That is the same set I have. I think this is 3 years and a lot of cleaned & new threads since. I have broken 2 taps... both thru negligence. One was tapping Aluminum & I was in a hurry, one was butterfingers & dropped the piece I was working on.

I got it because it had the metric & English stuff... kept running into metric at work.

I know it's not a real high end piece, but it does work well. Just remember to use a good cutting oil.... I use the HF oil, seems to work great.

Oh, and if it came with a little sheet of foam, DON'T loose it. It's what keeps the little taps from rolling around in the case when you carry it by the handle.

Guess how I know.

 

Great looking set and great price too! Thanks for sharing the info with us!

 

I too have HF tap & die set, great investment. I rarely use cutting oil if only one hole.

 

The cutting oil helps to cut the threads and helps keep the taps & dies sharp......Even for only 1 hole.

 

I've got something similar from a Canadian chain of hardware stores. It's something I'd never be without. It seems to get the job done just fine even though it's not of commercial quality. When you suddenly need a tap for something it's nice to know you're covered.

 

I bought a simular set from Lowes, and it is more than adequate for what I do. You will find that there are a few taps and dies you use way more than others. Should they break you might want to replace them with a higher quality item.
HF is a good source for those tools that you need ocasionally and can't justify a Name Brand item.

 

I have the metric and SAE sets. I hate to think how many time they have saved the day for me. Good investment.

 

Ryan, I have the same set and it has save me on more then one occasion. You did good getting 50% off. Like Alan said keep the piece of foam I figured it out before I lost it.

 

I still have the foam! And the little plastic sheet. I was going to keep them in there anyway, thanks for the tip!

 

Hey Ryan, Just because we may still have the foam you have to remember to put it back in the case when you are done with it. How do I know this, you may ask? Well tonight I was working on a Yamaha and the back axle threads were bogger up so I broke out the tap and die set and fixed the problem. About the time I was finishing up my son came in and started talking and well you guessed it I put it up without the foam. Just thought I would pass it on.

 

About the time I was finishing up my son came in and started talking and well you guessed it I put it up without the foam.

Rattle Rattle Rattle (unrepeatable expletive)
click click (opening case)
tinkle tinkle tinkle (a bigger expletive)

"Honey, where's the flashlight? I just dropped a bunch of taps in the driveway... oh, and bring my glasses so I can read these 'little print' things..."

 

Only problem I had with mine the die holder metal is thin and cast and it breaks away

 

I had the same problem. I went to my local pawn shop and found a better one, thought it doesn't fit in the box. Found some extra, better dies there to.

 

Tap & die sets are real handy.I'd be totally lost without mine,it's a Snap-On set.

 

I have a "Threadit" brand standard set, old but made in the USA. Also have a "Bluepoint" metric set. Both have worked well for me. I shy away from the chinese sets as they seem awfully brittle.
Mike

 

Always use oil and be patient no matter what brand. The HF set should serve you well, if you reach a point you need better or different go get them at that time. Pawn shops can be a good source of quality tools at reasonable prices but as always buyer beware. Just because it was pawned doesn't necessarily equate with good.
Also note I bought a set of "Bluepoint" pliers right of the truck for one of my sons as a birthday gift and when we opened them up they are labeled "made in China" so name brand also doesn't garentee where things are made either. Good luck, I'm guessing you will soon wonder how you ever got along without a tap set

 

ive had a hf tap n die set for about6 yrs. has worked well for me. I kept the plastic and foam.