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03B042 - Walter 1/4"-20 NC High-Speed Steel Plug Tap

Packaging: 3 per each
$16.28/ea

Package Price:

$48.84/3 per each

Usually ships within 3-5 business days

SKU: 03B042 Categories: ,

OVERVIEW

Precision Threading with Walter High-Speed Steel Taps

The Walter 03B042 1/4-20NC Plug Tap is a premium cutting tool designed for industrial professionals who demand accuracy and longevity in their metalworking operations. Manufactured from top-tier High-Speed Steel (HSS), this tap is engineered to cut internal threads with exceptional precision. Unlike standard carbon steel taps, Walter's HSS composition allows the tool to withstand higher temperatures and abrasive wear, making it a reliable choice for repetitive threading tasks in a maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) environment.

One of the standout features of this product is its precision ground threads. The grinding process ensures that the cutting edges are sharp and dimensionally accurate, which significantly reduces friction during the tapping process. This results in cleaner threads, reduced torque requirements, and a lower likelihood of the tap binding or breaking inside the workpiece. The tap has been specifically hardened and tempered, a heat treatment process that optimizes the balance between hardness for cutting and toughness to resist chipping under load.

As a "Plug" style tap, this tool features a chamfer of approximately 3 to 5 threads. This design makes it the industry standard for threading through-holes, where the tap can pass completely through the material. The plug chamfer allows for easier starting than a bottoming tap while still cutting full threads closer to the bottom of a hole than a taper tap, provided there is clearance. It is an excellent all-around choice for general machining and fabrication tasks.

Versatility is key in industrial settings, and the Walter 03B042 excels across a variety of materials. It is rated for use on aluminum, mild steel, and stainless steel. Whether you are cutting new threads in a fabricated bracket or repairing damaged threads in a machine component, this tap delivers consistent performance. Its robust design ensures that it maintains its cutting edge even when working with tougher alloys, providing a cost-effective solution by reducing the frequency of tool replacements.

Additional Information
Packaging Description:1 per each, 3 per each
Brand:Walter
Used to Cut:Steel or Stainless or Aluminum
Thread Size:1/4"-20 NC
Material:High-Speed Steel (HSS)
Tap Style:Plug Tap
Chamfer Length:3-5 Threads
Thread Type:Coarse (NC)

INCLUDED

  • 1 x Walter 1/4-20NC Plug HSS Tap
  • Protective packaging

APPLICATIONS

  • Cutting new internal threads in metal components
  • Repairing damaged or stripped threads
  • Machining through-holes in fabrication projects
  • Maintenance and repair on industrial machinery
  • Automotive and heavy equipment repair
  • Working with aluminum, mild steel, and stainless steel

FAQ

A plug tap typically has a chamfer of 3-5 threads, making it ideal for through-holes. A taper tap has a longer chamfer (7-10 threads) for easier starting, while a bottoming tap has very little chamfer (1-2 threads) for threading to the bottom of a blind hole.

Yes, the Walter 03B042 is made from High-Speed Steel (HSS) and is hardened to effectively cut threads in stainless steel, as well as mild steel and aluminum.

For a standard 1/4"-20 NC thread, the recommended drill bit size is typically a #7 drill bit (0.2010 inches) to achieve approximately 75% thread height.

While HSS taps can be used in machine tapping heads, this plug tap is also designed for hand tapping with a tap wrench. Care must be taken with power tools to ensure alignment and prevent breakage.

Yes, using a high-quality cutting fluid or tapping oil is highly recommended. It reduces friction, dissipates heat, and helps clear chips, significantly extending the life of the tap and improving thread quality.

NC stands for 'National Coarse'. It refers to the thread pitch standard. 1/4-20 means the tap is 1/4 inch in diameter with 20 threads per inch, which is the standard coarse thread for this size.

High-Speed Steel (HSS) is superior to carbon steel because it retains its hardness at higher temperatures and is more resistant to abrasion, allowing it to cut harder materials like stainless steel and last significantly longer.

You can use a plug tap for a blind hole, but it will not cut threads all the way to the bottom. For blind holes, it is common to start with a plug tap and finish with a bottoming tap.

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