Starter&Bottom Taps

[grinderman]

What material are taps made from?Every once and awhile our mechanics break a tap off of course they call on a weldor.I have broken afew my self so I can relate to there need.
I have a beautiful tig welder now,I can't tell you the name of it for security reasons,but I knew I can count on you guys for the best wire to use ,Thanks

[tailshaft56]

I would think a High quailty tool steel unless it's the $9.00 set from HF. The HF set must be made fron recycled tin cans. Not much of a tap set but plastic case is worth a few pennies.

Dennis

[enlpck]

Welding to taps is dicey. The exact alloy varies a lot, even within a class, such as high speed steel. They are fairly hard, in general, and tend to crack where the weld is done.

I have had some success with HSS taps and austenitic stainless wire (308L) using TIG for small ones.

BTW: if the tap is in aluminum, the easy way is to use a nitric acid solution (10%, approx). It attacks the ferrite in the tap and the powder left behind rinses out. Doesn't have much of an effect on most aluminum grades while there is ferrite left.

[grinderman]

Thanks,for all the advice and yes they do seem to be made out of differant alloys today I tried stainless it didn't stick (in the past it did) then I tried 275Tig wire used for cast iron it did work but dont use this wire if you have to drill it is very hard,I have ordered tig 211 for cast iron work I say that to say this 211T you can drill it .Yes last night while I was typing this the first time my young daughter hit the send button ,I didn't realize this untill I sent it the second time.Sorry about all the confusion,and have a Great Day.