Tap follower

[Philip Davies]

Fortunate to obtain a discarded microscope (lenses missing) it seemed ideal for a tap threading machine.

My first thought was to use an old carpenter’s brace, straightened by eye, in the forge.



The chalk mark shows where it had to be knocked to true it up. But then, considering brace bits have a tapered shank, it was rejected in favour of a driver bit screwdriver type holder. The little chuck you see was bought years ago and has remained unused. However, I think a sleeve is needed over it to prevent wobble.

The bearing for the drive, also salvaged, was held in place in the lens carrier with bits of lead and then wrapped with sheet lead scraps and luted with garden clay. Then it was pared back a bit.



That is sufficiently prettified.

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Tap Follower to our Tapping and Threading category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Tap Follower by Philip Davies

tags: tapping