Tapping Tuesday – Tap Chamfer
Some time ago we published a blog entitled, "CUTTING TAP CHAMFER 101”. It described what the chamfer’s purpose is, and what standard lengths are offered on off the shelf taps. They are Bottoming, Plug, and Taper. This blog builds on that information and goes into more depth so you can optimize the chamfer based on your application. Although we stock many common special taps with standard chamfer lengths, we can design and manufacture a special tap for your application. Optimizing the chamfer results in, longer tap life, reduced tapping torque, better finish, and make the difference
Tap Drill Size for NPT & NPTF Taper Threads
Tap Drill Size for NPT and NPTF Taper Threads

You got the job. You ordered and received material. You ordered and received taps and gages from North American Tool. The job is now out in the shop to be manufactured and the first operation is to produce a hole before tapping. How do you determine what tooling to do that with?
Holes before tapping pipe threads are produced either straight or tapered. The choice of method is
National Pipe Taper vs. National Pipe Taper Fuel
Ever wonder what the difference is between an NPT (National Pipe Taper) and NPTF (National Pipe Taper Fuel) threads are? It’s not just the spelling.
They are both the same in many ways,
- both are used to carry fluids and gasses
- both have the same diameter, thread per inch combination, sizes, 1/16-27, 1/8-27, ¼-18, etc.
- both have an included thread angle of 60 degrees.
- both have a thread that tapers 3/4 per inch per foot or 1/16 per inch.
- both have flatted crest and roots
- both have the same pitch
How Do You Spell Relief?
Have you ever had a tapping job that was so troublesome that it caused heartburn or acid indigestion due to broken taps, bad finish, short tap life, over or undersized threads, ETC.?
One way of avoiding or alleviating such a condition is accomplished with the use of a tap feature called “relief”. The definition of “relief” according to Marian Webster, is removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing. For a tap, “relief” is the reducing of surface contact between the tap/tap feature and the part being tapped. Surface contact generates unwanted heat causing the
CALCULATING “BEFORE PLATE” INTERNAL SCREW THREAD AND TAP “H” LIMITS
We realize how confusing the painstaking math is to get preplate part limits and a Tap “H” limit, but don’t worry, all you have to do is contact us with your thread information, and we will do the work. Call us at 800-USA-TAPS.
If you want to know how it's done, we’ve included the formulas for the engineer in all of us.
When encountering
North American Tool Releases New Catalog – Feb. 1, 2017
North American Tool Corporation has announced the release of their new comprehensive 2017 Special Taps, Dies and Gages catalog. The 132-page color catalog is a complete resource guide for users of industrial tapping and thread tools.
Featuring popular special and made-to-order taps, threading dies, thread gages and other threading tools in an easy to read format, many of the items can be manufactured and shipped within 24 hours.
The catalog features a comprehensive engineering section relative to taps and threading applications. It also includes an overview of the company’s mobile and cloud