Need to get thread tapping done (18mm x 1.5 LH) - Auckland

[danielbeek]

Trying to locate an engineering outfit (pref. North Shore) that can do 18 x 1.5 left hand, and 16 x 1.5 right hand.
Needed for some tie rod adjusters, out of 4140 round.
I've tried Active Engineering in Albany, but they don't have the LH tap.
Thanks!

[wjw]

If you have no luck

https://www.carbidenz.co.nz/m18-x-1.5-l ... olkel.html

not as good as the Sutton Tools ones, but for the price and occasional use....

[MihiT]

Tap??
Chuck it in the lathe and single point it. Engineering 101.

I might also suggest that turnbuckles could be found at rigging or marine supply outfitters.

[danielbeek]

cheers guys.
Have access to a lathe but not skilled up enough on it so don't want to make up such critical parts.
Besides wouldn't you need a very specific cutting tool to give the right pitch etc (cutting internal thread, FWIW)? Might cost more than thread taps?
Anyway got some cheap ones off Aliexpress, which local engineering outfit will use to tap the threads for me. The last taper tap I bought from there was surprisingly good (as far as I can tell).

turnbuckles; I dont think that'd be a good move. Marine ones a 316 stainless, which might look super flash , but becomes brittle. Not sure about industrial options, but cant imagine finding one to match all my criteria, including different thread sizes each end.

[MihiT]

cheers guys.
Have access to a lathe but not skilled up enough on it so don't want to make up such critical parts.
Besides wouldn't you need a very specific cutting tool to give the right pitch etc (cutting internal thread, FWIW)? Might cost more than thread taps?
.

Bits can be ground easily enough out of 1/2 or 1/4" tool steel and compared against a fishtail gauge or tight spec'd bolt. 60• is typical (and rect for metric)
Any machine with a leadscrew and change box/gears should be able to give your pitch.
tool looks like this:


from http://firearmsdesigner.com/cutting-int ... the-lathe/

which actually gives a pretty good run down on the process.