[TowerTalk] Tapping or cutting copper

Roger (K8RI) K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net
Wed Aug 19 10:37:38 PDT 2009



Its from Onion wrote:
> Bacon fat or lard is best. If you use milk then clean everything 
> nearby as soon as you have finished, milk splashes stain and rust steel 
> very quickly. 
>
> Use a very sharp (or roll-form) tap, and some arrangement to keep the 
> tap vertical is almost essential - 
There is a tool holder (for small taps - 1/4" and under) with a flared 
base that includes a tap handle for making sure the tap is perpendicular 
to the work. I've forgotten the name. Have used them many times. IIRC 
lard works much better than the normally used taping fluids when it 
comes to Copper.

73

Roger (K8RI)
> a drill press or the like will do at 
> a pinch. Without some such arrangement it is very difficult to tap 
> copper, even a slight misalignment from vertical will cause the tap to 
> stick. 
>
> When (dry-) turning or drilling copper I find high speed helps, but 
> that's a bit impractical when tapping. 
>
> As with all tapping, a slightly oversize hole will make life much easier. 
>
> As to taps, carbon taps are plenty sharp and hard-wearing enough, but 
> HSS taps are tougher and break less easily - and toughness counts, 
> especially if you are hand tapping and aren't using a tapping machine or 
> drill stand etc. to keep the tap absolutely vertical. 
>
> Lee
> KE4VYN
>
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