Harbor Freight Tools 61398 Product manual

Important Safety Information

1. Wear ANSI-approved safety goggles and
heavy-duty work gloves during use.

2. Keep bystanders out of the area during use.

3. Do not use when tired or when under
the influence of drugs or medication.

4. This product is not a toy. Do not allow
children to play with or near this item.

5. Use as intended only.

6. Keep work area clean and well lit.

7. Inspect before every use; do not use if
parts are loose or damaged. Do not use
cracked or chipped tap/die.

8. Keep the handles clean, dry, and free
from oil and grease at all times.

9. The flutes on these tools are sharp
and can cut you. Handle with care.

Before using either taps or dies, test the material to determine that
it is not hardened by attempting to mark it with a file:

•If the material marks with a file,
material should be cuttable.

10. Do not use any high-speed means, such as a
lathe or drill press, to cut threads with these
Taps and Dies. High-speed use will void the
warranty and may overheat the tool, causing
loss of heat-treatment and premature failure.

11. Taps and Dies are heat-treated,
and not designed to be sharpened. After
considerable use and with corrosion buildup
these tools may lose their cutting edge.

12. Use clamps (not included) or other
practical ways to secure and support the
workpiece to a stable platform. Holding
the work by hand or against your body is
unstable and may lead to loss of control.

13. Do not apply excessive force on the cutters.
Allow the tool to do the work. Use cutting oil
when tapping or threading hard materials.

•If the material will not mark with a file,
do not cut threads to avoid tool damage.

Tap Instructions

TAPS are used to cut (tapping) or clean (chase) internal threads into
a pre-drilled hole, such as in a nut or component part.

1. To cut an internal thread, first select
the tap of the desired size and have
lubricating or cutting oil ready for use.

2. The proper hole size is very important to
successfully cut good threads. An oversized
hole will result in shallow threads, and
poor holding power. An undersized hole
may cause the tap to wear prematurely
or break. The correct hole size is
marked on the shank of each tap.

3. Insert the square end of the Tap into the
Tap Wrench, turn the threaded side of the
Tap Wrench to secure the Tap firmly.

4. Precisely align the tap with the direction
of the hole. THIS IS ESSENTIAL.
The first cut will help determine the
accuracy of the entire finished thread.

5. Start turning the Tap clockwise, keeping the
Tap aligned with the hole. As the Tap turns,
it will bite into the metal and create threads.

6. After every 1/4 to 1/2 turn of progress,
depending on material hardness, rotate
the Tap counterclockwise an equal
amount to prevent chips from building
up in the hole and breaking the tap.

7. Lubricate amply with cutting oil while
tapping. Proper lubrication will result
in smoother threads, and increased
tool life. Continue tapping until the Tap
passes through the workpiece, or the
desired thread depth is reached.

8. Carefully thread the tap out backwards
and clean out any chips from the hole.

Page 2 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353. Item 61398

Die Instructions

DIES are used to cut (threading) or clean (chase) external threads,
such as on a screw or threaded rod.

NOTE: It will be easier to start the Die correctly

if the end of the work material is slightly
chamfered with a grinder or file (not included).

1. Select the proper Die size for the rod to
be threaded. The Die can be no larger

thantherodstock,andshouldbe.005″
to.010″smaller.Oversizedrodstockmay

damage the die, and will make turning
it difficult. Slightly undersized rod stock
makes turning the die easier, and will result
in good threads for most applications.

2. Secure the workpiece in a vise or other fixture
(not included). Ensure that the workpiece
will not move or turn while it is
being threaded. Note that the workpiece
may be damaged by the vise during the
threading process. When possible, thread
the workpiece before cutting it to the final
length to eliminate the damaged area.

3. Insert the Die into the Die Wrench.
Align the groove on the side of the Die
with the Screw on the Die Holder. Tighten
the screw using the included Screwdriver.
Use the Screw on side of the Die Wrench
to secure the Die firmly in place.

4. Place the chamfered side of the Die onto
the workpiece, being careful to precisely
align the Die perpendicular to the rod.

5. Begin turning the Die clockwise. The cutting
edges will begin to bite into the material, and
the Die will begin to thread itself onto the rod.

6. As you progress, apply lubrication,
using a high-quality cutting oil.
As with the Tap, reverse the Die to clear
the shavings after every 1/4 to 1/2 turn of
progress, depending on material hardness.
Continue this forward and back process,
using proper lubrication, until you have
cut the desired length of threads.

7. Then turn the Die counterclockwise
completely off the rod.

Die

Screw

Maintenance

1. Clean immediately after use and apply a light
layer of oil or grease to prevent corrosion.

Note: The carbon steel parts of this
set are susceptible to corrosion.
Even light corrosion may reduce effectiveness.

2. Store tools in the provided case in a
secure location, out of the reach of
children, to protect them from moisture.

Page 3For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353.Item 61398

Limited 90 Day Warranty

Harbor Freight Tools Co. makes every effort to assure that its products meet high quality
and durability standards, and warrants to the original purchaser that this product is free from
defects in materials and workmanship for the period of 90 days from the date of purchase.
This warranty does not apply to damage due directly or indirectly, to misuse, abuse, negligence
or accidents, repairs or alterations outside our facilities, criminal activity, improper installation,
normal wear and tear, or to lack of maintenance. We shall in no event be liable for death,
injuries to persons or property, or for incidental, contingent, special or consequential damages
arising from the use of our product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of
incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation of exclusion may not apply to you.
THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS.

To take advantage of this warranty, the product or part must be returned to us with transportation
charges prepaid. Proof of purchase date and an explanation of the complaint must accompany
the merchandise. If our inspection verifies the defect, we will either repair or replace
the product at our election or we may elect to refund the purchase price if we cannot readily
and quickly provide you with a replacement. We will return repaired products at our expense,
but if we determine there is no defect, or that the defect resulted from causes not within
the scope of our warranty, then you must bear the cost of returning the product.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also
have other rights which vary from state to state.

Specifications

Tap & Die Scale SAE

Material Carbon Steel

6-32 NC (National Coarse)
10-24 NC
12-24 NC

Tap & Die Sizes

1/4″-20NC
5/16″-18NC
3/8″-16NC
7/16″-14NC
1/2″-13NC
1/8″-27NPT(NationalPipeThread)

3491 Mission Oaks Blvd. • PO Box 6009 • Camarillo, CA 93011 • [phone]