Taps - Plug - BSF

Taps are tools used by engineers for creating a female thread inside a hole. The tap is inserted into a special wrench and turned whilst cutting oil is used to lubricate the tap.

When forming a brand new thread in a blind hole, it is usually a three-stage process.

BSF (British Standard Fine) is an imperial thread Introduced as a fine-pitch alternative to BSW and commonly used in engineering and automotive applications in the UK.  It was superseded by the UNF thread type in the 1940’s.

Using taps

  • Firstly a taper tap is used. This tap has a pronounced taper to the cutting edges, ensuring that the first cut is less aggressive.
  • After the taper tap comes a second tap. This also has a tapered edge, but not as pronounced as the taper tap. This slight taper helps align the tap when it is first introduced to the hole.
  • The third and final stage is carried out with a bottoming tap, often referred to as plug tap. Bottoming taps have hardly any taper and a continuous cutting edge.

When cutting shallow female threads, it may be possible to skip the third stage and just use the taper or second taps.

If tapping into a soft material it is possible to cut the thread with only a second tap.

Read more details

View as Grid List

2 Items

CODE: T3BF062

5/8
£32.52 £39.02
MORE INFO

CODE: T3BF075

3/4
£42.84 £51.41
MORE INFO
View as Grid List

2 Items