Nelson Gadgets: Gadget No. 3 - Tapping Device
Kurt B. Nelson, C.O. *
In making braces we have a great many holes to lap and doing it with a regular tap holder is slow and hard on your hands. A Tapping attachment for drill press is expensive and usually ties up one drill press. Here is a gadget you can easily make and save your valuable time. Simply attach it in a vice and go to work.
Fig. 1
To make it, use a 16" Breast Drill with a chuck. Remove the breast plate and bar where it is attached to gear housing at A. Now unscrew the side handle at B and replace it with a bolt bent at right angle and long enough to reach gear housing at C where it is attached by brazing. Grip this bar, B-C, tightly in a vice and put a tap in the chuck, D. Press the work up against the tap and turn handle, E, with other hand. Cutting oil helps to make better thread and simple applicator will give the correct amount and save oil.
To make applicator, F; take a piece of felt 1/2 x 1/4" and twist one end of a piece of soft wire (paper clip) around it for a handle, keep this in a small cup with cutting oil, G. A mere touch with this wet felt on tap or drill will lubricate it enough. To clean chips from tap, strike tap lightly with a piece of metal.
(This is the third in a series of articles by Mr. Nelson on gadgets he has found useful during his many years of experience. Gadget No. 1, a spacer, was described in the September 1959 issue of this Journal, Page 61. Gadget No. 2, a sky hook was described in the December, 1959 issue, page 36.)
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