Prior to drilling the hole you will eventually tap, determine what size you need to drill for the bolt you are trying to screw in. Your hole will be smaller than the diameter of the bolt, because the threads tapped will increase the diameter. The chart above matches tap, or bolt, sizes up with their corresponding drill bit size.

Put the tap in the handle or wrench and add some lubricating/cutting oil to the tap. The oil will help the tap cut into the material and makes removing the cut material (chips) easier. The lubrication also prolongs the life of the tap. Turn clockwise until you feel the tap cutting into the material, don't over turn if the tap does not cut with ...

The process of tapping uses two separate tools: the tap which cuts the threads on the inner diameter of the hole, and the die which cuts the threads on the outer diameter of the bolt or screw. The process of cutting the threads using a tap is called tapping, and the process of using a die is called threading.

A tap is used to either make new threads in a hole, or repair damaged threads. Taps can be purchased, but here is how to make one out of any bolt. After you repair the damaged threads, the bolt can still be used. When using it, apply light oil, and remove the metal shavings. Cut the grooves with a triangular file.

Tapping Screw Threads: From time to time it is needful to screw something into something else, which may not yet accept a screw.  If the something else is metal, screw threads can be cut into it using a handy tool called a tap.  (For rods, the screw thread cutti…

Make a Wood Tap From a Bolt: The ability to cut threads in wood can be useful for many projects. Often the needed tap can be expensive and a car ride away. For many applications, a tap can be made from a spare bolt. This simple tap can be made in less than 5 minutes with amazin…

How to Make a Thread Tap: How to make a quick and easy tap for cutting a thread. ... Heat the bolt to ...

Since wood is really soft, you can likely "tap" the hole using just the bolt you want to put in it. Getting it threaded at the start can be a little tricky. Make sure you push the bolt into the hole while turning it so the threads catch. As you are turning the bolt into the hole, watch out as the bolt can get hot with all the friction. Take ...

I used a shim that was previously used as a glue spreader to prop the bolt head in the right position before vigorously clamping every thing down to my board and horse bench top. 2. Liberally apply cutting fluid . Drill sizing: I'm making my set from 9/16-12 nut and bolt so the OD is 9/16 inch and the tap drill you would use is 31/64 inch.

The added heat from the welding really helps free up the offending tap or bolt. Once it's completely cool, feel free to add a little penetrating lube just for redundancy's sake, then attempt to extract the misbehaving tap. It's a good idea not to try to take it completely out straight away. Work it back and forth a few times, and test the ...