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Thread taps needn't be confusing.

Phil - Beaufort Ink -  17 Sep 2020 09:00:00 Other articles...

There are choices to be made when you're buying thread taps for making custom pens, or so called kitless pens or bespoke pens. Unless you have a little engineering experience, it can be difficult to know the differences between each type of thread tap and what they're used for, so below is a simple explanation of each one, to help you decide which type or types you need.

Essentially, there are three main types - the underlying tool is the same thing in each case, but some of the cutters are ground away in certain ways to enable them to perform different functions. Confusingly though, they’re known by different names in different countries. The name by which they are known in the UK is in bold, so importantly, don't get your plugs in a muddle, as 5000 miles of water between here and the US could mean the difference between happiness and disappointment.

#justsaying

 

1. Starter Tap (in the US this is called a Taper Tap)
Starter thread tap - in the US, this is called a Taper Tap

A Starter Tap has the first 6 or so cutters ground away to a taper. This makes it easier to insert the tap and begin the cut.

 

2. Intermediate Tap (in the US this is called a Plug Tap)
Intermediate thread tap - in the US this is called a Plug Tap

An Intermediate Tap also has tapered cutters, but only about 3 or so. It can be used to begin a cut if you have the confidence to do so, but it’s main purpose is to continue the cut begun by the Starter Tap, so that it’s quickly widened to the full diameter of the thread.

 

3. Plug Tap (in the US this is called a Bottoming Tap)
Plug tap - in the US this is called a Bottoming Tap

A Plug Tap is primarily for tapping into a blind hole - a hole previously begun with one of the taps above, were the exit is narrower than the entrance or where there’s no exit at all. All of its cutters are intact and it has a flat end, therefore the tap goes right up to the end of the hole at the full diameter of the thread. It isn’t suitable for beginning a cut, but it is useful  for continuing a cut in translucent or transparent material, where you’ll see the thread from the outside. In such cases it’s desirable to have a clean finish to the thread rather than appear to just peter out, which is the effect you’d see with either of the other two types above.



So, not particularly complicated once it's explained, in fact very straight forward, and we'll talk about thread dies, triple lead threads and other perceived mysteries in future blog posts.

We have an entire article dedicated to answering some of the frequently asked questions surrounding custom pen making, to help you come to terms with some of the basics you are going to encounter at the start of your journey, so if you don't want to wait for future posts, you can read about all this sort of stuff there, and a lot more besides.


 

Read our tutorial on kitless pens - An Introduction to Custom Pen Making

Read our kitless pen tutorial - An Introduction to Custom Pen Making

 

An Introduction to Custom Pen Making


 

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Pen turning

Beaufort pen kits are designed by us to compete with the best in the world. High end pen kits with high end standards of manufacturer

Fountain pen nibs

Worldwide agents for Bock fountain pen nibs. Fountain pen nibs to fit a wide range of pen kits and commercially made fountain pens

Fountain pen ink

Check out our boutique range of sumptuous fountain pen inks

Pen blanks

Pen blanks in ebonite, acrylic resins, DiamondCast, Kirinite, exotic and native hardwoods and small batch issues from talented artisan pen blank makers
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Mistral pen kits are the only pen kits avialable worldwide with truly matching fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint and pencil

Our market leading Mistral pen kits are the only pen kits avialable worldwide with truly matching fountain pen, rollerball, ballpoint and pencil. Each type of kit is available to buy individually, so that you can create a matched set of pens (or pen and pencil) in any combination you choose.

Why is that a thing? Well,  if you offer a rollerball to someone who normally uses a fountain pen, they're likely to turn up their nose. Fountain pen people simply don't write with rollerballs, and rollerball people don't write with fountain pens. And yet, if you look around at pen kits, that's all you can usually get - a fountain pen matched with a rollerball. What pen owners want is a matching fountain pen and a pencil, or maybe a rollerball and a pencil, or perhaps a fountain pen and a ballpoint. You get the picture. They'll use them both, but they're extremely unlikely to use them both if the pens are a fountain pen and a rollerball.

Mistral pen kits were designed by us, from the bottom up, to offer matching pens and pencils in any combination. They're not just modified as an afterthought, they were designed right from the start to look the same.

You can mix and match with Mistral pen kits. They're high quality kits, not just cheap offerings with cheap plating and cheap mechanisms. And they do match. And that's the point.
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