Like most people these days I use a lot of titanium in my knives. Especially folders that are screwed together. This means wholes that must be drilled and tapped. Small screws and small taps. And when these taps break as they are want to do; it is almost always just so you can't grab the little ***** and turn them out. Two things I learned help this situation greatly: first is I drill my wholes in titanium oversize ( not much but bigger than in steels ) as the wholes seem to close up a little when you are done drilling--- second is when they break soak the piece in Muratic acid. It will eat away at the tap but not the titanium. WORD of CAUTION-- do this outside if possible cause this stuff will put a coat of rust on everything in your shop for 20 feet around! If it's metal it will have rust! But it does work.
Re: Taps & Titanium Thank you, thank you, thank you. You have no idea how many 0-80 taps I have broken while tapping the titanium liners. Stick it in the muriatic and leave it for abit and the problem is solved. I have been seriously thinking of getting a tapmatic for just this reason. Have you heard anything about how useful they are? Thanks Steve
Re: Taps & Titanium You gotta get a tapping head guys. The money you save in broken taps will pay for it. I got a tapping head from sowa tool in Kitchener , one of their STM brands as it was 1/2 the cost of a tapmatic. It is a little less smooth than the tapmatic and slightly larger but performs really well. Also you have to use good taps designed for titanium , I use a Greenfield brand 2-56 tap for most of what I do , it is " EDP:85523 8601 2 56 NC H2 2FL EMNI GUN " . This is an expensive tap running around $50 but while doing a batch of folders I collaborated on with Randy Doucette I tapped over 1200 holes with 1 tap. The other thing is you have to do is work the tap so it cuts rather than work hardening the titanium. Run the drill press around 1500 rpm and its in and out before you know it. Use a good tapping fluid like Cool Tool or similar product and the knives will be flying of the bench, ok maybe not but at least those with tender ears will be able to stay in the same room with you .
Re: Taps & Titanium Yes. I go one number larger. It makes it less likely to break the tap but there's still enough thread to hold the screws tight.
