This is your complete guide to types of taps. There are many different types of thread taps, and knowing exactly when to use each will make your tapping faster and easier.
Note: If you’re familiar with tap types, but need to learn best practices in their use to avoid breaking taps, try our article and video7 Ways to Avoid Breaking Taps.
A great variety of thread taps are available with varying advantages and disadvantages:
Hand Taps (Tap Set Taps, Straight Flute Taps)
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Hand taps, typically bought at the local hardware store, are the most common types of taps, but they are generally to be avoided for CNC work.Buy some good quality taps and try tapping by hand versus the hardware store set of thread taps. You’ll be surprised at how much better taps made for machines work.
One applicable standard for Hand Taps is ISO 529.
There are two types of Hand Taps:
Taper Tap
A taper tap has quite a lot of taper to help it ease into cutting threads gradually. Typically, the first 8 to 10 threads are tapered. Taper Taps are the most common types of taps and are typically what you’ll have in a Tap and Die Set.
Bottoming Tap
A bottoming tap has almost no taper at the end because it is designed to thread all the way to the bottom of its reach. Only 1 to 1.5 threads will be tapered.
Bottoming Taps are useful for threading blind holes. It’s desireable to thread most of the hole with a Taper Tap first, and then finish the bottom of the hole with a Bottoming Tap.
Plug Tap
Plug Taps are in between Bottoming and Taper Taps because they have 3-5 threads tapered, which is more than a Bottoming Tap and less than a Taper Tap.
Unfortunately, terminology is not always consistent. Some vendors call these “Second Taps” and refer to Bottoming Taps as Plug Taps. Check to be sure what you’re getting and using.
Power Taps
These are the types of taps you should choose from for CNC applications or for manual machining work.
Spiral Point Taps (Gun Nose or Bull Nose Taps)
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These thread taps have a spiral cut with relief grooves. They’re common and look like most of the hand taps you’ll see around. But, the spiral angle on the front cutting edges helps eject the chips and the angled edge also gives superior cutting performance. Hence, they’re really the least expensive thread tap you might consider using for power tapping, and can be run at slightly higher speeds than hand taps.
Like hand taps, sprial point taps can be had as a taper tap has a tapered end, or a plug tap (intended for blind holes) has much less taper.
They’re cheaper than the other two types, but I typically prefer the other two. The primary disadvantage of these is they push the chips ahead of the tap–down into the hole in other words. This is not a big deal for through holes, but is a bad idea for blind holes.
Spiral Flute Taps or Gun Taps
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Spiral Flute Taps have an open spiral just like an endmill. Their primary advantage is they eject chips up and out of the hole. They’re always preferable over spiral point taps when you have a blind hole.
They’re also preferable for an interrupted hole where another feature intersects because the spiral helps restart the threading past the open feature.
Sometime, take a spiral flute tap and a regular hand tap and tap a couple of identical holes by hand. You’ll be shocked at how much less effort the spiral flute tap requires. Choosing the right types of taps really helps!
Interrupted Thread Tap
These thread taps only have a tooth for every other thread. The idea is to provide improved chip extraction. Removing every other tooth helps break chips and also provides more room for the chip to escape and for lubricant to come in and do its job.
Types of Taps for Tapered Threads: Pipe Taps
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As you might expect, Pipe Taps are the types of thread taps used for tapping pipe threads. There are both straight and tapered pipe taps depending on whether the pipe thread is intended to be straight or tapered. The photo shows a typical NPT Thread Pipe Tap. You can see the taper of the NPT thread profile.
Taps for tapered pipe threads have to work harder because you can’t drill a tapered hole. There’s quite a lot more material they must remove at top of hole than bottom. Use a pipe taper reamer to taper the hole so the tap doesn’t work so hard.
Form or Roll Taps (Thread Forming Taps)
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Thread Forming taps don’t cut threads at all. Instead they cold form. Threads made this way are often called “rolled” threads.
With this process, the metal is pushed out of the way and compressed into position rather than being cut. There are no chips to remove. As a result, the taps themselves are less likely to break and the threads they make are stronger. If your application allows Form Taps, they are generally the best thing going for those reasons.
Form Taps do require different feeds and speeds and they require a different starting hole size, so be aware of that before using one.
While many believe they’re only good for soft materials like aluminum,they can actually be used on materials up to a hardness of 36 HRC, which is about 340 BHN. That covers a surprisingly wide range of materials including a lot of steels.
I will almost always choose a Form Tap over a Cutting Tap out of the available types of taps if the material isn’t too hard for thread forming.
Kelly offers this tip for form taps:
“One minor hiccup with quite a few of the roll forming taps…unless they have a groove to allow cutting oil to escape, or there is no room at the root or crest of the thread, the oil will build up back pressure as the tap goes in, and eventually act like solid metal plug blocking further entry of the tap into the hole. I figured this out the hard way after breaking a few taps.”
Extension Taps (Long Shank Taps)
These are just thread taps with a long shank to facilitate reaching difficult holes that are blocked by other features on the part.
Exotic Types of Taps: Punch Taps
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This proprietary technology jointly developed by Audi and Emuge can save you up to 75% of your tapping cycle time. Check out our article for more about Punch Taps.
Standard Tap Markings
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Taps are marked on the shank so you can tell at a glance what kind of thread tap you’re dealing with. The markings typically will include:
- Nominal Size: This is the description of the thread size that tap will make.
- Thread Form Symbol: This describes the thread family.
- Tap Material: Usually Carbide or HSS
- Pitch Diameter LImit: Tells what tolerance thread will be made.
Pitch Diameter Limits (Threads < 1″ in diameter)
L1= Basic to Basic minus .0005
H1= Basic to Basic plus .0005
H2= Basic plus .0005 to Basic plus .0010
H3= Basic plus .0010 to Basic plus .0015
H4= Basic plus .0015 to Basic plus .0020
H5= Basic plus .0020 to Basic plus .0025
H6= Basic plus .0025 to Basic plus .0030
Note: You can find these limits in G-Wizard’s thread database too.
Thread Form Symbols / Abbreviations
ACME 60° STUB 60° Stub thread form
ACME STUB Stub Acme thread form
ACME-C Acme thread – centralizing
ACME-G Acme thread, general purpose
ANPT Aeronautica National Form taper pipe thread
AWWA American Water Works Association
BA British Association Standard thread form
BSF British Standard Fine thread series
BSPP British Standard Pipe Parallel
BSPT British Standard Pipe Taper
BSW British Standard Whitworth
MM ISO Metric thread form
N BUTT American Buttress screw thread
NC American National Coarse thread series
NEF American National Extra-Fine thread series
NF American National Fine thread series
NGO American National gas outlet threads
NGT American National gas taper threads
NH American National hose & fire hose coupling
NM National Miniature thread series
NPS American Standard straight pipe thread
NPSC American Standard straight pipe thread in couplings
NPSF American Standard internal straight pipe thread (dryseal)
NPSH American Standard straight pipe thread for hose couplings & nipples
NPSI American Standard intermediate straight pipe thread (dryseal)
NPSL American Standard straight pipe thread for locknuts
NPSM American Standard straight pipe thread for mechanical joints
NPT American Standard taper pipe thread
NPTF Dryseal American Standard taper pipe thread
NPTR American Standard taper pipe thread for rail fittings
NS Special threads of American National Form
PTF Dryseal SAE Short Taper pipe thread
SGT Special Gas Taper thread form
SPL-PTF Dryseal Short Taper Pipe thread
STI Special Threads for Helical Coil Wire Screw Thread Inserts
UN Unfied and American thread series
UNC Unfied and American Coarse thread series
UNEF Unfied and American Extra-Fine thread series
UNF Unfied and American Fine thread series
UNIV Unified Miniature Thread Series
UNJ Unified Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNJC Unified Coarse Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNJF Unified Fine Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNR Unified Constant Pitch thread series with Controlled Root Radius
UNRC Unified Coarse Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNRF Unified Fine Thread Series with Controlled Root Radius
UNS Unfied and American threads of selected special diameters and pitches
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FAQs
What are the types of hand taps? ›
Hand taps come in three basic configurations -Taper, Plug and Bottoming.
What are the 3 main types of taps used to make threads? ›So what are the types of taps? There are 3 main taps you should be familiar with and they are: Taper, Plug, and Bottoming tap. The taper tap can be identified by the visible and pronounced tapering of the cutting edges.
What are the 3 types of taps describe them and give examples? ›Hand taps are made in sets of three: the taper tap, the plug tap, and the bottoming tap. The taper tap has 7 to 10 chamfered threads; the plug tap has 3 to 5 threads chamfered; while the bottoming tap has one thread chamfered. Hand taps have short square-ended shanks and are used for both machine and hand tapping.
What are NPT taps? ›- Also called pipe taps.
- Carbon steel NPT pipe taps are designed to clean and or re-thread damaged or jammes pipe threads.
- High speed steel NPT pipe taps are designed to make new threads OR clean/re-thread damaged or jammes pipe threads.
Pipe Taps are used to cut internal threads in parts or fittings that will be mated with threaded pipe or fittings to make a pressure tight joint. Pipe threads require higher cutting forces than regular machine thread tapping because the threads require 100% thread depth. Most threads on tapered pipe taps are cutting.
What is tap explain different types of tap used in fitting? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
How do you identify a tap? ›All standard ground thread taps are marked with the letter "G" to designate Ground Thread. The letter G will be followed by the letter "H" to designate above basic; or the letter "L" to designate below basic. The number following H or L signifies the number of .
Which tap is used to size the thread? ›#8 Stay Bolt Tap
In the middle of this tap, a reamer is built which helps in making the job clean and of accurate size. Tap is built above the reamer which is used for cutting accurate threads.
Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap, and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
Which tap do you use first? ›If you are tapping a hole that goes through the material then the taper tap is the one to use, the other two are to allow you to make a thread down to the bottom of a blind hole, and would be used in turn after starting the thread with the taper tap.
What does NS mean on tap? ›
NS means special thread. Pitch Diameter is the basic dimension of a screw, threaded hole, or a tap the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, the surface of which passes through the thread where width of thread and space between threads are identical. This cylinder, of course, would be a cone for tapered taps.
Why is a set of 3 taps used for threading? ›Why are standard hand taps supplied in sets of three? Because the finished depth of cut is too much to be done with a single cut and starting with the full thread would cause distortion due to the force required without the control.
What does m5x0 8 mean on a threading tap? ›Thread. 5 mm Shank Diameter. 0.075 mm Pitch Diameter Undersize.
What are normal taps called? ›The pillar tap
This is one of the types of tap that is the most traditional and still among the most versatile and common. Think of those standard 'hot' and 'cold' taps, and you're thinking of the pillar type of tap.
NPT and BSP threads are not interchangeable due to the differences in thread forms. NPT threads are pointed in the peaks and valleys, where BSPs are rounded. Most notably, the NPT thread angle is 60 degrees versus the BSP 55-degree angle.
How do you tap a Bspt thread? ›place work to be tapped in a vice on a drill press/mill, place a dead center in the chuck, use the dead center in the end of the reamer this should hold it straight with slight downward pressure from the dead center use a tap wrench to turn tap.
What is the difference between NPT and NPTF taps? ›While NPT and NPTF are both designed to screw together, NPT requires a seal to be leak proof while NPTF do not. The L1 gauge requirements for NPT and NPTF differ for threads more than ½ in. in size, and thus, are not interchangeable. The difference lies in the Plug Gage Major Diameter and Ring Gage Minor Diameter.
What is a self cutting tap? ›A self cutting tap is a useful device, which when attached to your piping, can be used for plumbing in washing machines and dishwashers. A self cutting tap can also be used to drain your central heating system if a drain valve has not been fitted. One thing to be aware of is that these taps may cause reduced flow.
How do you thread a pipe tap? ›How To Drill and Tap Holes Standard and Pipe - YouTube
What is bottoming tap? ›Definition of bottoming tap
: a hand tap cutting a full thread to the bottom of a hole.
How many taps are there? ›
There are basically four types of taps that exist in the marketplace today. Hand tap: This tap has straight flutes and comes in either a taper, plug or bottoming chamfer.
What are the different parts of a tap called? ›Seal, Aerator and Nozzle – This is where the mixed water exits the tap. It goes through an aerator, which is housed in a nozzle and screwed into the tap body. The nozzle is made water tight using a seal.
What is the difference between threading and tapping? ›The difference between threading and tapping is the tool used and the surface on which the processes happen. The threading process creates threads outside of a hole with a die tool. The tapping process makes threads inside a drilled hole with a tapping tool.
What is a spiral tap used for? ›Spiral fluted taps have flutes that wrap around the tap's axis in a spiral or a helical con- figuration. The tap is used mainly for tapping threads in blind holes. A spiral fluted tap pulls the chips out of the hole toward the tap shank and opposite of the tapping direc- tion.
What is roll tapping? ›Unlike most CNC cutting tools, Thread Forming Taps, otherwise known as Form Taps, Forming Taps, or Roll Taps, work by molding the workpiece rather than cutting it. Because of this, Form Taps do not contain any flutes, as there is no cutting action taking place, nor are there any chips to evacuate.
How do you measure tap size? ›Use a ruler to measure across the thread diameter where the connector would attach. Include all the thread in your measurement. Now you've got your tap thread measurement, you can easily work out which tap connector is compatible for your tap.
What are the different tap sizes? ›Standard taps are either standard coarse series threads NC (1/4-20), fine series threads NF (1/4-28) or extra fine series NEF (1/4-32). There are other standard tap designations such as NPT or NPTF for tapered pipe threads. Special taps are usually designated NS, indicating a special thread size.
What does 2B mean on a tap? ›The sizes of a 2B and a 3B tap are different. The 2B tap is smaller in size. It has an outside diameter of 0860 inches. The 3B tap is larger by .0130 inches, making its outside diameter .0990 inches. As the sizes progress up the tap scale, it increases in size by .0130 inches in outside diameter.
What does H2 mean on a tap? ›| H1 | = | Basic to Plus .0005 |
|---|---|---|
| H2 | = | Basic Plus .0005 to Plus .0010 |
| H3 | = | Basic Plus .0010 to Plus .0015 |
| H4 | = | Basic Plus .0015 to Plus .0020 |
| H5 | = | Basic Plus .0020 to Plus .0025 |
The one with the longest lead is referred to as the taper or the first tap. The second or intermediate tap and the third which has a very short lead, as the bottoming or plug tap.
What is a 2nd tap? ›
They are used to produce threads close to the bottom of blind holes. SECOND TAPS have a lead of 3-5 threads at 8 degrees per side. They are the most popular and can be used for through holes, or blind holes where the thread does not need to go right to the bottom.
How do I choose the right tap? ›In order to select the right size tap, measure the area where it will be placed, then choose a tap with the corresponding spout height and reach, made of the material you prefer. Water pressure is important to check before buying a kitchen tap as many taps require a minimum pressure of 0.1 bar.
What is a lead tap? ›Lead tap means the pouring hole though which molten lead flows from a kettle or furnace.
What is NF TPI? ›US Standard Threads are measured in TPI (Threads per Inch). They are measured by finding the number of thread crests in 1" of threads. They are separated into Coarse (NC, National Coarse) and Fine (NF, National Fine) threads. Other Names: Imperial, Inch, Fractional, Unified. Coarse Thread - NC.
What is the difference between UNC 2A and UNC 2B? ›Class 2A external threads have an allowance, Class 2B internal threads do not. Classes 2A and 2B, for most engineering applications, offer the optimum thread fit that balances fastener performance, manufacturing convenience and economy.
What is UNC thread type? ›Meanwhile, UNC denotes Unified Coarse Threads. UNC threads are a type of coarse thread that has an unbroken series of right-hand turns with uniform geometry. Certain threads cover a specific range. It's vital to understand that range so that you can use the correct sized tap and die when needed.
How many taps are in a set? ›Normally, a hand tap set consists of three taps: taper tap, center tap and finishing tap.
Why are serial taps used? ›For deeper holes and in tougher or difficult to work materials serial taps can be used. Serial taps come in sets of three and have leads similar to ISO 529 taps. They are however graduated in diameter so that the first tap used, recognised by one groove on the shank, is smaller than the second which has two grooves.
What does m12x1 25 mean? ›M12 x 25 = 12 mm diameter, coarse thread is assumed (1.75 mm), 25 mm long. M12 is a matching coarse threaded nut. (To avoid confusion, we always include the thread pitch for both coarse and fine metric fasteners.)
What does 6H mean on a thread? ›m8 means metric thread 8mm of ISO standard and 6H refers to tolerance of threaded hole (know more about it in ISO 2768)
What does m8x1 mean? ›
For metric fasteners, you will see a M8 x 1.25 or an M8 x 1. For thread pitch, the distance between two points is the second number meaning the higher the number the fewer threads there are. This means the M8 x 1.25 is the coarse threading and the M8 x 1 is the fine thread.
What is a single tap called? ›Monobloc Taps
Monobloc taps are a type of tap that has a single spout for both hot and cold water. You can operate it with a lever that's adjustable. It allows choosing the temperature of the water with a single shift of the lever to the right or to the left.
Mono basin taps - or monobloc taps - are the most common type of basin tap in modern bathrooms. As the name suggests, they require a single tap hole and have a single spout from where both hot and cold water is dispensed.
What is the most used tap in a house? ›Mixer Taps
Mixer taps are arguably the most popular style of tapware used in modern and freshly renovated homes. The design is simple: one mixer tap is fitted with two handles, one for hot water and one for cold water. Unlike the pillar tap, the water emerges from a single spout.
Hand taps are cutting tools that produce helical grooves in a hole in order to insert a fastener. Taps are used in multiple industries and trades. Hand taps have a straight flute and come in a taper, plug or bottoming chamfer. The tapering of the threads distributes the cutting action over several teeth.
What are the different parts of a tap called? ›Seal, Aerator and Nozzle – This is where the mixed water exits the tap. It goes through an aerator, which is housed in a nozzle and screwed into the tap body. The nozzle is made water tight using a seal.
What are taps used for? ›A tap is a tool used to cut a threaded hole inside a piece of material. There are two types of threads: internal female threads and external male threads. Internal and external threads are combined to fasten pieces of work together.
What is a mono tap? ›Mono basin taps - or monobloc taps - are the most common type of basin tap in modern bathrooms. As the name suggests, they require a single tap hole and have a single spout from where both hot and cold water is dispensed.
Why is a set of 3 taps used for threading? ›Why are standard hand taps supplied in sets of three? Because the finished depth of cut is too much to be done with a single cut and starting with the full thread would cause distortion due to the force required without the control.
What is a cut tap? ›Cut taps, or cutting taps, are identifiable by the grooves called flutes that are cut into the longitudinal axis of the tap blank. Flutes are necessary when shaving away pieces of metal (or plastic or other work material) from inside the hole.
What is a blind hole tap? ›
Blind Hole Tapping or also called as Blind Hole Thread Cutting With A Magnetic Drilling Machine. Tapping through holes or making threads in a through holes is a pretty easy task with a magnetic drill or a conventional drilling / tapping machine.
How many different types of taps are there? ›Tapping tools are divided into four types: straight flute tap, spiral point tap, spiral fuse tap, and forming tap. Which type you use depends on what type of hole you want to thread, blind hole or through hole, and the component material.
What are normal taps called? ›The pillar tap
This is one of the types of tap that is the most traditional and still among the most versatile and common. Think of those standard 'hot' and 'cold' taps, and you're thinking of the pillar type of tap.
A faucet aerator (or tap aerator) is often found at the tip of modern indoor water faucets.
Which tap is used to size the thread? ›#8 Stay Bolt Tap
In the middle of this tap, a reamer is built which helps in making the job clean and of accurate size. Tap is built above the reamer which is used for cutting accurate threads.
Spiral fluted taps have flutes that wrap around the tap's axis in a spiral or a helical con- figuration. The tap is used mainly for tapping threads in blind holes. A spiral fluted tap pulls the chips out of the hole toward the tap shank and opposite of the tapping direc- tion.
Which tap do you use first? ›If you are tapping a hole that goes through the material then the taper tap is the one to use, the other two are to allow you to make a thread down to the bottom of a blind hole, and would be used in turn after starting the thread with the taper tap.
What is a mixing tap? ›noun. a tap in which hot and cold water supplies have a joint outlet but are controlled separately.
What is a combination tap? ›Kitchen mixer taps combine hot and cold water, providing the required water temperature to perfectly suit your needs.
What types of mixer taps are there? ›- Pillar taps. Kitchen pillar taps are often used in utility sinks. ...
- Mono bloc mixer. ...
- Single lever mixer. ...
- Deck mounted mixer. ...
- Wall mounted mixer. ...
- Bib taps. ...
- Pull out spray mixers. ...
- Filter taps.