No flutes, no chips. Press threads into material for zero buildup to slow you down or damage the tap. Since these displace rather than cut material, they create stronger, cleaner threads. They require an exact hole size, however, or tapping can be difficult and result in weak threads. Fluteless taps are faster and require more force to drive than fluted taps, so they're commonly used in production work on a milling machine. Also known as cold-forming taps.

After using a large-diameter bit to drill a starter hole in a broken tap, drill out the tap with one of these tools. Remove the remains with a scriber or pick.

Chips won't slow you down when creating threads to join counter-clockwise rotating parts. Left-hand threads keep components such as flywheels and propellers from loosening and spinning off. These taps force chips through the hole so there’s no buildup to damage the threads or the tap. Since you don’t need to reverse taps to extract chips, they also form threads faster than standard left-hand taps.