Best TAP & DIE Set? Craftsman vs Irwin, Bosch, Draper, Vermont American, Tekton, GearWrench
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Tap \u0026 Die sets tested: Craftsman, GearWrench, Draper, Bosch, Tekton, Century, Irwin, Vermont American \u0026 Pittsburgh (Harbor Freight). Tap \u0026 Die sets tested for sharpness to cut threads in aluminum, medium-hardness steel, and spring steel. After creating threads, each of the threads are compared for fit and quality. My goal is to always provide accurate and honest test results by avoiding outside pressure from manufacturers. To do this, I always buy all of the products that I test along with the test equipment and supplies used for the testing. So, thank you very much for helping me achieve this goal by your support of the channel. ➡ Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng/join ➡ Thank you very much for supporting the channel: https://www.patreon.com/projectfarm ➡ An easy way to find past videos along with products tested: http://bit.ly/2FCrBpk A big thanks to Jim for putting this together. ➡ Merch: https://project-farm.com ➡ Click here if you'd like to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng?sub_confirmation=1 ➡ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ➡ Products Tested In This Video (in no particular order): Craftsman: https://amzn.to/361UCIl Century: https://amzn.to/3GL2RFe Tekton: https://amzn.to/3JDCWS7 Bosch: https://amzn.to/3gGqzIl Draper: https://amzn.to/3HNmnSW GearWrench: https://amzn.to/3LvjEzO Vermont American: https://amzn.to/3HK5E2U Irwin: Available at Lowes Pittsburgh: available at Harbor Freight Torque Adapter: https://amzn.to/3GMTuoD Videography Equipment: Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera: https://amzn.to/2YdXvPw Canon 70D Camera: https://amzn.to/31b5Gy0 Azden Microphone: https://amzn.to/34d3DLE Go Pro Bundle: https://amzn.to/3Ca0ZVN This video is only for entertainment purposes. If you rely on the information portrayed in this video, you assume the responsibility for the results. Project Farm LLC
Products Reviewed (9)
Craftsman
75 Piece Tap and Die Set
$221.00
Co-Best Overall - Required least torque for 18-pitch taps (45 inch-pounds on aluminum), excellent thread tolerances (1.23mm movement), good spring steel performance (183 inch-pounds). Made in China. Weighs 13.64g tap/26.07g die.
Irwin
Hanson Performance Threading System Self-Aligning Tap and Die Set 14-Piece
$60.00
Co-Best Overall - Excellent thread fit (1.28mm movement), required only 120 inch-pounds on spring steel - the least torque. Self-aligning feature works well. Made in USA (tools made in China). Weighs 20.73g tap/39.94g die.
GearWrench
77 Piece Ratcheting Tap and Die Set
$144.00
Good performance with ratcheting feature, required 60 inch-pounds on aluminum, 233 inch-pounds on spring steel. Good thread fit (1.45mm movement). Packaged in Taiwan. Weighs 13.45g tap/26.43g die.
Century
Drill and Tool Tap and Die Set 24-Piece
$105.00
Required least torque on aluminum (53 inch-pounds), good performance on spring steel (129 inch-pounds). Made in Japan. Weighs 19.16g tap/27.57g die. Good overall performer but more side-to-side play than top brands.
Bosch
40 Piece Tap and Die Set
$130.00
Average performance across tests, required 61 inch-pounds on aluminum, 250 inch-pounds on spring steel. Good thread tolerances (1.5mm movement). Made in China. Weighs 21.32g tap/26.34g die.
Draper
52-Piece Combination Tap and Die Set
$134.00
Used 24 thread pitch (not 18 like others), required least torque (37 inch-pounds) but not apples-to-apples comparison. Very tight tolerances (0.63mm movement). Made in Europe. Weighs 14.71g tap/21.52g die.
Tekton
Tap and Die Set 45-Piece
$105.00
Manufacturing defect - forgot to cut threads in die. Tap broke on spring steel test at 202 inch-pounds due to smaller diameter shaft. Required 76 inch-pounds on aluminum. Made in China. Weighs 14.7g tap/74.86g die.
Vermont American
Tap and Die Set 12-Piece
$57.00
Required 60 inch-pounds on aluminum, loose thread fit (3.18mm movement), performed well on spring steel at 182 inch-pounds. Made in China despite USA expectations. Weighs 20.84g tap/26.32g die.
Pittsburgh
Tap & Die Set
$20.00
Required highest torque (118 inch-pounds on aluminum), very loose thread fit (2.93mm side-to-side movement), significant wear on spring steel test at 358 inch-pounds. Made in China, weighs 14.19g tap/21.38g die.