sizes.

Bearhunter, up to now I've always done the same thing to start the taps as you describe. I keep trying to remember to find some tap handles that have a pilot stub that can ride in in the chuck jaws slightly loose so I can start and run the taps in under centering guidance from the chuck. But then I see a squirrel run by and the thought goes right down the flusher. But one day...... :)
 
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