Where to find Tap and Dies

I have a collection of taps and dies for most of the screws used in Cues. Had them made special long ago by Widell. It got very Exspensive. I had North American make two dies @ 154.00 each. They suck. That company can't follow a spec sheet to save thier life.
 
JoeyInCali said:
That's because 5/16 18 UNC threads . They are standard . 5/16 14 and 3/8 10 are bastard screws ( for all intents and purposes ).
You can buy Delrin j/p's at Ebay all day for the threads you mentioned . Not worth the time to make .
I order 3/8 11 by the dozens when I get mine made .
Click to expand...
I appreciate the feedback. I understand they are non standard. I was just hoping someone other than cue makers used the threads for something and there might be more than just one supplier in the world.

I have the Delrin JPs already for my cues. I enjoy woodworking as a hobby and wanted to make some nice ones for myself and maybe sell a few. Thought it would be interesting to make the entire thing from scratch.

I’ll take a minute and weigh the pros and cons.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Don’t ever give up unless your a quitter.

If you looking for a special tap & die, there has to be place that cater to machine shops.

Robles is people are too
Lazy to get off their asses, and put effort into finding hard to find items.

The word work come to mind, yes I know that is dirty word.😂
Click to expand...
this is 'Ask the Cuemaker" section...not ask the asshat rodeo Clown show....go back to the main forum...
 
Last edited:
CocoboloCowboy said:
Don’t ever give up unless your a quitter.

If you looking for a special tap & die, there has to be place that cater to machine shops.

Robles is people are too
Lazy to get off their asses, and put effort into finding hard to find items.

The word work come to mind, yes I know that is dirty word.😂
Click to expand...
What's up with that incoherent drunken babble?
 
SSDiver2112 said:
I appreciate the feedback. I understand they are non standard. I was just hoping someone other than cue makers used the threads for something and there might be more than just one supplier in the world.

I have the Delrin JPs already for my cues. I enjoy woodworking as a hobby and wanted to make some nice ones for myself and maybe sell a few. Thought it would be interesting to make the entire thing from scratch.

I’ll take a minute and weigh the pros and cons.
Click to expand...

Post photos when you are done, I think it's a good idea from a hobby standpoint. Anyone can buy stuff already made (including cues!).
 
SSDiver2112 said:
I am looking for 3/8-10 and 5/16-14 threads. I can find the taps, but I cannot find a die for these threads. Does anyone know where I can order these?

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Just curious....why would need a die to produce these threads?
I know the obvious reason, however, these male threaded items are generally already produced in products used for building cues.
 
Michael Webb said:
I have a collection of taps and dies for most of the screws used in Cues. Had them made special long ago by Widell. It got very Exspensive. I had North American make two dies @ 154.00 each. They suck. That company can't follow a spec sheet to save thier life.
Click to expand...
Do you think American could make a tap identical to one they had made 30 years ago if I just sent them a dull tap? I love these old taps I have from them that I got from an Alaskan cuemaker back in the nineties, but they are getting ready to be replaced.
 
cueman said:
Do you think American could make a tap identical to one they had made 30 years ago if I just sent them a dull tap? I love these old taps I have from them that I got from an Alaskan cuemaker back in the nineties, but they are getting ready to be replaced.
Click to expand...
I think Widell could. I lost faith in North American besides eating the 300 plus dollars because they made them wrong. Keep in mind. I haven't had any taps or dies made in 20 years or more. I lost interest in having them made.
 
Last edited:
cueman said:
Do you think American could make a tap identical to one they had made 30 years ago if I just sent them a dull tap? I love these old taps I have from them that I got from an Alaskan cuemaker back in the nineties, but they are getting ready to be replaced.
Click to expand...


Could but Cody would be high because of short supply of skilled labor.

During Vietnam So Cal had defense plants, and small support businesses all over.

Need custom tooling, tap, or die, etc. 50 or more place to buy or have it made.


USA is hitting for skilled tradesmen like Tool n Die makers.
 
Michael Webb said:
I think Widell could. I lost faith in North American besides eating the 300 plus dollars because they made them wrong.
Click to expand...
I am not sure who made my 5/16 10 taps as the machine shop who made my pins got them made for me, but I have like a dozen and everyone of them gives a different fit. All were made at the same time. It made me put off selling my 5/16 10 pins to the public because I could not offer a consistant tap. Tried to get them to remake them and they refused and said they were within spec. Most will not even allow the pin to go into the tapped hole.
 
cueman said:
I am not sure who made my 5/16 10 taps as the machine shop who made my pins got them made for me, but I have like a dozen and everyone of them gives a different fit. All were made at the same time. It made me put off selling my 5/16 10 pins to the public because I could not offer a consistant tap. Tried to get them to remake them and they refused and said they were within spec. Most will not even allow the pin to go into the tapped hole.
Click to expand...
Inconsistency and cop out WITHIN SPEC. Is bad business in tool making.
 
cueman said:
I am not sure who made my 5/16 10 taps as the machine shop who made my pins got them made for me, but I have like a dozen and everyone of them gives a different fit. All were made at the same time. It made me put off selling my 5/16 10 pins to the public because I could not offer a consistant tap. Tried to get them to remake them and they refused and said they were within spec. Most will not even allow the pin to go into the tapped hole.
Click to expand...
I heard of that...you're not alone...I mispoke and thought I bought from you??
 
We have a place in NZ that makes only carbide tooling, like specific sized non standard reamers (Ø6.05mm) as an example, special diameter milling cutters, even carbide taps. But does not make dies though or ring gauges. A 1 off item is around $200, but a set of reamers that are -0.02mm and +0.02mm when you buy 6 reamers, 1 of each size come to $100 each. I have not priced taps off them. So will enquire. The special reamers that I got a couple of years ago, were cheaper and produced the hole to the roundness required better than any we could buy from a tool supply company.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top