This set has a great selection of sizes for the RC hobby and many
other repair tasks around the home or shop>
GEARWRENCH 40 Pc. Metric Ratcheting Tap and Die Set
I finally go metric – in style
Text, photos and video by Tom Hintz
Posted - 3-13-2020
For years I have used many lousy excuses for not buying a metric tap and die set. If you fly RC planes (or do anything RC) you are faced with metric fasteners and the occasional need to fix threaded stuff. I have been secretly disenchanted with myself over my resistance to metric and tried justifying it as a noble support of the SAE standard. Of course, all that turned out to be stupid.
Recently, a friend suggested a “fix” for a problem I was having that involved resizing and tapping an existing hole to accept some axles for a RC plane. The tap I needed was metric and that along with so many similar metric needs in the past got me looking for a metric set. I already had a GEARWRENCH SAE tap and die set that has served me well so looked up their metric equivalent. Naturally, Amazon Prime, my enabler in chief had the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set I wanted in stock, with next day delivery. I wised up and clicked the Buy button.
The Basics
All the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set pieces feel substantial to the hand and look well-made throughout. The GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set applies ratchet technology to taps and dies. This seems like such a natural combination; I wonder why this is not the standard today. The taps and dies themselves are traditionally shaped so they fit most common tap and die handles. More importantly, most common taps and dies you may have in your drawer fit the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set ratcheting handles and adapters.
The GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set ratcheting T-handle has a 5° swing arc, and a reversing lever just like virtually all ratchets in the world. Adding ratcheting to a tap and die handle not only makes threading faster, it makes backing the tap or die off the work just as easy as running it in. For me, the ratcheting handles let me stay better aligned with the work, especially in the critical first few rounds of cutting threads. A standard bar-type handle is also included that fits the tap adapters if ratcheting somehow gets in the way.
The ratcheting ring in the tap handle brings a whole new ease of
use to cutting threads, inside or out.
The die adapter is “open ended” letting you thread rods as long as needed. It also has dial-operated guide fingers to help keep the die running square to the workpiece. It appears that GEARWRENCH skipped the cost-saving shortcuts when it came to function, ease of use or durability.
The large handle has a ratcheting ring that contains the ratcheting mechanism. The included adapters for the dies and taps click into that ring in the handle. This is a simple idea done right and that makes the system easy to use and very durable.
The taps and dies all look to be very good quality. I have been using one of the GEARWRENCH SAE sets for years and have never had an issue cutting or cleaning up threads. All the pieces keep on cutting nicely and have saved the day many times.
The GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set includes 17 taps and 17 dies. You get taps in M7X1.0, M6X1.0, M5X0.9, M4X0.7, M3X0.6, M3X0.5, M8X1.25, M9X1.0, M9X1.25, M10X1.25, M10X1.5, M11x1.5, M12X1.5, M12X1.75 and 1/8 BSP28 sizes. The selection of dies include M3X0.5, M3X0.6, M4X0.7, M4X0.75, M5X0.8, M5X0.9, M6X1.0, M7X1.0, M8X1.25, M9X1.0, M9X1.25, M10X1.25, M10X1.5, M11X1.5, M12X1.5, M12X1.75 and 1/8X28BSP. Plus, you also get a metric thread gauge.
They include a printed drill-tap chart that shows the proper drill for each tap size. This chart is metric on one side and inch-based on the other. It leaves you no excuse for trying to force a tap into too small/large a hole.
The GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set comes packed in a nicely fit, blow-molded case that keeps everything safe and organized. Labeled positions for each tap and die also let you know what is missing before packing up for the day.
In the Shop
If you know how to use taps and dies, the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set will do exactly what you expect. While there is nothing overly complicated to cutting threads searching out some YouTube videos on threading basics if this is new to you will help prevent broken taps while producing cleaner threads. As always, cutting oil is a good idea but the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set require no special concessions, just proper use. They seem to be every bit as tough and sharp as any taps and dies I have used in my 70 years.
I have had some cheaper taps and dies that force you to run over the new threads a few times to get a decent fit to the fastener. With the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set I have gone back over new threads one time, more to clear chips than to sweeten up the threads.
Conclusions
At $98.46 (3-10-2020) the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set is not the cheapest set on the market but it very well may be the best anywhere close to that price point. Taps and dies simply are no good if they are not sharp, tough and manufactured cleanly, all of which can be said about this set. I have spent way too much money trying to save a few bucks with lesser tools. In the end, they always cost more when I had to replace them with what I should have bought in the first place. The decision to go with the GEARWRENCH Metric Tap and Die Set comes from that past experience.
Whenever we need to cut threads on something related to RC planes, we need to get it right the first time. That’s the best way to protect our investment in things that fly and that always saves money.
All Flyingrc.net written, photographic and drawn materials are property of and copyright by Tom Hintz and Flyingrc.net 2013-2021 Materials cannot be used in any way without the prior written permission of the owner.
