R8 Tapping Guide

[Toolmaker51]

Made this using a 7/8" R8 end mill holder and a hand tap handle. Now I'm able to tap a predrilled hole up to 1/2" without removing the work from the mill clamps or vise. To use the tool I release the mill spindle lock and disengage (out position) spindle from the head and do the tapping manually while the part is still centered in the work. I prefer this method to tapping using the mill under power. Thanks for looking.

Charles and any onlookers; I do the very same with taps above 7/16"/ 11mm, and the few smaller like #4 & #6. My adapter is different but remaining technique is the same.
I will not use a drill chuck for tapping beyond hand starting, and that only in limited occasions.
Most tapping I do, which is frequent, employs a Hardinge Tapping Head. It is clutched, ultra compact and needs a reversing spindle. On the round column drill which auto-reverses via micro-switch I need to construct a Morse Taper tap driver, or use split tap collets. On certain parts, countersinking and tapping is faster than turret mill.