Tapping drill bits....

[GANGGREEN]

I just saw a video about some "tapping drill bits" that actually drill the hole and tap it at the same time.  Seems like a good idea that would simplify and eliminate at least one step in the gunmaking process.  Has anyone used something like this?  Thoughts?

[Sawfiler]

I have used these on jobsites for installing door hardware in hollow metal doors. I don't think I would use on a gun - too much opportunity for a broken tap, and all the related problems. They work great for tapping very thin, soft material where precision is not as important as a gun. You almost have to use these in a handheld drill as opposed to a drill press - if the tap catches it will suck the material off the work table and either break the tap or spin the material out of your hand. I don't see the time savings when those things taken into account.

[GANGGREEN]

I appreciate your thoughts.  They seem to market them based on the assumption that you're LESS likely to break a tap this way.  I do agree that it appears that they need to be used in a handheld/cordless drill.

[Mauser06]

Countless hours building a rifle....I'm not too worried about a few minutes to tap all 3 holes in a long rifle. 

[GANGGREEN]

Yeah, I came to the same conclusion after giving it some thought, but being a relative amateur, I guess I'm always looking for opportunities to prevent an oopsie.

[PPatch]

What's the hurry? It takes maybe two minutes to hand tap a hole. Plus, I bet that bit is made in China, where the appearance of something is far more important than it actually functioning as a tool.

dave

[stubshaft]

Countless hours building a rifle....I'm not too worried about a few minutes to tap all 3 holes in a long rifle.

If I wanted it done quicker I would by a store bought rifle.  Part of the pleasure for me in building a rifle is knowing that it was done right (or as close to it as I can get).

[Howard]

Don't use those taps on your rifle. You will end up breaking them & you will end up sending them to a machine shop that charges maybe 100 per hour to have them EDMed out.

[Clark Badgett]

With metals you drill faster than you tap.

[GANGGREEN]

That's what I thought too.  I can see drilling the metal at cordless drill speed, but I'd think you'd want to tap very slowly (like hand tap speed).  They showed videos of them drilling at full speed and tapping at the same speed, but everyone's right, for the minimum effort required, I'll stick with the old fashioned way.   

[Gaeckle]

I will use these at work where the metal thickness is no greater than 1/8 inch. I use a battery operated impact driver and I have noticed that they break easily after about 15 uses. If you need speed they are just okay, but I have also learned to drill a pilot hole, then run the tap/drill job into the pilot. I find their best uses are for making machine guards, but after that they mostly a pain as they will break easily. I would not recommend them for gun work.

[Bob Roller]

To do a "professional" job as opposed to a "perfeshunal"job of tapping
a hole,the hole should be countersunk the depth of one thread on a
thru hole and tapping fluid added to help.Works fine and looks fine.

Bob Roller