Learn me, Tap wrench sizes

So, after breaking a ez out in one exhaust manifold stud, and a tap wrench on another (bigger ez out used this time), I needed some new stuff. Yes still have one stud with a broken ez out and one stud still stuck, will get back at them tonight.

Went to sears web site yesterday and ordered this. http://www.sears.com/craftsman-no-6-tap-wrench/p-00952562000P?prdNo=42&blockNo=42&blockType=G42 Picked it up on my way home from work and its huge (for what I do anyway), a definite ez out breaker, if I had seen it first I would have passed due to the size, but might give it a try anyway since their pickup had nothing but a runner, no reg or reps for returns, I was on a rush and did not want to deal with the sales clerks inside the store at the time.

When looking at the sears site, they label their tap wrenches #4,#6,#12, others brands are labeled with 1/4 to 1/2, and some are #0-6.

Quick google-fu (I am at work) for #4 tap wrench provided nothing useful in the first couple results, so I though I would ask you guys for the straight poop.

Thanks, Steve

Can't help you on the naming. I have 2 old Craftsman tap & die sets, (S.A.E. & Metric) and they came with no labeling. If you broke off the tap I have to ask you, did you reverse the tap every 1/4 turn or so? Most everyone that I know who has had this happen was due to the fact that they didn't reverse the tap often enough or at all. The other reason is cheap taps.

In reply to jimbbski:

Thanks, good info for those that do not know about backing taps out to get rid of the cuttings and preventing jamming and breaking of taps, in my case, it was an Ez out in a stuck stud no backing out necessary until the broken stud or bolt is out of the hole.

Steve

Oil, back out every 1/4 turn, go slow.
I'll add this. Craftsman seems to stop making decent tools a long time ago. I'd spend the money for a quality set since, as you know, you do NOT want a tap or ex-out breaking.
My Snap-On set has held up well.
I have a set of these tap sockets. I LOVE them.
Linkey McStinkey
There are plenty of times there's just no room for a tap handle, these are great for those instances. Also, with these you don't have to keep tightening the handle, the rubber o-ring holds the tap tight.

I have also used a 6 point star socket on taps.

Taps are the thing that goes into the thing being threaded, and cuts the threads. Taps have a square end that you put a tool on to turn them. The bigger the tap, the bigger the square end.

Tap wrenches are the thing that you put on the square end of a tap to turn them with. They generally are adjustable. You want a little tap wrench for little taps, and a big tap wrench for big taps.

There is no hard and fast rule for the size of the tap wrench as it relates to the tap. Most sets have a generic "medium" sized tap wrench that will adjust to all the taps in the set.

TRoglodyte wrote: I have also used a 6 point star socket on taps.

12 point sockets work well, but i can't see a 6 point working.

Rather than six or twelve point sockets as discussed above, eight point sockets are a better solution. They're designed for square fitments like taps.

Never heard of a numbered tap wrench per se only a minimum to maximum opening in a hand or t-handle type, even Starrett lists that way. But I ain't a machine shop guy.

After years of cramming a tap into a 12 point socket, I finally got a set of these: Lisle Tap Sockets

I use them so often that I can't even imagine not having them on hand at this point. Absolutely a life saver.

novaderrik wrote:

TRoglodyte wrote: I have also used a 6 point star socket on taps.

12 point sockets work well, but i can't see a 6 point working.

Cousin eddie is right, 8 point, never counted just grabbed it

+1 on the tap sockets. I've used them for years and will let you work in places where you have a long reach to get in or obstructions limiting your swing.