Tap and Die sets???

Hey Everyone,

I am going to buy a Tap and Die set and am wondering if it is necessary (or recomended) to purchase the more expensive Titanium coated sets? I am a complete rookie to all this. I can get a 46 piece Titanium coated set on sale for $49 ( reg $129) or a 60 piece Heat Treated set for $59 (reg $79). Any opinions welcome.

Thanks

I'd get the best quality possible... sounds like the titanium. I've only got a small cheap set, but they do the trick for cleaning threads... never tried to tap brand new threads with them. At least with the best quality, you are less likely to experience their failure.

On our vans, there are so few sizes of taps we need to clean things up, so you don't need a huge set... kinda like sockets... we probably only use 5 sockets in our entire kits on the vans.

Can't argue with $80 off! Where are you getting it by chance?

Canadian Tire

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524443119599&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672077&bmUID=1232743534659

I may be off on this but my thinking is that the Ti coated type have a good cutting edge, but if the coating chips or gets worn then you loose the cutting efficency. Tools where the entire piece is hi-grade hard steel then it is less prone to dulling. I have used "coated" drills and found them to be OK at first, but once the edge is lost the thing is useless. A high quality non-coated drill seems to last longer and can be re sharpened. Taps and dies, I dont think, can be resharpened. I also agree that a full set is neat, but if there are sizes you never use, then why get the multi piece set instead of only the ones needed. A machinest out there may have a better idea on this.
Kakster