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This article is a continuation on my "All about screws" article. If you haven't read that one, please do now.



What is tapping?



Tapping is the process of cutting a matching set of threads into a piece of metal, plastic, acrylic, or wood. The process of tapping uses two separate tools: the tap which cuts the threads on the inner diameter of the hole, and the die which cuts the threads on the outer diameter of the bolt or screw.

The process of cutting the threads using a tap is called tapping, and the process of using a die is called threading.

It all sounds complicated and harder than what a beginner would want to deal with, but I'm here to tell you otherwise! With a little practice you will be able to drill and tap your own holes, and cut your own threads! It's really not all that hard.

What you'll probably need:



If you're just getting started you probably don't have a tapping set. These will come in either imperial or metric and can run the range from fairly cheap to uber expensive. You get what you pay for, and a quality set will break less and last you longer. For a beginner, get the cheap set and break them and learn what you can and can't do. It's going to happen anyway, so don't throw your money away!

You'll also need some sort of cutting fluid. Without this you're going to have a bad time of it. Lubrication is the word of the day. Buy some cutting fluid. Trust me.