Hobby Tap and Die Sets

May 30, 2020July 25, 2020 William Hobby Tap and Die Set, tap and die set for hobbyist

Here are 10 of the Best Hobby Tap and Die Sets!

All Types and Size Ranges for Every Budget!

One of my hobbies happens to be building and flying model airplanes. Occasionally I need to tap a hole or cut a thread on a push rod or stud when I build a new model or change gear. I never know what thread size thread I will need so having a set on hand makes sense for me. After a lot of digging around I found 10 Hobby Tap and Die Sets I can recommend to my fellow hobbyists.

It’s wonderful to have a hobby! It can add so much enjoyment to life and allow you to escape from an otherwise mundane routine. Having the right tools available when you need them adds to the experience.

Go the Expensive Route or Keep it Low-Cost?

Unfortunately, tools can get expensive; especially specialized tools that you likely won’t use regularly or for any other purpose. The hobbyist has to make a budget decision – do I go the expensive route or keep it low-cost?

Commercial grade tap and die sets can cost hundreds of dollars because they are made to closer tolerances, and are usually made from HSS (high speed steel). They are engineered to withstand the everyday wear and tear of a production environment.

Do I Need a High Speed Steel Set for my Hobby, or is High Carbon Steel Good Enough?

For the hobbyist who only needs to tap a hole or thread a stud or rod now and then, a set made from heat treated High Carbon Steel will work just fine and last for many years if used correctly. The good news is that high carbon steel tap and die sets are low-cost compared to commercial grade HSS sets.

Unless your hobby happens to be machining steel parts or restoring old automobiles, a High Carbon Steel tap and die set is all you need.

It is the hardness of a tool that enables it to cut another softer material. The big difference between high carbon steel and HSS steel is that HSS will maintain its hardness even when heated above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has a greater wear characteristic than hardened high carbon steel. This is why HSS is used for metal cutting tools that are used in machines such as drill bits, end mills, lathe tools, etc.

In a non-machine shop environment threading is usually done by hand at very slow speeds. A good quality set of taps and dies made from high carbon steel will cut just as good a thread as a set made from HSS. And, for the hobbyist they will probably last a lifetime.

Pro Tip: Always use a top grade Thread Cutting Fluid such as Tap Magic when using a tap or die. It will make the job so much easier, reduce the possibility of breaking a tap, and produce cleaner/sharper threads.

What are Some Good Hobby Tap and Die Sets?

My Recommendations

Here are some well-made and reasonably priced hobby tap and die sets. Each one has a different range of thread sizes and thread series. Some have more support accessories than others. All the customer reviews are legitimate and natural.

Whether your hobby is restoring old clocks or WWII airplanes, these tap and die sets can be used to hand-cut good fitting internal and external threads is low-carbon steel, brass, aluminum, and some plastics.

Happybuy – 86JSZBYTZ00000001V0 Tap and Die Set 86PCS Combination SAE/Metric Tap and Die Kit for Cutting External and Internal Threads with Storage CaseKECHUANG 60-Pieces Tap and Die Set Metric and SAE Standard Internal and External Threaded Tool SetNeiko 00911A Tap and Die Set Premium SAE Titanium Coated 40-Piece60-Piece Master Tap and Die Set – Include Both SAE Inch and Metric Sizes Coarse and Fine Threads | Essential Threading and Rethreading Tool Kit with Complete Accessories and Storage CaseMuzerdo 86 Piece Tap and Die Set Bearing Steel Sae and Metric Tools Titanium Coated with Metal Carrying CaseOrion Motor Tech SAE & Metric Tap and Die Set 80pcs | SAE Thread Types: NC NF NPT | Tap Die Set Metric SAE Standard for Cutting External and Internal Threads