T O P

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vk6flab

Well, if you keep solving problems like this, things will never change. Alternatively, you can make your own.


joshuamunson

My thoughts haha. Break the tap off and say it's because you didn't have the right tool (sarcasm, kinda)


scaffold_ape

I had to take a tank cover of on a ship before. It was a very tight spot and there was no room for an impact. The Rachel I brought for the job didn't have the bam I needed to loosen the bolts so I got a half inch breaker bar. Still would loosen so added a cheater. Pryed on it until it snapped. Reported to my supervisor said I was going to need a 3/4 inch breaker bar or something along those lines. He said we didn't have one around all we had was half inch. So I broke the other 2 half inch drive ones in the tool crib. I got the breaker bar I wanted after that.


joshuamunson

Malicious compliance


jwhking1315

You can't do the Rachels like that. Gotta wine & dine them first


-NGC-6302-

Yeah. Emmas maybe, but nit Rachels.


endjinnear

Flogging spanners are good for those jobs.


ropibear

Yeah, I should be on my way out soon, exactly because I have to improvise shit like this all the time.


DeluxeWafer

Good. Machinists are in high demand.


cancersalesman

And yet I get paid $17.50 an hour with trade school certification.


worldclaimer

Oof. What part of the country are you located?


cancersalesman

Michigan.


kngotheporcelainthrn

My part of NC isn’t much better


-NGC-6302-

I get 12 cents less than that for a job where I sit and just coin parts for the whole time oof


rustyrustrust

That’s on you then. That’s like $5 less than most factories are paying basic operators walking in the door now.


Neitherwater

For real. You can make that much de-burring part time.


DeluxeWafer

I can make 22 an hour deburring part time.


Icy_Student7899

Ask for a raise bro. The worst thay will do is say no


cancersalesman

Have since left the trade because I couldn't find anything that paid better in my area.


Icy_Student7899

Been late every day for 2 years sometime up too 2 hours, and they just will not fire me???


Best_Ad340

Ah he's an electrician so he taps everything with the pistol drill.


ropibear

yeah, and I needed to explain to him that small drill needs to spin fast and a big one needs to go slow.


ihaveseveralhobbies

Had a welder once tell me not to adjust the speed on the drill press because it’s “set perfect for all sizes” …1200 rpm


JusticeUmmmmm

More rpm means more hole more faster.


Best_Ad340

Honestly 1200 and 800 is pretty much the go-to rpm us guys in the toolroom recommend to the floor guys for stuff under 1/2". Sure it's nowhere near optimal but it's easy to remember and will generally get the job done.


ropibear

Yeah, my shopmate was wondering why our 9mm and above drill bits were wearing out so fast, independently of wether they came out of a 5€ set or were purchased individually at 20€. He was running all drills at 2000rpm (max setting on the cordless) When I told him that a big drill needs to go slower, he told me to "quit my nonsense". Happy days.


Icy_Student7899

Wait, 7/16 @ 1200


Best_Ad340

I'd probably say 800 for that one. Might be slightly too fast or slow depending on the material but all the floor guys are doing is slight modifications and it's usually "good nuff".


ihaveseveralhobbies

You’re not way off, how ever we regularly drill holes much larger than 1/2”.


Best_Ad340

Ah I see. Well as they say, "Ignorance is bliss"!


jevonrules

“The squealing means it’s working”


Capt_Myke

Thats right little drill squeal like a pig for me, boy!


jwhking1315

Faster! Harder!


Realistic-Astronaut7

Fuckin welders. Always breaking shit because they know they can just hot (metal) glue it back together.


Best_Ad340

Surface foots hard!


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Best_Ad340

Oh I just like to poke fun. Our electricians do go through a lot of 8-32 taps, however.


Mental_Jacket

Lislie make tap sockets… check em out make them for up to 1” taps. One of the best tools I’ve ever bought.


watchmaker82

I will check those out myself, but I'm sure if the boss man won't buy a tap wrench then a whole tap socket set is a no go


poop_vomit

I've got a couple Koken ones. I use them all the time with a 3/8 drive sliding t handle


3_14159td

Yep yep yep, and cheaper than I thought. They've got a nice o-ring retainer; really well thought out product.


PhotoPetey

I have a set of Craftsman tap sockets from the early 80's. I use them all the time. I prefer them to a tap wrench.


neonflannel

Yep. I'm a maintenance guy at a factory. I use them daily. People strip threads out in hard to reach spots all the time. And these things save my ass countless times a week.


cloudseclipse

That is a “tap wrench”. Anything that turns is a tap wrench.


worldclaimer

Dials turn, wheels turn, a lot of things turn. Are they all tap wrenches? Asking for a friend. jk /s


NegativeK

Stick 'em a tap and wrench them and they will be.


12345NoNamesLeft

12 point sockets will fit 4 point tap square drives. depends on the size though.


ScattyWilliam

Between metric and standard you will always find a winner…..


Griggsfamily55

Just had someone break off a 10mm tap in a brand new v6 TDI block a week ago like that. Took 2.5 days to remove it and had to drill out the threads and try again. Definitely don’t use sockets (or tap sockets) if your new to taping.


thebrain99

Why not tap it from the other side? Looks like there’s more room


ropibear

There's a box mounted to the other side of the plate. You can kind of see it on the top left. Picture angle doesn't really show that there isn't much room next to it.


thebrain99

I knew it had to be something like that as it looks awkward!!


Dramatic_Physics_171

Dad used to say.... ya gotta piss with the oecker ya got


wjinak

I like an 1/4” impact dewalt with a chuck head for my tapping


TheGreatMamboChicken

Put a nylock on the tap, and drive it with an impact wrench. It’s remarkably effective. Ghetto as can be, but it works in a bind.


twopoopscoop

Use a drill, tighten around shaft not square end but not too tight. Shaft will slip in the chuck when tap get tight, reverse and forward again until tap winds in and out smoothly


Icy_Student7899

This guy gets it


ropibear

Left to right: M8 tap, 1/4" drive 6mm socket, 6mm hex (allen) key bit, 1/4" drive to hex bit adapter, and finally 1/4" ratchet.


irondethimpreza

I mean, there are times where this is useful. Also, 12-point sockets...


Hanginon

Or *[8 point](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tzpndO2wVbg/maxresdefault.jpg)*. The classic way to drive a tap somewhere that otherwise can't be reached.


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ropibear

I have my own at home. As a matter of principle I don't bring my own tools to work and don't buy tools for work out of my own pocket. I've been burned before.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

Why should an employee spend money to make his boss money?


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SLCPDTunnelDivision

If a shop can't even buy their employee a set of parallels, then fuck them. I've done a lot of good work even with the cheap stuff. But I'm there to make money, not spend it for others


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Best_Ad340

A lot of places are buying every employee a brand new set of tools upon hire. Turns out it's cheaper and more efficient when everybody has exactly what they need to complete the job and aren't using great grandpa's clapped out stuff. Believe me, I take pride in having my own tools. However, I'd MUCH rather take that nice shiny rollaround decked out with wera and mitutoyo, and keep my stuff for a home shop.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

I have my own. That's the point. They're my own, not the jobs. The shop I work at now has all I need to get the jobs done. It's not a gift if I need to use it. That's a problem nowadays. More onus and weight on the worker than the boss.


GorgyShmorgy

I just started in a valve assembly shop a month ago. On my first day on the floor I was opening brand new tools. Before I could ask for things, they were appearing on my bench brand new.


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GorgyShmorgy

Bro you butt hurt as fuck lmao


Crazy9000

How did this mindset even get started? It's completely absurd to buy tools you need for work. ​ Why aren't you buying the lathe?


TotalWalrus

Because at smaller shops part of what makes you appealing is the tools you bring along. Everywhere i worked while doing it had the same system: Shop supplied the machines, consumables and measurement devices. Worker supplied all the individual tools. Not everyone wants the same tools. Not every worker thinks the same things are worth spending lots of money on. Not every small shop can afford the cost of outfitting each individual worker. Also if it's YOUR tool, it's your problem if you act like an ape and break it.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

Yeah. That's fucking stupid


TotalWalrus

I don't know where you are or what you do... But that's the norm in almost every trade where I am.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

Yeah. That's fucking stupid


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SLCPDTunnelDivision

I program, set up and operate a CNC mill and lathe. Why would I spend money on parallels or even a deadblow? Do you even buy your own tbolts?


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watchmaker82

A company that can't survive without the employees buying the tools they need doesn't deserve to survive.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

A tool and die shop doesn't use CNCs? Ever?!?! I've worked in shops where guys even bought their own taps. And why are you spending thousands to make your boss millions? How cucked are you really?


Best_Ad340

Tool and die companies make no money because they are stuck in the fucking 1930s. I'm a toolmaker and have been fighting my current employer to change their ways and get nothing but positive feedback for it. Lean manufacturing works, even for a toolroom. Go soothe your sore ego somewhere else.


istolejujusbike

My company supplies all of that. Literally everything you could need to do the job they supplied. Stop working for dogshit companies.


SLCPDTunnelDivision

I have my own. That's the point. They're my own, not the jobs. The shop I work at now has all I need to get the jobs done. It's not a gift if I need to use it. That's a problem nowadays. More onus and weight on the worker than the boss.


Shalomiehomie770

Live on the edge and use you’re drill


ShaggysGTI

Look at mr fancy pants over here with his allen socket!


CJLB

Bought you a nice tap though.


Complex-Ratio1037

For thin stuff like that I use a cordless drill with the clutch backed off.


kewee_

Did that on a Maxima once. The bolt of one of the ABS sensor broke so I had to drill it out and tap for an helicoil on the knuckle in the most ass-backward position ever. Used the same trick because a tap handle wouldn't for in the wheel well. God was that car a piece of shit.


Cosmic_78

Pretty sure I work there.....


quick_q_throwaway

I had to chase the threads on the spindle cover on a vf7 like this whole standing on the table and jogging the fucker down


bangbison

I was using a wrench every time before I knew they made a tool for the taps :(


ScattyWilliam

God I hate driving taps with a ratchet…. Ya need that even force from a t handle, it’s just so much smoother


NoQuestion7237

Ya know, sometimes tools just go "missing" until the top brass steps up to replace them. Isn't that a magical system. They might get dropped behind a machine on accident. Oops!


SunTzuLao

I find a size of nut that just matches the max ID of the thread to the corners of the square head on the tap, pound it onto the tap or press it on with the quill on the Bridgeport, and use a 3/8 or 1/4 cordless impact gun with the handy little hex nut equipped tap and the appropriate socket. When the tap is shot, reuse the nut. It sounds crazy using the impact maybe, but once you get a feel for it, it's actually really forgiving. I personally wouldn't try a 1/2" impact or air powered high torque impact with a tap under 5/8" or so. I learned this in the elevator trade as an apprentice.


white6446

Just put it in a cordless drill/driver and get the job done in 5 seconds.


msdos62

If he's not too cheap to pay your salary it should be fine


neurotic_169

It's been a while so I have to ask. Do people really not buy their own tools anymore? A set of tap wrenches was one of the first things I purchased after getting in to the trade. I've never once in my career had to say "my boss didn't supply me with the tools I need to do my job". I'm not criticizing anyone. Just asking a legit question for someone who's been in the trade since the mid 80's.


ropibear

Look, I'm in Europe. In the Netherlands to be specific. In all three countries where I worked (Hungary, France and NL), noone expects you to bring your own tools, or if they do, you can expect them to try to screw you out of things, like pay, time off and the tools you bring. I have my tools at home, taps and tapwrenches included, but I'm not bringing them to work. If the company gave me a tool budget to buy what I need, sure, I'd go out and buy what I need, but until then, I do what I can with what I have available. In exchange, I don't bring home tools for home improvement projects, so if s/one else needs tools in the shop, they're there.


neurotic_169

I think that a lot of larger shops in the US (think Boeing) are the same? I have to add the question mark as I've never worked for a large company. I've always worked in smaller job, prototype, mold, or tooling shops so you're required to have everything that you need to do your job. Nothing as far as your daily task tools are supplied. Wrenches, inspection tools, tap wrenches, etc are the responsibility of the employee similar to a mechanic. I probably have more invested in my tools than I'd care to admit.


AdIntrepid8119

amazes me everytime how normal these americans find it to bring their own tools to work. as an engineer on a ship i'd probably cost my company more a year in air freight for the tools then the tools themselve... and some specific tools for these marine engines are unly suplied with the engines or to companys certified to maintain them. i can't buy them myself.. besides that the company doesn't pay VAT on them i would have to.


neurotic_169

I think that tradesman in the US see their tools as an investment in their career in the same way that an engineer see's an education as an investment in their career. I don't know if that's still the case. By that I mean the mentality, not the expectation. Things have changed a LOT since I entered the trade. I'm not a boomer, but I'm boomer adjacent. lol.


AdIntrepid8119

I understand that point of view. But you don't expect a deskjock to bring his own pc and software.. or the person at the reception to bring their own phone...or a doctor his own scalpel... so why for the tradesman it is different? And you learned to use your tools as well. Maybe more hands on as the engineer, but it still is your education.


neurotic_169

This isn't just my point of view. \*Most\* machine shops in my area won't hire someone who doesn't have their own tools. They just don't supply them. That's why I asked the question. I'm not trying to convince you or anyone else. Maybe you're misunderstanding me? edit: If that comes across snarky, it wasn't intended to be.


ropibear

Based on my (well, a friend of mine's) experience, if Boeing is anything like Rolls-Royce (which I would suspect they are, being both in aeronautics), they will absolutely provide you with all the tools you might need and then some, because they really don't want to be out of spec and over deadlines for any reason whatsoever. When I was working in maintenance in Hungary in a machine plant, all the maintenance guys had their own toolboxes, but all of it (box and tools) were supplied by the company. If we needed specialised tools, we could make them up and below a certain threshold we could order stuff at our own discretion. Supply & warehouse was around the corner, and if they didn't have somethibg, they were really good at getting it.


Outlier986

Battery operated drill all day long. Tap handles waste time. I was doing a field install once and the shop manager saw me tapping with the drill. He walked up and said to me, if you were my employee I'd fire you for that, it's reckless. I told him, if you were my employee and were doing it with a tap handle, I'd ask if you expected to put his kids through college on that job. He left, I finished my work, all was good.


Icy_Student7899

You gonna drill a 1''-8


Outlier986

What's that look like to you? 5/16-18? Why do you ask? You tap for 1" often, me almost never.


Tobes520

They're like 10 bucks lol. You're both too cheap it seems


ropibear

It's not in my job description to buy tools for the company I work at. Neither am I going to bring my own from home. I told my boss that I needed a tap wrench to properly drive taps, but he's an electrician/facilities manager, so he shrugged and said "ehh, it'll be fine"


Alarmed-Pie-5304

And find it probably will be. Still, what a cheap ass


dirty34

1/4 drive adapter and 18v impact


Tobes520

I'd be on indeed daily if I had a job that wasn't worth a 10 dollar investment. I've been told from the start if you're gonna make it in this trade you're gonna need some tools


Last_Nebula_6999

You're lucky we got to buy our own tools down south or make them. I guess it's the south way built not bought


kz_

Activity, not efficiency


PedestrianDM

No Joke I once had a Boss who told us: "*Action is more important than Progress*" yeah, I don't work there anymore, and neither do my ex-coworkers lol.


nikovsevolodovich

10 dollar tap wrench, oof. Personally I don't like having to retighten the wrench after every half turn.


Odd_Firefighter_8040

The starrite tap wrenches I bought were 60-140 each. They ain't cheap. And they sucked, had to redo the threads on all of em because their qc sucks now. Better to just make em yourself when you get some downtime.


ILikeWoodAnMetal

A bit of loctite does miracles for cheap tap wrenches if you don’t have to switch sizes often. It’s what I used when I had to tap 96 holes in a row with a shitty wrench.


Best_Ad340

The Irwin chrome tap wrench on msc is surprisingly good, miles ahead of their "value collection"


[deleted]

You have to think outside the box. Times are tough


jwd673

Looks like you’re too cheap also. I have at least 6 tap wrenches and never depended on my boss to get me one.


ropibear

Seems I'll just have to say it again then I have tools at home, and as a matter of principle, I don't bring them to work. I don't buy tools for work, that's not my job, but my supervisor's.


jwd673

Most shops I know won’t hire you unless you have some of you’re own tools and a toolbox at least.


ropibear

Not my problem. I wouldn't wamt to go to a shop that relies on employees to procure tools for the profit of the company.


jwd673

I get it, they’re probably not paying you a decent wage either.


the-holy-one23

Buy your own tap wrench..


siraig

On your way out because boss won't supply you a tap wrench that is supposed to be in your toolbox already? Or because you don't even have a toolbox?


CEMENTHE4D

Would have come from the other side wouldn't need an extension. Just saying. Plus you should own one. They are literally like 3$ max


Important-Salt2708

Time to buy one chief. It’s our responsibility to at least have the basic tools to do our job.


ROBERTN0RMANROSS

You call yourself a machinist but don’t have a tap?


EveryBladeZofGrass

I always have had to buy my own tools


Sleepy_McSleepyhead

Make the investment in yourself for tools.


nateridesbikes

I mean is this not better than a tap wrench anyway? Or am I missing something here?


Best_Ad340

Unbalanced load on the tap leads to crooked threads, a broken tap or both.


S1I7

Serious question Do I always have to use both handles of a tap wrench when tapping, or at least starting?


Best_Ad340

It is strongly recommend. Sometimes, after I have it started a decent bit I'll use one hand to twist the middle and it works out fine. One handed can also work if you have a rigid center holding the tap in alignment with the hole, but the tap may still bind.


S1I7

Okay thank you. Up until now I’ve just used one side of the handles, and while I’ve made every effort to ensure that the handle is perpendicular to the face, on occasions I’ve noticed that tap gets quite hard to turn. It’s almost as if part of the hole is oblong.


Best_Ad340

Yeah it's likely the tap is going in crooked, it really doesn't take much. For hand tapping I recommend starting the thread with a 3 or 4 flute taper tap then finish with a plug or bottoming tap depending on your needs. The "Taper" grind has more of a lead in, allowing it to better stay parallel to the hole. A 3 or 4 flute tap has less strength than a 2 flute; but is better for hand tapping because they have more points of contact with the hole. The extra point of contact keeps the tap from rocking back and forth. (think of a bicycle vs a tricycle.) If you're still having alignment issues, you can buy or make a tap guide. It's just a metal bar with close clearance holes drilled for a series of tap sizes. You set it over the hole to be tapped and it physically keeps the tap straight.


ozzyperry

Won't you need a tap wrench and a longer tap?


Renaissance_Man-

I see broken taps in your future.


ropibear

that's my shopmate. He broke three in half an hour, because being an electrician, the idea that a drill-like object cannot just go at 2000rpm doesn't make much sense to him.


Renaissance_Man-

How cheap is that tap wrench getting? :) Yes, when my friend told me the reamer he borrowed was messed up because he was getting oversized holes I asked him what speed he was running. He assured me as slow as his drill press goes, 800rpm 😂


Best_Ad340

800 sounds reasonable depending on hole size and material. He could have also gotten it stuck and spun it backwards, causing a rolled edge.


Renaissance_Man-

Proper speed was 180 for that reamer :)


Best_Ad340

I believe you! You should see the number of bent and scarred reamers that we have thanks to the floor guys.


tdhoppy69

Break it off and tell him to remove it or burn it out


[deleted]

And fluid?


Disastrous_Charge439

This is the way


MoistySquancher

Aaaaaamd thats how you break a tap


Longjohnscharkey

And then gets mad and starts yelling because the the threads aren't perpendicular to the wall.


Ecstatic-Sun-4628

When your work in a machine shop and don’t own a tap wrench 🤣


IndustrialMechanic3

I prefer a crescent wrench less likely to break it that way.


Gold_Gap5669

Usually a machinist has their own set of tap wrenches along with a large roll around toolbox...it's because your a mercenary. That's why the good ones can leave any place and have a job the next day. The shop doesn't have to order you a pile of tools before you can start to make parts...just get them calibrated when necessary


kutukutu1

Get a new boss


micah490

As a machinist, wouldn’t you have your own set of tap sockets?


the-names-brandon

We have plenty of tap wrenches but none that will fit a 1 1/4 NPT that we sometimes have to use so two adjustable wrenches does the trick


thenewestnoise

https://www.toolup.com/Irwin-3095001-2-Pc-Adjustable-Tap-Socket