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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Tap and Die purchase

I have always intended to purchase a Tap & Die set for use with my TD. AS has a set on sale and I'm wondering if this is a good set to purchase. Will anything I likely need be missing? Or, is there a better set available elsewhere?
Contents:
Boxed BSF Tap and Die set; 67-018; $99.95 abingdonspares.com/products/boxed-bsf-tap-and-die-set
-Wood box set of Carbon Steel BSF tap and dies. Includes one tap handle and 2 die handles. 2, 1/2 BSF taps, 2, 7/16 BSF taps, 2, 3/8 BSF tap, 2, 5/16th taps, 2, 1/4 taps and 2, 3/16 BSF taps. 1, 1/2 BSF die, 1, 7/16 BSF die, 1, 3/8 BSF die, 1, 5/16 BSF die, 1, 1/4 BSF die and 1, 3/16 BSF die

Thanks in advance.
Mike
M Marini

This kit looks like it has just what you need to clean up nuts and bolts on a T series car.

Frank Cronin

But remember that they will do nothing for your engine, which is metric.

Tom Lange
MGT Repair
t lange

...or small screws which use BA. Still a good buy.
Lew Palmer

Thanks Frank, Tom, and Lew.
Frank - My intended use is to identify and clean up the numerous nuts and bolts in my spares supply.

Tom - I already have a metric tap and die set so those should be covered.

Lew - I'll be aware some are BA. Good reminder.

I'll wait a couple of days before I order in case someone else wants to comment.
Thanks,
Mike
M Marini

Not to rain on the parade, BUT, I would strongly AVOID carbon steel taps. They are fragile. They snap with the slightest sideways force and getting a broken tap out is HARD.

I would advise only HSS taps. They still brake but no where as easily.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Thanks, Jim. I'll take that into consideration. Since my primary use will be to identify and clean up the numerous nuts and bolts in my spares supply I shouldn't be in that predicament - famous last words! And, of course once I have it I will undoubtedly use it elsewhere and risk breaking.

Do you have a suggestion of where to purchase the HSS taps?
Mike
M Marini

When I was looking several years ago, I had difficulty finding taps that were not carbon steel.
I have made a rule not to buy them, (except in an emergency and then with grate caution).
I have not looked lately but in that time frame I settled on this company.

https://tap-die.com/contents/en-uk/about.html

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

I purchased mine from British Fasteners. I can't count how many times I've gone over to the workbench to use this tool set during my restoration. Unsure of the grade of steel of the tools but they have held up well for my application.

If you're just looking for something to clean up some threads, the one from A/S or B/F in my opinion will do fine.



Frank Cronin

Got mine from British Fasteners also. They also have a thread set. Like feeler gauges with all the various pitcy threads. Nice for identifying what you have.
Bruce Cunha

Mike,
Your metric set will more than likely not cover all the engine threads. You will need M8 x 1mm (Iso fine). The standard M8 is M8x1.25.
Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

<< Like feeler gauges with all the various pitcy threads>>

I see no thread gauge in the A/S kit but you can buy this separately from B/F.
Frank Cronin

Mike I went thru British Fasteners to order some 1/4 British straight pipe spiral flute bottoming taps for taping a blind hole. They had to get them from England. It took a couple of weeks. I only use HSS taps the carbon steel wear out too fast or chip and break.

Butch
R Taras

I can recommend Tracy tools in the UK. They are excellent to deal with.
https://www.tracytools.com/
I can second Butch's recommendation-HSS is the way to go.
Regards
Declan
Declan Burns

Declan is spot on with his recommendation for Tracey Tools. I bought Hotchkiss metric taps and dies for the engine and a left hand BSF die to clean up the front stub axle which I damaged from them.

Jan T
J Targosz

Thanks a lot, guys. I appreciate ALL the excellent information.
Mike
M Marini

This thread was discussed between 17/08/2019 and 21/08/2019

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