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