New Handles for an old tap wrench

[astroracer]

I was using the old tap wrench(my favorite one), tapping holes in a plate for an adjustable angle plate I am building. The old wooden handles finally gave up the ghost. I felt one crack while running the tap in and that was the end of that one...

The broken handle.

These just slip over the steel wrench handles to provide extra leverage for bigger taps. This one won't slip over anything now...

Using a 3/8-16 tap in 1/2" thick steel plate, i needed the extra leverage. i dug a couple of aluminum shorts out of the scrap bin and got busy on the lathe.

I bored the pieces out to 19/64th's to press onto the handle and did a little profiling just to add some interest. Wasn't necessary but it took no time at all.

see next post.

[astroracer]

I used a piece of ScotchBrite while the part was spinning in the lathe to give them a brushed finish.

Test fitting the first one.

With both handles made I could continue with the tapping project.

You can see one doesn't go all the way on but it's on there pretty tight. I'll fix this after I get this angle plate project done.
These worked well and I got all 39 holes tapped in about a half hour...

Thanks for looking
Mark

[DIYer]

Thanks astroracer! We've added your Tap Handles to our Tapping and Threading category, as well as to your builder page: astroracer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tap Handles by astroracer

tags: handle, tapping