21 Hand Tap (Bit) Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for hand taps (bit) as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 21 hand tap (bit) manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked hand tap (bit) companies as of April, 2024: 1.KnKut Drill Bits & Cutting Tools, 2.DRILL AND CUTTER, 3.Thorlabs, Inc.
Table of Contents
What Is a Hand Tap (Bit)?
A hand tap (bit) is a tool used to form female threads for screwing in various bolts by cutting.
It is used to make a hole drilled as a pre-drilled hole, and threads are formed by manual cutting. A hand tap comes in sets of three and is used in order from No. 1 to No. 3 to finish the threads.
There are various types of hand taps. Typical types include point taps, spiral taps, hand taps, and pipe taps.
In the case of these types of taps, the thread shape is formed by cutting by screwing the various types of taps into a pre-processed hole. There are two types of pre-holes: through holes and stop holes. The tap to be used may differ depending on the pre-processed hole to be machined.
Uses of Hand Taps
Hand taps are widely used in metalworking. Screws are often used to fasten a metal part to another part. In such cases, hand taps are used to form the female threads that tighten the screws.
Hand taps are basically used by hand, but that does not mean that they cannot be used for machining. However, hand taps are not suitable for mass production or automated machining because they cannot discharge chips and hold them in.
Principles of Hand Taps
There are three types of hand taps for manually cutting threaded holes: No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, depending on whether they are used in the first, middle, or top position, or in what they are called. They are used in the following order to form a female thread.
1. First (No. 1) Tap
The No. 1 tap is the first tap to be used on a pre-drilled hole. The tip is thin and the cutting edge of the tip, which is the part that bites into the hole, is cut to 9 teeth.
2. Medium (No. 2) Tap
The medium (No. 2) tap is mainly used to feed the threads machined by the preceding tap. For this reason, the tapered shape is used for the first 5 threads from the tip.
3. Raise (No. 3) Tap
Raise (No. 3) taps have only 1.5 threads on the cutting edge of the tip. Even a stop hole can be machined deep into the hole, which is not possible with the tip and middle taps.
The tap is designed to machine one pitch of a screw per revolution. First, the tip of the first (No. 1) tap bites into the hole, and the tap follows the tip of the first tap. Usually, the tap is turned only one revolution and then turned back one-quarter of a turn, so that the tap does not cut all the way through the hole at once.
Other Information on Hand Taps
1. How to Use a Hand Tap
Hand taps are manual operation, so it is important to tap straight into the hole. When biting the tip of the first (No. 1) tap, care must be taken to ensure that the tap is not at an angle, as a bent tap tip will follow the threads of the tap.
In the order of the tap number, follow the depth of the cut of the tap, and process the tap without forcing it. Also, apply cutting oil when machining. Cutting oil reduces the frictional resistance of the tap and enhances the evacuation of chips, allowing for smoother cutting.
2. Hand Tap Handles
This tool allows manual drilling of threaded holes by attaching a handle to a tap drill. It is turned and processed little by little while using tapping oil.
The hand tap's handle must be selected to match the size of the tap. Use of an incorrectly sized handle may cause the tap to spin and break.
3. Spiral Tap
A spiral tap has a spiral (twisted) groove, and chips are discharged along the groove. Since chips are discharged to the outside and do not accumulate in the tapped hole, spiral taps are used for the tapping of stop holes.
Since it is used for machining stop holes, it is necessary to machine to a specific position and is not often used manually. For manual machining, the No. 1 or No. 2 hand taps are used.
List of 21 Hand Tap (Bit) Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- China
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Spain
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Thorlabs, Inc
Taps and Drill Bit Kit
Manufacturer Overview
Thorlabs, Inc, established in Newton, NJ in 1989, is a manufacturer of photonics equipment for research, manufacturing, and biomedical applications. Their product portfolio includes optical components, for use in imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy applications, spectrometers and analyzers used for research and industrial applications, fiber optic components and photomultiplier tubes, and imaging devices that capture and measure light signals for diverse applications in scientific research. The company has sales offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, China, and Brazil.
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IZAR CUTTING TOOLS, S.A.L.
THREADING
Manufacturer Overview
IZAR CUTTING TOOLS, S.A.L. is an OHSAS 18001-certified manufacturer of cutting tools that was established in Vizcaya, Spain in 1910 as a part of the Mondragon Corporation. The company primarily produces metal cutting tools for reaming, countersinking, or sawing materials such as cast iron and steel. It also offers wood cutting tools for working with medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or laminates, and construction cutting tools for working with brick, stone, or tile. The company’s products are commonly used in construction, woodworking, and metalworking operations.
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RUKO GmbH
Hand taps
Manufacturer Overview
RUKO GmbH is a ISO 9001 and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer of various metal cutting tools that was established in Holzgerlingen, Germany, in 1974. The company produces durability coatings for tools marketed under the brand name RUnaTEC, twist and step drills marketed under the brand name ULTIMATECUT, and magnetic stand drilling machines for precision drilling processes. It also offers thread cutting tools, rotary burrs, and hole saws. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.
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OSG Corporation
Taps
Manufacturer Overview
OSG Corporation., founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toyokawa, Japan, is a manufacturer of various cutting tools, including end mills, drills, taps, rolling dies, and gauges. The cutting tools are engineered for an array of industries, including energy, automotive, aerospace, die/mold, and heavy. The company also has an academy that it uses as an innovation hub for researching, designing, and developing new products. It established its first overseas subsidiary in the U.S. in 1968, and since then, it has continued to build a network of manufacturing, sales, and technical support locations spanning 33 countries.
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WISEMAN Threading Tools Ltd
HSS Taps
Manufacturer Overview
WISEMAN Threading Tools Ltd is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of threading tools and gauging products established in 1987 in Redditch, Worcestershire, UK. The company specializes in producing various gauges and tools for cutting threading. These include tap wrenches and die stocks, Coventry die heads, and boxed threading sets. The company also offers calibration services for gages, as well as restoration and repair for chasers and die heads. Its products are mainly used by clients in the automotive, medical device production, and petrochemical sectors.
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CERATIZIT S.A.
DIN 371
Manufacturer Overview
CERATIZIT S.A. is based in Mamer, Luxembourg, and is a manufacturer of cutting tools and hard material products that was established in 1921 as a joint venture between the Cerametal Group and the Austrian Plansee Group. The company offers hard material products such as preforms and blanks fabricated from cermet or carbide. It also offers cutting tools for milling or parting, as well as digital software for precise measuring and control. The company is ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 50001-certified, and mainly serves clients in the industrial manufacturing sector.
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BAER Tools GmbH
BaerCoil taps
Manufacturer Overview
Baer Tools GmbH, established in 1984 and headquartered in Heddesheim, Germany, is a manufacturer of threading tools and equipment. The company specializes in taps, dies, and thread inserts catering to metal and plastics processing, aerospace, and general manufacturing sectors. Its offerings include BaerCoil and BaerFix threaded inserts known for high pull-out strength and corrosion resistance. These products optimize lightweight construction and component design, enabling the use of smaller threads and less material. The company also offers repair kits to enhance thread durability and load capacity.
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Milwaukee Tool.
1/4-20 UNC SHOCKWAVE™ Impact Drill and Tap Bit
Manufacturer Overview
Milwaukee Tool, established in 1924 and headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA, is a manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, hand tools, and accessories The company offers a wide array of accessories, such as bits, blades, and sockets, to complement their cordless and corded power tools, including hammer drills, saws, and wrenches. Milwaukee Tool's products are utilized by construction workers, mechanics, electricians, and contractors for various tasks, including drilling, sawing, fastening, vehicle repairs, electrical installations, and construction projects.
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STANLEY Engineered Fastening.
Taps
Company Overview
STANLEY Engineered Fastening, founded in 1910 and headquartered in Towson, Maryland, is a manufacturer and distributor of fastening and assembly solutions. The company caters to diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction, electronics, and medical, offering a product range that comprises brackets for supporting structures, critical application fasteners like lockbolts and blind rivets, inserts for reinforcement, screws and bolts for fastening, and various types of hand tools for installation and removal of components. The company has multiple locations strategically positioned near its customers worldwide, including the USA, Germany, and Japan.
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IRWIN TOOLS
Drill Bits
Company Overview
Irwin Industrial Tools, originally established in 1885 in the USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of hand tools and power tool accessories. The company produces a range of construction and industrial tools for trade workers, including Vise-Grip locking pliers, power tools, safety gear, and other construction tools. Irwin Industrial Tools, now publicly known as Irwin, has undergone several acquisitions, including one by Newell Rubbermaid in 2002 and another by Stanley Black & Decker Inc. in 2017.
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Michigan Drill Corporation
Taps
Company Overview
Michigan Drill Company was founded in 1969 in Miami Florida and it is a manufacturer of cutting tools. The company offers cutting tools including hard-to-find items and hard-to-find sizes. The products include drills, reamers, taps, dies, counterskins and counterbores. It also provides full line of indescable solid carbide and carbide tipped cutting tools. The company provides wholesale products to industrial distributors. It's online services are custom pricing, inventory, ordering and tracking. It is an ISO certified company.
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Utensileria Carmon Srl
HAND TAPS
Company Overview
Carmon, established in 1969 and based in Brescia, Italy, is a manfuacturer of precision metalworking tools, inverter welding and plasma cutting machines. The company operates through two independent production plants: one in Castenedolo, focusing on tools, and another in Genoa, devoted to welding machines and plasma cutting machines, which are marketed under the brand Ergus. Its product line includes tools such as endmills, drills, and threaded gauges. Its R&D team is provides tailor-made solutions for customers, including OEM manufacturing and mechanized welding systems.
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Princess Auto Ltd.
Tap and Die
Company Overview
Princess Auto Ltd., founded in 1933 and based in Winnipeg, Canada, is a supplier of an assortment of tools and equipment with over 50 stores across Canada. In 1977, it opened its first store in Edmonton, Alberta, and became a retailer. The company serves several workers, including inventors, farmers, and tradespeople and stocks products such as outdoor power equipment, hand tools, and hydraulics. It sells items from several brands, such as Dealer’s Choice, Braber Equipment, and King Canada, and it also has a foundation that provides financial assistance to trades students enrolled at Canadian colleges.
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Reiff & Nestor Company
Straight Flute Hand Taps
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MAKİNA TAKIM ENDÜSTRİSİ A.Ş.
TAPS
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Universal Cutting Tools, Inc
HAND TAPS
Company Overview
Universal Cutting Tools, Inc, an American company founded in 1971 and based in Warren, Michigan, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in cutting tools. The company's product portfolio includes stub screw machine drills, straight pipe taps, and Silver and Deming drill sets. These products find applications in various industries, including electronics manufacturing, metalworking, and the oil and gas industry. The company provides services, including detailed product catalogs and shipping of its tools to clients in various countries, including Australia, China, and Canada.
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Hand Tap (Bit) Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of April 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | KnKut Drill Bits & Cutting Tools |
16.7%
|
| 2 | DRILL AND CUTTER |
13.3%
|
| 3 | Thorlabs, Inc |
13.3%
|
| 4 | Reid Supply |
10.0%
|
| 5 | IZAR CUTTING TOOLS, S.A.L. |
6.7%
|
| 6 | IRWIN TOOLS |
6.7%
|
| 7 | OSG Corporation |
6.7%
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| 8 | WISEMAN Threading Tools Ltd |
3.3%
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| 9 | AMECA |
3.3%
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| 10 | Utensileria Carmon Srl |
3.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the hand tap (bit) page as of April 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- OSG Corporation: 7,543
Newly Established Company
- Thorlabs, Inc: 1989 (35 years ago)
- Utensileria Carmon Srl: 1969 (55 years ago)
- Reid Supply: 1948 (76 years ago)
Company with a History
- Milwaukee Tool.: 1924 (100 years ago)
- OSG Corporation: 1938 (86 years ago)
- Reid Supply: 1948 (76 years ago)
Hand Tap (Bit) Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Hand Tap (Bit) Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
4 | 40.0% |
Spain
|
1 | 10.0% |
Germany
|
1 | 10.0% |
Japan
|
1 | 10.0% |
Italy
|
1 | 10.0% |
France
|
1 | 10.0% |
China
|
1 | 10.0% |
