MadaboutKitcars

Guys,

Before I go and buy, does anyone have an M20 coarse thread (20 x 2.5mm)tap and die I could borrow? I'm going to attempt to make some custom boot rack mountings, and my design calls for some chunky threads. The tap needs to be a plug / bottoming tap.

Looking at the prices of new ones made my eyes water... especially as I'm unlikely to use them again once I'm done with them!

ta

Jason

Try Tracy tools at [url]www.tracytools.com[/url] in Torquay They are usually quite cheap and do mail order. They also stock imperial stuff too. Peter.

Jason

Why do you need somthing as big as 20mm??!! That's bigger than structural steel fixings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I acan probably find something of that size, but I can not believe you need it?
Mike

I have a second tap, it is almost but not quite a bottom tap but I don't have the die.
I do have a M20x1.5 tap and die though, again it is a second tap though.

I have dozens of M20x2.5 x 100 bolts and nuts if you needed some of them, also a load of M24 ones too.

Here's what I'm planning on doing:



The idea is to make 4 sets of these to fit on the bottom of a mille migla stainless boot rack, with the plates being bolted through the tub.

The outer sleeve is kept in place by the inner plug, bolted to the rack with M6 screws, and it will hand twist into place on the base plate (the outer sleeve will be knurled). That will make the boot rack easily removable, so I can get to the spare tyre.

You could do that with a second tap if you don't mind the thread running up past the inner plug. It wouldn't hurt it.

If you opted for M20x 1.5 then that is electrical conduit thread size. The rethreading tap is a nice parallel bottoming tap, on a plastic handle, and the dies are available from electrical wholesalers.

I would go with the M20x1.5 as the finer thread will look nicer in brass.

I managed to find a place that did taps and dies for a reasonable price, along with some chunky drill bits.

Check out RDG Tools if you need any engineering doodads - they're very reasonable.

I've used these folks a few times..........

http://www.ukdrills.com/

worth a look?

Here's a bit better idea of what I'm aiming to make:

Jason

Have you seen the way the standard Marlin one attaches to the boot?
It looks easier to make? I have one and can photo if you wish.
Mike

I'll take a look, but I was under the impression that it needed to be undone inside the 'boot' - this is easy if you have a cabrio, with the hinged boot lid - but all I have is a little hatch into the rear compartment.

I designed this to be easily removable from the outside when on the hard shoulder with a flat... Hence the chunky thread and the knurled sleeves.

Besides - I need something to keep me occupied at class for the next 8 weeks!

I see you've sourced a tap and die, but I'm curious - wasn't cutting the threads on a lathe an option? (Asked as a budding machinist with zero practical experience...)

Probably - but as its at a local tertiary college, the lathes arent what you'd call bang on accurate as they get abused by the regular day students. And that goes for the tooling as well, if it hasn't been nicked...