There are many kinds of thread taps in the market. Here I provide some introduction about them, then clients how how to choose them.

Thread taps are used in cutting internal threads of nuts, the process called tapping, and thread dies are used in cutting external threads of bolts, the process called threading.

Hand tap

Hand taps mean that these taps are used by hand not by CNC, hand taps include three types, one is taper tap, another is plug gauge and the last is bottoming tap. taper tap is great for cutting thread. Because they have many tapers. taper taps have a 9 thread chamfer, taper taps are normally used in through hole applications or as a starter tap for blind holes. plug taps have a 5 thread chamfer, in blind hole applications, plug taps are used after a taper tap to get closer to the bottom of the hole. bottomig tap have a 1.5 thread chamfer. After taper and plug taps removed most of the material, bottoming tap are normally used to get close to the bottom of a blind hole.

Spiral point tap

Spiral point taps have a spiral cut and relief grooves, spiral point taps are good for machine tapping through holes or blind holes with adequate bottom clearance, they are also called gun taps because they shoot the chips ahead of the tap.

Spiral Flute Taps

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.

Straight flute taps

The strgaith flute taps are standard thread taps, if no specially specified, gaugestools will send out stright flute taps directly. they can be used in many kinds of tapping applications. it is better that these taps are used in short chipping material, for example cast iron. straight flute taps can be used in blind holes and through holes.