Decoding Tap and Die Sizes

Sizes are important. The appropriate sizes will ensure the right fit. Take for example when shopping for shoes. You need to know your exact shoe size, be it a size 5 or a size 8, before you make the final purchase. This will ensure that the pair you bought will fit you. In fact, there are times when you try on the pair yourself. Another example is when shopping for clothes. If you are a size 2 or small, you ask for a size 2 dress. The same thing is applicable to tools. Like nails and screws. When fastening components together you need the right sized nail or screw to do the job.

When repairing loosened or stripped screws you also need the appropriate tap and die sizes. Yes, a tap and die set contains taps and dies of various sizes. These taps and dies are used according to the size of the screw and hole that needs repairing or threading. If you are used to using taps and dies then you probably know what those numbers meant. However, if you are a first time user then you probably need some help decoding the tap and die sizes. You can always use a chart as a reference, but if you do not know what those figures stand for then a chart is equally useless.

2-56 is an example of a die size. 2 is the measurement of the diameter of the die which is equivalent to.086 inches. As the number increases the inch equivalent also increases by.013 inches. The same thing applies when the measurement decreases. The number 56 stands the number of threads per inch. Therefore, a 2-56 die has a diameter of.086″ with 56 threads per inch. The same measurement is used for taps. However, the first number stands for the diameter of the hole being threaded. Tap and die sizes should coincide with one another in order to for the screw and the hole to fit.

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