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03B104 - Walter 5/8-18 NF High-Speed Steel Taper Tap

Packaging: 1 per each
$77.44/ea

Usually ships within 3-5 business days

SKU: 03B104 Categories: ,

OVERVIEW

Precision Engineering with Walter High-Speed Steel Taps

The Walter 03B104 5/8-18 NF Taper Tap is a testament to precision engineering and metallurgical excellence, designed to meet the rigorous demands of industrial machining and maintenance operations. Manufactured from premium High-Speed Steel (HSS), this tool is engineered to withstand the high thermal stresses generated during the shearing of metal, maintaining its hardness and cutting edge far longer than standard carbon steel alternatives. The HSS substrate provides the necessary toughness to resist chipping, a critical factor when threading harder materials such as stainless steel or alloyed structural steels.

This specific model features a Taper chamfer, characterized by a gradual lead-in of 7 to 10 threads. This geometry distributes the cutting load across a larger number of teeth, significantly reducing the torque required to initiate the cut. For the industrial operator, this translates to superior control when starting a thread manually, ensuring the tap enters the bore coaxially to prevent cross-threading or bell-mouthing. The threads themselves are precision ground, not rolled, ensuring tight adherence to National Fine (NF) tolerance standards. This results in fasteners that fit smoothly and securely, providing maximum engagement and load-bearing capacity.

The 5/8-18 NF configuration offers a finer pitch than standard coarse threads, providing greater tensile stress area and better resistance to vibration loosening, making it ideal for automotive and precision machinery applications. Whether utilized in a production environment for tapping through-holes or in a maintenance capacity for chasing damaged threads, the Walter 03B104 delivers consistent, high-quality performance. Its compatibility with a broad range of materials—from soft aluminum to tough mild and stainless steels—makes it an indispensable component of any professional tooling inventory. Proper lubrication is recommended to maximize tool life and surface finish.

Additional Information
Packaging Description:1 per each
Brand:Walter
Used to Cut:Steel or Stainless or Aluminum
Thread Size:5/8"-18
Thread Type:NF (National Fine)
Material:High-Speed Steel (HSS)
Chamfer Style:Taper
Product Type:Threading Tap

INCLUDED

  • 1 x Walter 5/8-18 NF Taper HSS Tap

APPLICATIONS

  • Creating new internal threads in aluminum, mild steel, and stainless steel
  • Repairing damaged or stripped 5/8-18 NF threads
  • Tapping through-holes in fabrication projects
  • Automotive and machinery maintenance requiring fine thread fasteners
  • General industrial maintenance and repair operations (MRO)

FAQ

A taper tap has a more gradual chamfer (7-10 threads) compared to a plug tap (3-5 threads). This makes the taper tap much easier to start straight in a new hole, distributing the cutting force over more teeth.

Yes, the Walter 03B104 is made from High-Speed Steel (HSS), which is hard and durable enough to cut threads in stainless steel, as well as mild steel and aluminum.

This tap has a thread pitch of 18 threads per inch (TPI), which is the National Fine (NF) standard for a 5/8" diameter.

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

Taper taps are best suited for through-holes or for starting threads. Because of the long tapered tip, they cannot thread all the way to the bottom of a blind hole. You would typically start with this taper tap and finish with a bottoming tap if needed.

For a 5/8"-18 NF thread, the standard tap drill size is typically 37/64".

Fine threads are stronger in tension and shear because of their larger minor diameter. They also allow for finer adjustment and are less likely to loosen under vibration.

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