Keep chips clear while tapping. Also known as gun taps, these have spiral-point flutes that push chips ahead of the tap and out of through holes. Because they don't need to be reversed to prevent buildup, they produce threads more efficiently than standard taps and are suitable for production work. They're made of high-speed steel for use on most metal and plastic. With a square shank, they're compatible with tap wrenches and tap holders for drill presses and milling machines. All have a plug chamfer with 3-5 chamfered cutting threads, so they're suitable for start-to-finish tapping.

Use uncoated taps for short production runs.

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These taps are made of cobalt steel for higher strength and wear resistance than standard taps. Their flutes are designed to keep chips clear, so they don't need to be reversed to prevent buildup. With a square shank, they're compatible with tap wrenches and tap holders for drill presses and milling machines. All have a plug chamfer with 3-5 chamfered cutting threads, so they're suitable for start-to-finish tapping.

Taps for through-hole threading have spiral-point flutes, which push chips ahead of the tap and out of through holes. They're also known as gun taps.

Taps for closed-end hole threading have right-hand spiral flutes. They draw chips back toward the tap while cutting threads to prevent chip accumulation in closed-end holes.

These taps are for use on most metal and plastic. They have a square shank that's compatible with tap wrenches and tap holders for drill presses and milling machines.

Uncoated carbon steel taps are for thread repair and occasional tapping. Use uncoated high-speed steel taps for small-scale tapping jobs. Titanium-nitride (TiN) coated high-speed steel taps resist heat and wear better than uncoated taps, letting them last up to twice as long. Titanium-carbonitride (TiCN) coated high-speed steel taps have up to three times the tool life of uncoated taps. Their hard, smooth finish offers superior resistance to chipping, wear, and heat.

Taper-chamfer taps have 7-10 chamfered threads at the tip for cutting into the workpiece. They require less torque than other chamfer types, making them a good choice for starting threads and tapping through holes. However, a longer taper means that they cannot thread as close to the bottom of closed-end holes.

Plug-chamfer taps are a versatile choice for most tapping applications. With 3-5 chamfered cutting threads, they require moderate torque and are often used for start-to-finish tapping of through holes and closed-end holes. However, they do not start threads as easily as taper chamfers. When using them to tap closed-end holes, be sure to leave sufficient space at the bottom for chips to accumulate.

Bottoming-chamfer taps cut into the workpiece with just 1-2 chamfered threads. This short chamfer lets them thread holes closer to the bottom than other taps, but they require more torque to start threads.

Use a single set for many sizes of internal and external threads. The taps and dies are for use on most metal and plastic. Hex-shaped dies are for thread repair and can be used with conventional wrenches.

Carbon steel taps are for thread repair and occasional tapping.

Taper-chamfer taps have 7-10 chamfered threads at the tip for cutting into the workpiece. They require less torque than other chamfer types, making them a good choice for starting threads and tapping through holes. However, a longer taper means that they cannot thread as close to the bottom of closed-end holes

Plug-chamfer taps are a versatile choice for most tapping applications. With 3-5 chamfered cutting threads, they require moderate torque and are often used for start-to-finish tapping of through holes and closed-end holes. However, they do not start threads as easily as taper-chamfer taps. When using them to tap closed-end holes, be sure to leave sufficient space at the bottom for chips to accumulate.