Ideal for hand-tapping; Taper Taps have a long taper into cutting the threads making it much easier to get started. However due to long taper, they're primarily useful for tapping through-holes, or starting threads to continue with a plug or bottoming tap. High Speed Steel taps are a more durable alternative to carbon steel taps for use in harder metals like iron and steel.
Taps - HSS - Plug - Metric Sizes
Plug Taps have more of a taper than Bottoming taps, thus are easier to start. They have less taper and are thus able to get more thread closer to the bottom of the hole than a Taper tap. Ideal for through-holes, or holes where you have extra room at the bottom of the hole High Speed Steel taps are a more durable alternative to carbon steel taps for use in harder metals like iron and steel.
Taps - HSS - Bottom - Metric Sizes
Bottoming taps are used where you need to thread as much of a blind hole as possible. They are often difficult to get started and thus are typically used with milling machines, or after starting the hole with a taper tap.
High Speed Steel taps are a more durable alternative to carbon steel taps for use in harder metals like iron and steel.
Spiral Point (Gun) Taps - Metric
Spiral Point Taps sometimes referred to as Gun Taps, have the cutting face of the first few threads cut at a predetermined angle to force removal of chips ahead of the cutting action. This gives the spiral point tap more cross-sectional area giving the tap greater strength, which allows for higher tapping speeds. Ideal for PRODUCTION and CNC use.
Carbon Steel
Taps - Carbon - Plug - Metric Sizes
Plug Taps have more of a taper than Bottoming taps, thus are easier to start. They have less taper and are thus able to get more thread closer to the bottom of the hole than a Taper tap. Ideal for through-holes, or holes where you have extra room at the bottom of the hole Carbon steel taps are more cost effective than HSS taps for a small number of holes or in softer materials.
