Tap threads for left-hand threaded fasteners. Made of uncoated high-speed steel, these taps are durable enough for small-scale tapping jobs, but they're not recommended for production use. All have a square shank that's compatible with tap wrenches and tap holders for drill presses and milling machines.

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.

Sets include one taper-, one plug-, and one bottoming-chamfer tap.

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.

Cut a range of thread sizes with a single tool. These thread mills can also produce both right-hand and left-hand threads. All are made of solid carbide with an aluminum-titanium-nitride (AlTiN) coating, so they have high strength and excellent wear resistance, even when cutting hard and abrasive material. Use them in a CNC machine that allows helical interpolation.

When used for internal threading, thread mills can create threads of any size equal to or greater than the minimum size listed. They leave space in the hole for chips to fall, and a broken thread mill can fall into the hole without damaging the workpiece.

Thread mills for internal threading cut threads more quickly than other thread mills, but the threads they create have a fixed pitch.

Thread mills for internal/external threading have a single cutting point that cuts threads in a range of different pitches on both the inside and outside of the workpiece.