The average do-it-yourselfer hates to drill metal, especially steel. We don’t know how many questions readers have submitted and we’ve answered on that topic over the years. Even the most enthusiastic ...

The best tool for tapping precise holes in metal parts and workpieces is—not surprisingly—a dedicated tapper. For years, hole tappers have been the go-to power tool in metalworking and manufacturing ...

A new tooling system produces threaded holes in all types of sheet metal, eliminating the need for secondary tapping operations or additional fasteners. Developed by Mate Precision Tooling, Anoka, ...

It’s become a common sight in manufacturing. An employee, needing to tap a hole in a metal part, reaches for a standard hand drill instead of the tool designed specifically for the job—a tapper.

Twist drills do not make accurately sized or good finish holes; a reamer of some type is often used to cut the final size and finish. A reamer will not make the original hole; it will only enlarge a ...

Historically, the threading of holes has been a fairly straightforward operation, usually performed close to the end of a part’s machining. Once the holes had been drilled, thread taps of the ...

Tapping screws form mating threads in materials they are driven into. There are two basic types: thread forming and thread cutting. The thread-forming screw displaced material around the pilot hole so ...