Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Thread Tapping Guide Block! 

Starrett Tap Wrench: amzn.to/3m47UaV Spiral Point Tap Set: amzn.to/35l0qdt Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks: ru-vid.com/show-UCiDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin

I've got my tap charts on a T-shirt from AvE. Upside down even, so I can reference it myself!

"Heat can screw up your hole" remember this when eating spicy food.... very valid for the morning after.

If every field of science, school or whatever, had an instructor like Adam nobody would fail or be bored :-D

The tapping guide is one of the best and simple tools you can have as a do it yourselfer. Nice job Adam Savage.

Change my mind: Adam is the Bob Ross of Making.

I love that I can date the filming of Adam's videos based on his finger nail and if it's healed or not.

You remind me of myself. Your enthusiasm and excitement for things mechanical. I felt that as a boy when first started to build soap box racers. And it has continued through my whole life. On occasion when I expressed the feeling to others I was looked at and often made to feel I was a bit odd. But here I am at 77 and still getting the jizz when building things by welding or mechanical fastening. At the moment I am about half way through building a log splitter from scratch. Earning a living through life after getting out of the Navy I was both a carpenter and a steel fabricator as a welder. But I know at the age of about 6, that what ever I ended up doing in my life I would be building things with my hands. That came from the great joy I got from playing with my Erector Sets and Tonka Toy sets I got from my Grandmother for Christmas. I raved about them so much to her she got me one more each of both of those. I was then in heaven cause I was able to build huge projects. I over heard my mother complain to my Grandmother that I did not do well in school work but for math. My Grandmother told her "Don't work, Between his math skills and his talent with his hands he will do just fine." By the way thanks for the tip. I will be making myself a set of Thread Tapping Guide Blocks

I was a machinist for over 22 years. I designed a tap block when guys said they had difficulty getting close to a wall on a mold or die but had trouble with the thin walls when heat treating it. It’s not very big. But has 6 tap hole sizes from 1/2” on down. It was used by several guys that liked it so well they had a guy do a Rockwell test on it. Take measurements and map out the hole placement for CNC. They made several. And really liked them. We milled two oval slots on each linger side for grippage and stamp your initials in before heat treatment. Ground them clean and square afterward. And done.

Here's the "sound"/"Feel" you NEVER want to hear while tapping. CLICK The next sound typically heard from the tapper is not family friendly.

Anyone ever picture Jaime watching these with glass of scotch and just judging and grading everything Adam does? EDIT: I MEANT IN A WHOLESOME FRIENDLY WAY OH GOD. Like 'hes gonna screw that up... wait. He measured it... good adam... good! YES!' LIKE A WHOLESOME PALPATINE

Watching and listening to Adam has no bullshit given me confidence to start fixing things. I saved $25 from tapping alone. The threads on my rifles flashlight mount were stripped so badly that the mount would angle down towards my feet instead of down range. Now, It’s as good as new! I also had had to modify a screws head to fit the mount but the mount now holds nice and tight to my rifle. Thanks Adam!

I was once making a screen door for my Dad for our back porch and I’d never really used power tools, especially his, and he told me I had to tap the holes, gave it to me on a power drill, and let me go. It was a wooden door, but to be sure I snapped the thing. He was surprised and told me he’d never broken a tap and that they could go through steel. Until seeing this video, I didn’t realize not just how much I still have to learn, but also how much HE still has to learn!

"The correct drill size for a 4-40 screw is a #42" Got to love a measurement system where you can read that and still have no idea what size either thing is! 😁

"Everpresent Cushion of Lubricity" is my Midnight Oil cover band.

Thank you Adam for this brilliant and meditative introduction to thread cutting. Your enthusiasm made my day. I couldn't have done it better myself - the biggest compliment I can give.

The enthusiasm, teaching ability and sheer volume of thought and experience that goes into every video still amazes me. It's never just 'here is the way to do it'. The whole set of how to do it, why you want to do it that way, several ways I have managed to stuff up, how to fix them, exceptions to the rule, how to find or make the best tools to do this. And above all else - 'I love doing it'.

Tapping was the first thing my dad taught me that was above absolute basic (drilling, sawing etc.) so i quite enjoy it it's like meditating

Great episode! I love taps and dies. I work on musical instruments, specifically woodwinds, and use small taps and dies frequently. My most commonly used size is 1-72, although I also use 2-56, 3-48, 4-40, even 0-80! It often cuts days off of the time for a repair if I can make a new part myself using raw stock or altering a similar part I already have rather than ordering a new one and waiting. Customers are grateful for the faster turnaround time, it saves the boss some money, that's a win-win!

To Adam and everyone who takes part in getting these videos up: Thank you! I appreciate having your company as I practice my piano. : ]

I did not expect to watch this entire video. Aboslutely BRILLIANT Adam, useful information throughout!! Yours are the skills that previous generations take for granted. Thank you!!

More videos like this please! Would gladly watch simple demos like this on tools (or materials), their use and selection, do's and don'ts, material considerations (when using), or when buying what to consider (features, price etc, just as done here). Would be a great series to refer to!

I'm mostly dealing with wood so I've been holding off on buying taps. But since the other video I saw how happy Adam was having that "mechanical connection", I told myself I NEED to try it. So I bought a set, cheap stuff, and now this video is super helpful once I finally get it this week. Thanks for following up on this topic!

Hi Adam, Up until this video I have watched you for entertainment purpose only. Please do not be offended. I appreciate MythBusters. I appreciate your you tube videos. We have different backgrounds and experience, so it is what it is. Um........ Here is the kicker. My father is a machinist, and I grew up helping him in the garage. Fixing vehicles and etc. He never took the time to show me what you covered in this video. But.... it does not matter. I have to say BRAVO!!!!! Thank You for putting this out there for people to see. I now appreciate you on a new level. Thank You

Adam is one of the most knowledgeable shop person on youtube period. I've bought so many items he's recommended which for the most part worked or enhanced my abilities. Watch his glue video..

I've learned more from Adam Savage than I ever did in Construction / Shop class in High School.... Thank you Adam. You are a wonderful person. Stay healthy, friend.

Thank you for this one day build. Yes, you spent almost half the video (19m) providing background information before showing us the project piece. Worth every second!

This is the best video Adam has done in a year. Really the skill Adam where hands-down the king is modelmaking craftsmanship and the greatest thing he can do for the world is to make more videos like this.

every time you flash that finger, the pain goes though my whole body. i bet you were doing something very interesting, and hope the pain was worth that project. God bless you Adam, you are a true engineer :)

Adam, you’re always the effective teacher! One of the ways I describe the difference between coarse and fine threads when I’m teaching someone - the fine thread is like a lower gear in a transmission and the corse thread is like a higher gear. Fine thread = more input, less output but greater torque. Coarse thread = less input, more output but lesser torque. I would be interested in knowing how many bad words you said when you did whatever you did to that middle finger!

English speaking Folks: Tap. Meanwhile Here in Germany: Gewindeschneider.

You and wrangerstar have the same exact love for quality tools. You guys sound the same whenever holding a nice tool.

I've been in this business for a long time, but thank you Adam for some great tips in the world of tapping threads, overcoming their difficulties and resolving the associated problems. Thank you for a really great video!

Really prefer the static camera when Adam films himself. All the zooms and handheld camera movement doesn't look great. Still, can't fault the content!

All this knowledge....i love your videos adam!! much respect from germany. I could watch you build something the whole day

I love Adam’s nail. Don’t love the pain he went through to get it, but it shows he does shop things. I’ve done it twice and I’m super careful and pay attention, but smashing your finger happens if you work in your shop enough. I hope it never happens again, but it will. You should auction the nail off. There are those willing to purchase your badge of honor.

I currently inspect taps that we produce at my shop. I work for a company called Tivoly up in Northern Vermont (plant actually sits right on the border of Canada and the US). We make so many different style taps from standard to metric, bottoms, plugs, and taper taps along with many specialty taps used for specific applications. I have to hand wire these to make sure the P.D is within tolerance most of which are within +/- .0005. I have to wire all the way up to 120 pitch which is very fine at 120 threads per inch. It's pretty awesome to see you explain this as many people do not realize the importance of these tools!! Great video Adam!

Dear Adam: You've changed my life!! I always hated cutting threads in things because of novice-ity? Well, with a tap guide and that tiny Starrett tap wrench, I can cut perfect threads in ALL THE THINGS!!

Adam, first I want to congratulate you. Few people have found the purpose they were born to and you are one of those few. I see a pure joy in you as you work. It's very satisfying to see someone who loves what they do. Yours is a life well spent my friend. Well done!

My new favorite video from Adam. I love tapping... most of the time. Working on classic cars that are 30+ years old, more often than not I come across broken/rusted bolts and holes that need to be drilled and retapped. Glad to see that Adam goes over the pitfalls and gives good solid advice. Always back out your 1/4 turns, and always lubricate! Well made video! Oh, and never, have I ever, been able to get tap extractors to work lol

Working in a grip shop in Michigan, I do a lot of repairs on grip and lighting equipment and I cannot express how wonderful it is to watch you in a similar environment and learn from you all of the cool ways of going about fabrication and working with tools! Thank you Adam!

Hey Adam, my middle fingernail is black like yours, and after listening to my wife and kids complain about it being "gross-looking" they eventually talked me into letting her apply some skin-toned nail polish and it actually looks quite normal now. People don't even notice it anymore. I only mention this because they were watching the video over my shoulder and kept getting "grossed out" by your fingernail so I'm sure they're not alone. Personally, I think it's a badge of honor.

"There's entire fields of study about this that really don't ever fall within the purview of making shit at home... but it's worth it to know it" - Adam Savage, 2020, perfectly encapsulating one of the many reasons I think he's an awesome human being. (I love his enthusiasm and his passion to make the world a better place, but knowing random engineering esoterica and knowing when you can just use 2 zip ties and half a roll of gaffer tape is just classic Adam).

Tap blocks IMHO are a must for any hand tapping operation. Drill guide blocks also help prevent bad holes when using a hand drill. EDM tap removal is the best solution, but out of reach to the home hobbiest, so do your best to follow Adam's advice, because it is sound practice. I worked in a shop where we made very labor intensive small parts out of really crappy to machine 304 series stainless steel. Some parts, small enough to hold in your hand would often take an entire 8 hour shift to make, so you really didn't want to start from scratch again. 2-56 was a common thread and often we were called upon to place 0-80 and 00-90 threads in some parts. Most of the holes on the prints were specified to be blind, and often many diameters deep. We made knurled tap drivers to add to the feel that were piloted in a sleeve we placed in the same drill chuck we drilled the material with.This kept the fragile taps on center and eliminated them being angled. When we snapped off a tap by getting stupid or in a hurry, (one and the same, to be honest), we would submerse the part in nitric acid in a beaker, place a glass pipette on top of the broken tap then add table salt to the pipette. After an overnight session, the tap was dissolved enough to fall out of the hole. The next step was to polish the stain it left on the surface of the part. To mess with another employee when they were tapping with the tiny taps, we would make the same sound as a tap breaking....keek! I have no idea how we got anything done there ;)

Adam you are a fine instructor.I hope the younger guys watch & learn. I'm older & learned the hard way but watched it through...like all, loved your show.You have a great spirit.

As I watch these, Adam reminds me of Roy Underhill from the Woodright's Shop on PBS. Tools all over the place, he knows where everything is and he will sometimes forget something and go back. But most importantly, both Roy and Adam have wounds on their fingers from making. A cut, bruised nail, whatever. Very cool video.

This is an extremely helpful video. Thank you very much for getting this out!

Thank you Adam. I am 51 and have been a hobby engineer for ever. I did not know 80% of your tapping guide. So thank you for opening my eyes to this and it will be much better to tap than cable tie from now on !

One of the more informative and helpful videos from Adam from my perspective. In my free time I work on vintage audio restoration and stripped chassis metal threads are a constant pain. Being able to effectively take a piece of metal and get the right size threads into it is a great skill to have. Well explained and Adam's enthusiasm is fantastic! I learned a few new things from this video and that always makes for a great day.

2 things that are best practice in my industry: always have 2+ of any tap you want to use, and if you drop a tap on a hard surface from table height, throw it out. Never be afraid to throw out a tap that might shatter/snap on you, that's what you have extra for

Adam, I've learned so much by watching you over the years. Thank you again for all that you do!

The best DIY guide block I saw was made from round stock. It's able to fit into almost any tight spot. I also chuck the tap into the drill press and start by hand if it's a weird or tiny surface & it gets perfectly aligned, then finish by hand. Also chip-clearing taps (aka spiral) changed my life lol. They also make one that pulls chips OUT of the hole, commonly used in industry. Notes on removing broken taps: for expensive parts, you can 'zap' them out with a EDM machine (exactly like the CNC-type wire-cutter machine); if aluminum, you can chemically eat the iron out or weld a nut (washer first if really stuck) to get a hold on it.

I love watching this stuff. As a farmer with about every hand tool, a huge space, a blue-flame hot wrench (oxyacetylene torch), welders, and the equipment to lift anything, relaxing from my slower-than-normal lifestyle includes watching Adam.

Perfect timing, got some fairly critical holes to tap this weekend and never really had much luck in the past. Great tutorial! :D

When I was in college we had to make a tap holder in the machine shop. That was well over 20 years ago and I still have it somewhere.

i could watch adam do anything, his way of doing stuff and explaining it is so soothing and wholesome.

Almost the entire content of this video was valuable to me. I know (or knew) very little about tapping. Now I'm ready to tackle the world!!! Thanks Adam.

"In mechanical engineering, there are entire fields of study that really don't fall into the purview of making shit at home" -Adam Savage

Loved how detailed this is, you should do one on welding next!

I like the tapping block... i usually place tap in drill press and hand turn to start the tap then remove and do by hand... been doing loads of M2 taps recently in brass... works a treat... will build a tap block and compare time saved.... so nice to see inside Adams shop... so many similar bits and pieces ... magnets fixing tools to drill press !!! YES... i even glued a magnet to cordless drill... so useful for holding bits and screws...

two years late but i used to work in a machine shop with a good friend who taught me everything i know.. really, when it comes to tools and steel. 6 years later i've found myself as a technician at a museum and rediscovering things like tapping has been wonderful because i used to know how to do it! recently had to tap a piece of steel and remembered how much i enjoyed the feeling and doing it and have since wanted to set out to learn more on the subject and what to buy.. lately i've been spending hours watching your content as an old mythbusters fan and i see this video pop up! Adam, you're a joy to watch and listen to and ill use this knowledge going forward. Thank you and i hope you're well.

"Shot by Adam Savage..." Hand held shot of adams hands.

Awesome vid, as usual! Sometimes when I have a smaller piece like that acrylic or aluminum, and if being normal/perpendicular to the surface is important, I will chuck the tap into my drill preas, and turn/tap by hand. This works in a couple ways; 1) it keeps you perpendicular, 2, because you're gripping the chuck, which is smaller that most tap handles, you are less likely to "ham fist" the work, break the tap, etc.

Nice video, Adam! What I like about your videos is the marriage of science and engineering made art in thoughtful work. I work on, and build, musical instruments: stringed instruments of all kinds. I get to work with many materials from woods to metals, plastics, other polymers, leather, glass, bone, and last but not least coatings and adhesives. I wanted to share a little tip that has served me well for decades. When I saw you wet sanding that acrylic block I immediately though of all the wet sanding we do on musical instrument finishes. When you are getting down to the finer grits, the cuttings are naturally finer, more plentiful, and present more surface area of the particle in suspension. As this cuttings slurry becomes more viscous there is a greater tendency to clump and adhere again to the surface you are sanding. Left to clump or stick to your substrate, this causes burning back into the work due to friction, as any car painter will tell you. Here is where you need a dispersant or a detergent. Add a few drops of dish washing detergent, and I mean drops, to your wet sand water. You don't want all sudsy. The difference is magic. No more burning in, with care of course! Also, with Wet & Dry papers, put the papers you plan to use into a dish of said lube water for at least 15-20 minutes before you use them so they will be nice and pliable when you use them. Your papers will also last longer.

I like your shop. Messy but neat with things that you haven't used in 20 years but ready to go if you need them. I do the same thing and am happy when I find something that I saved 20 years ago that works perfectly for what I am doing now.

I'm so happy to live in metric land...got every tap from M2 to M12....its always the size in mm drill 0,5mm thinner , thats it.

"The heat's what can screw up your hole" Words to live by.

I love that little block. I made drilling guide blocks before but now making one for tapping is going to my next shop addition. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and techniques with us all. I hope you and all the people around you, have a happy and healthy 2022.

I was hesitant about a 40min tapping video but so glad that I did. I may even watch it again. GREAT suggestions! I'll need to look up more vids on this channel.

Adam, today you were called my spirit animal.....let me explain: This weekend, I decided to fix an elevation problem with my table saw (starting a home shop after 35 years away from making anything). Turns out, the mechanism was fine, but the hand wheel was made of plastic, and its central hub stripped. Replacement wheels are cheap, but made of plastic, so I began searching for a metal replacement. I can't find one that has a center borehole that's properly shaped (in a D for my saw), so I decided I would look for one with a round bore. Then came the question of how do I attach it. Do I weld it? Never welded before. Do I drill and tap it? Never did that, either. The very next day, you published this video on tapping, and helped make my decision and boost my confidence in the procedure. Hence, a co-worker of mine has named you my spirit animal. Thank you for all you do to inspire and teach us all.

Love tapping....my Dad taught me as a kid, and when I was a sheet metal technician for NASA Langley, did lots of tapping, , i mild steel, stainless, and aluminum with helicoil inserts. After I built my own tapping guide.

Glad I'm looking back at older videos. So many tips and ideas just, pooring out of this man

Is there anything Adam isn't capable of seriously. I'm a machinist with 40 years of experience. He did a great job of explaining the tapping process at least as a general subject. He is an amazing guy I thought for once he would describe something improper I was wrong.

Loved the 42 is the answer to life reference, Made me smile.. GG friend

After watching this video I wish so much I had seen it 50 years ago. That tap guide is one of the greatest inventions I've ever seen, can't believe after a lifetime career of mechanics I've never heard of them. Great video.

Your enthusiasm is infectious. And yes, Starret tools DO feel so good in your hands. Part of the reason I use Snap-On tools as a automotive technician.

"Heat can screw up your hole." Words to live by.

Adam: has engraver Engraving case: has ‘engraver’ written in white, not engraved.

Starrett makes some of the finest tools. They just “feel” better. I can still hear the shop teacher yelling “always carry that Starrett level with 2 hands”!!!!

Thank you for these videos. I am a guy who is working in a new area - my father in law's shop, and require a lot of more or less basic shop skill sets that I didn't have before. I appreciate all of these videos, thanks again!

31:08 censors missed at “sh*t” beep lol! Love ya Adam!

"I would be remiss if I didn't talk to you about bottom tapping¡!" 😆 "HA... Bottom tapping." 🤣

Thank you thank you thank you sir!! Been needing a rod style tapping wrench for work, we lost ours it was super old and honestly none of us knew exactly what the tool was so we couldn't find a replacement. You swoop in and answered my q with a whole video (can't believe I only found it now tho, my bad) and now not only can I replace our tool but I learned a new skill on the side. Rock on mate, cheers! XD

So satisfying when you have the right well made tool for the right job.

fyi: A screw with more threads per inch is less prone to getting loose of vibrations, because the threads are less steep.

“...In your motorcycle tank” is oddly specific, are you telling us from experience? 😂

As Adam is fan of the saying; "Less is more.", I feel it needs to be said that in terms of pressure in tapping, less is indeed more. However with the tapping fluid, more is definitely more. I really enjoy listening to his wisdom gained over a lifetime of doing "maker work". This information is gold.

Let me tell everyone one thing, this whole taping video is made for DIY projects. I went to trade school about 50 years ago and learned all about threading as well as precise measurements. Also assembling steel materials like gears coupling etc. Things like how to assemble a ball bearing that the internal diameter is smaller than the shaft. The method is heating up the ball bearing and inserting it in a bigger diameter. This was for heavy-duty machines that weigh up to 50 tons, steel factory. All threads in this kind of equipment are measured by an inch or mm. For every bolt diameter, the hole is a little bit smaller. We have to make threads in many sizes according to the machine. Here is how it works, to make a 1-inch thread, there are three taps or thread set. Start with the thinnest tap or number one, then second, and finally the last.

Much better camera work than the previous attempt! But please zoom slowly, we can bear waiting a second or two to zoom and focus. No need to jump all around.

“Holly hell man, it’s less than you think!” Lol oh man is it!

Thank you for filling in the oopps stuff. Self taught I love creating . The guide is instictive but never built one. Molly is ingrained BUT now I fill my oil can with chain saw oil. It is thick and does not spin off. Youe detais is appreciated.

Kudos to the camera person! Some great one-take zooms and focusing!

Adam what about flutes;2,3,4 or straight,helix,sprial? What about forming taps? Or the highly precision three tap method? Pully taps? Boiler makers taps? Also can't forget tapping heads. In addition, pipe taps, tapered taps, wood taps, self tapping screws, double lead screw threads, Acme threads, Wintworth threads, butress threads. Great tutorial. For many years people been screwing with threads 😝👍✌🖖

I like my Greenlee 1/4 hex drive self drilling tap sets for drilling in thinner materials, great for use with an impact driver. For larger holes and those in deep materials, I like the tap holders that fit on a 1/4 or 3/8 inch ratcheting socket wrench. Cutting oil is great in steel, but I prefer cutting wax in aluminium. Within most metals, the finer the thread, the stronger the bond, as there is more friction surface to hold the fastener in place. That is why electrical ground screws use 10-32 threads in order to create the required contact area and pressure. Never forget to use anti seize compound for the fasteners going into aluminium, and with all stainless steel to stainless steel fasteners. Sorry about that fingernail-Ouch! Thank you for sharing your experience, it is never too late to learn new things, and thank you for making it such fun!

Honestly one really has to be a big fanboi to not find these videos boring

it seems like at least one of adams nails is always about to fall off haha

I liked the camera on a tripod over this swimming camera with constant zoom-in zoom-out. Its too distracting

Hi Adam, like many others I am aware of who you are because of Myth Busters and I believe it was Unchained Reaction. You have always been a likeable guy so I thought I'd take a look. What amazes me most is the enthusiasm you bring along with your teaching style. I was fortunate to have served a five year Engineering Apprenticeship and have always valued the skills I was taught. I have a home engineering workshop and could not think of ever being without one. It is so refreshing to see learning channels like yours on RU-vid, unfortunately there are too many of them out there which teach down right dangerous practices and people new to craft type practices aren't always aware of who is teaching them right and who is potentially leading them on the road to an accident. You have taken the time not only to show how to do it right but further explained the reason why it was the right way along with showing how not to do it. This is by far the best ever video I have seen on how to and how not to tap a hole for a threaded fastener. Kudos to you and good luck with this channel, I am now subscribed and will follow along. Kind regards and thank you from England UK.

Love this. I bought a set a few years ago, thinking "how hard can this be?"; broke the first three taps. I share the same satisfaction that you show at the start of this video; it is a sublime feeling, which is not appreciated by anyone else unless they have also done it. Tapping and threading is now my first consideration, whether it is steel, aluminium, acrylic or even wood sometimes. I once threaded the thick outer sheath of a signal cable to fit a tapped hole in the side of a plastic enclosure.

i work in the airline industry and have used all kinds of taps and found my favorite to be the gear wrench set , the handles are fine tooth ratcheting and have yet to have one break.