Used Equipment

The History of the Tap and Die

Many metalworkers, DIY enthusiasts and mechanics use the tap and die on a regular basis. Many are familiar with its uses and potential. However, few people have ever heard the history behind such a wonderful tool. As with the invention of most every tool, the tap and die was invented out of necessity. If you have a job that is very difficult, sooner or later you are going to come up with a way to make that job easier and faster. This has been the foundation of inventing almost every tool. Nowadays, we are privileged that tools have developed significantly to make metal and woodworking convenient; things like the step drill bit, circular saws, air-powered nail guns and drill presses. Many years ago things were done the old-fashioned way and this required more time and effort.

In the Middle Ages, bolts and nuts were not made from metal as they are in this day and age. Bolts and nuts were made of wood. Wood workers would work long and hard hours to fashion large wooden bolts and nuts for various applications. These applications would include but were not limited to winches, windmills, flour-mills and water mills. Over a period of time these large wooden bolts would decay and break. After all, wood is definitely a material that decomposes. As time progressed, the inventors of that day would take the broken parts of the wooden bolts and nuts and carefully put them back together; cleaning every bur and splinter from the parts with tender loving kindness. As time progressed they began to realize that these wooden bolts and nuts just could not handle the pressure. So, a new idea formed. They would then take these parts and build a clay mold around them. Then they would pour molten metal into the clay mold and hereby formed the first metal nuts and bolts.

After this, it was realized that this method of making bolts and nuts was not accurate enough for many applications. Instead of pouring molten metal into clay molds and the long and expensive process required by this process, why not make bolts and nuts from metal already casted. From the metal already casted people began making tools to cut threads onto these pieces of metal. In the early stages people would create their own tap and die set for the applications in their specific work. One tap and die set would vary from one person to another. As the 19th century came about the need for standardized bolts and nuts increased. Joseph Clement was one of the first popular vendors of the first tap and die sets. About the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century, thread standardization grew to the point that the old methods of pouring molds and cutting flutes with files were completely forgotten about. The tap and die has evolved more and more precise until we now have tap and die sets that accurate within 1/32 of an inch. So next time you look at your circular saws, step drill bit, air-powered nail guns and drill presses, don’t forget the legacy of the tap and die set.

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BRP 204100001 BOLT-HEX.TAP 1 1/2 X 1/4-20 $1.00

New HX Tap Bolt, 1/2-20X2 1/4. ZN Blue. $1.00

OEM NEW HUSQVARNA AYP SELF TAP BOLT #138766 5/16″-18 X 1 1/4″ POULAN PRO $1.12

Zinc Plated Hex Tap Bolt 3/8-16 x 3-1/2 (Pack of 5) $1.50

Jdm Fender Washers bolt red blue polish chrome gold purple strut bar Suspension $1.80

Jdm Fender Washers bolt strut tower bar Engine Bay Bumper Radiato DRESS UP kit $1.80

Custom Beer tap handle hanger bolt 5/16″-18 X 1-1/2″ – NEW $1.89

Custom Beer tap handle hanger bolt 3/8″-16 X 1-1/2″ – NEW $1.99

Zenoah G62 Tap Prop Bolt, $2.86

KAWASAKI 92001-1091 BOLT,6X20,FUEL TAP $2.92

Replacement Bolt for Wooden Beer Tap Handle 3/8″-16 $2.95

Replacement Bolt for Wooden Beer Tap Handle 5/16″-18 $2.95

Metric JIS Small Diameter Hex Head Cap Screw 8MX1.25X45M 10PCS Tap Bolts $3.29

Metric JIS Small Diameter Hex Head Cap Screw 8MX1.25X50M 10PCS Tap Bolts $3.89

HEX TAP BOLT #1/2″ x 2-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $3.95

Metric JIS Small Diameter Hex Head Cap Screw 8MX1.25X60M 10PCS Tap Bolts $4.29

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 4″, STEEL, UNPLATED $4.94

gt750 gt550 gt380 gt250 gt petcock pet tap cock BOLTS fuel petrol gas tank screw $4.99

suzuki gs1150 gs1100 gs1000 gs850 gs750 gs650 gs550 gs petcock pet cock BOLTS $4.99

Metric JIS Small Diameter Hex Head Cap Screw 8MX1.25X70M 10PCS Tap Bolts $4.99

Battery Top Mount Bolt Extender Power Tap $5.00

Battery Side Mount Bolt Extender Power Tap $5.00

Metric JIS Small Diameter Hex Head Cap Screw 8MX1.25X80M 10PCS Tap Bolts $5.49

CNC STEEL PRATHER DRILL JIG TAP GUIDE ENGINE TEMPLATE HP 61 BOLT 6-32 DJ-127 $5.90

M5 (5MM) x .80 Taper Bolt Thread Tap – MADE IN THE U.S.A.! Common for bicycles! $5.99

8pcs 1/2-13 x 6″ Hex Tap (fully threaded) Bolt Hot Dip Galvanized $6.49

5 Pack, Murray 0025X7MA, 0025X7, 25X7MA Bolt, Self Tap $6.50

TAP BOLTS 1/4 X 1 1/2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $6.50

ILSCO IK-350 CU-8 SOL-350 MCM Splice Tap Split Bolt $7.00

Ilsco Split Bolt IK-3/0 3/0 RUN 8-3/0 Tap $7.00

BURNDY KS27 SPLIT BOLT CONNECTOR RUN 3/0 3/0-8 TAP $7.87

#1 screw tap extractor lot of 3 new broken bolt remover $8.00

2 BOLTS 2.5″ 1/2″ STEEL EXHAUST FLANGE w/ TAP HOLES $8.09

TAP BOLTS 1/4 X 2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $8.50

3/8-16 TAP BOLT KIT : includes 4qty 3″bolts, 8 flat washers and 4 nylon lock nut $8.99

T&B Copper Split Bolt Connector Equal Main Tap 6 – 8 Solid Copper Wire Conductor $9.00

New ILSCO Split Bolt Tap 250 Run IK-250 IK250 8-250 Tap $9.00

New ILSCO Split Bolt Tap 3/0 Run IK-3/0 IK3/0 8-3/0 Tap $9.00

New TPU SW-9A Split Bolt Tap 6SOL-3/0STR 3/0STR CU $9.00

3 Burndy KS27 Split Bolt Connector Run 3/0 Tap 8-3/0 $9.00

FUEL VALVE TAP PETCOCK BOLTS 2000 00 SUZUKI MARAUDER VZ800 VZ 800 $9.99

BATTERY POST BOLT EXTENDER with Battery 3 Circuit Power Tap ( Your choice) $9.99

Dottie MB38114 HEX HEAD TAP BOLTS 3/8 X 1-1/4 $9.99

Zinc Line Tap Split Bolt Connectors 5 Pack Connect Fence and Electrical Wire $9.99

Burndy Split Bolt Connector KS29 Run 250 Tap 250-8 NEW $10.00

2 BURNDY KS29 SPLIT BOLT CONNECTOR RUN 250 250-8 TAP $10.00

BURNDY SPLIT BOLT TAP KS31 BRASS 1/0-350 NNB!!! $10.00

TAP BOLTS 5/16 X 1 1/2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $10.00

Burndy KS31 Mechanical Tap Single Connector split bolt 1/0 run 350 $10.00

Split Bolt Connector 20HPS Bronze Alloy Main Tap # 2/0 -6 Copper Alum Wire Cable $10.00

Burndy KS27 Run 3/0 Tap 3/0-8 Split Bolt Tap $10.50

TAP BOLTS 5/16 X 2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $11.50

Burndy KS34 Mechanical Tap Single Connector split bolt 2/0 run 500 $11.50

8-PC. High Carbon Steel SAE Die Set & Tap Wrench Drill Thread Hole Metal Bolt $11.97

Aluminum Split Bolt Connectors Equal Main Tap 2 – 8 Str Copper & Aluminum Wire $12.00

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 3-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $12.25

ITT Split Bolt Tap 2B350 Main 4/0 550 4SOL 350 $12.50

New ILSCO Split Bolt Tap 10-4/0 IKB-4/0 $12.50

TAP BOLTS 3/8 X 1 1/2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $12.50

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 2-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $12.50

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 3″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $12.60

KDF BIKE ATV DIRTBIKE FUEL TANK TAP COCK TWO BOLTS HOSES DIRT MINI CRF50 ON OFF $12.69

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 1-1/4″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $13.44

TAP BOLTS 1/4 X 3 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $13.50

40pc SAE Standard Tap & Die Set Screw Bolt Threader Extractor Remover $13.89

10Pc Silverline Metric Tap & Die Set Screw Bolt & Nut Thread Repairer Cutter $13.90

(15) Hex Head Tap Bolts 5/8-11 x 4 Grade 307A Cap Screws Zinc $13.99

Burndy KS29 Spilt Bolt Connector 250 MCM #8 AWG TAP $14.00

T&B Copper Split Bolt Connector Equal Main Tap 6-12 Solid Copper Aluminum Wire $14.00

New Removal Tool HD 40 Pc SAE Tap And Die Set Bolt Screw Extractor/ Puller Kit $14.55

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 1-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $14.91

Zinc Line Tap Split Bolt Connectors 10 Pack Connect Fence and Electrical Wire $14.99

Dottie # MB381 3/8″ x 1″ Hex Head Tap Bolts Zinc Plated ***Lot of 100*** (NEW) $14.99

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 3″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $15.00

HEX TAP BOLT #1/2″ x 1-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $15.00

Burndy KS39 Mechanical Tap Single Connector split bolt 4/0 run 750 $15.00

BLUE CASE 40 Pc SAE Tap And Die Set Bolt Screw Extractor/Puller Kit New Removal $15.99

T&B Copper Split Bolt Connector Equal Main Tap 4-12 Solid Copper Aluminum Wire $16.00

TAP BOLTS 5/16 X 3 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $16.00

HEX TAP BOLT #3/8″ x 1-1/2″, ZINC PLATED $16.00

HEX TAP BOLT #5/16″ x 3/4″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $16.00

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 1-3/4″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $16.17

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 4″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $16.20

32pcs 1/2-13 x 6″ Hex Tap (fully threaded) Bolt Hot Dip Galvanized $16.24

TAP BOLTS 3/8 X 2 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $16.50

TAP BOLTS 1/4 X 4 FREE SHIPPING W/MIN. ORDER $16.50

KDF BIKE ATV DIRTBIKE FUEL TANK TAP COCK TWO BOLTS HOSES DIRT TRAIL FARM SWITCH $16.60

Burndy KVS34 Mechanical Tap BOLT COPPER CONNECTOR $16.99

BLUE BOX 40 Pc MM METRIC Tap & Die Set Bolt Screw Extractor/Puller Removal Kit $16.99

HEX TAP BOLT #5/8″ x 2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $17.00

HEX TAP BOLT #3/8″ x 2″, ZINC PLATED $17.50

HEX TAP BOLT #5/16″ x 3-1/2″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $17.60

T&B Bronze Alloy Split Bolt Connectors Equal Main Tap 2 – 6 Solid Copper Wire $18.00

Special **TAP** For Harley 1936-72 Wheel Lug Bolts $18.00

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 4″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $19.00

T&B Copper Split Bolt Connector Equal Main Tap 2 -8 Solid Copper Aluminum Wire $19.00

HEX TAP BOLT #5/16″ x 3″, STEEL, ZINC PLATED $19.20

HEX TAP BOLT #1/4″ x 1″, ZINC PLATED $19.50

(100) Full Thread 307A Hex Head Tap Bolts 3/8-16 x 3″ $19.99

HEX TAP BOLT #3/8″ x 2-1/4″, ZINC PLATED $20.00