Buy Specialty Taps Online in Australia
Specialty Tap Selection — Quick Reference
Beyond standard metric + imperial hand taps = range of SPECIALTY taps for SPECIFIC applications — THREAD REPAIR + helical insert + pipe + unusual thread forms. Specialty taps cut threads not covered by standard tap range.
| Specialty Tap Type | Best For |
|---|---|
| Thread Repair Tap (Restoration) | Cleaning / restoring damaged thread |
| STI Tap (Helical Insert) | Cutting oversize for Heli-Coil installation |
| Spark Plug Tap | Spark plug thread restoration in cylinder head |
| Wheel Stud Tap | Wheel stud / lug nut thread restoration |
| Pipe Tap (BSPT / NPT) | Internal pipe threads — see pipe threading dies for external |
| Acme / Trapezoidal Tap | Power transmission lead screw threads |
| Buttress / UNJ Form | Specialty load + aerospace |
| Combined Drill-Tap | Drill + tap in single tool — production |
| Tap Extractor | Broken tap removal |
Critical: Specialty taps for SPECIFIC applications — match exactly to thread spec needed. Heli-Coil + Time-Sert + Recoil insert systems each need INSERT-SPECIFIC tap (STI = Screw Thread Insert). Restoration taps NOT for cutting new thread (different cutting geometry). Brands: Sutton Tools, Bordo, Recoil. Companion: taps, thread inserts, threading.
Specialty Taps
Beyond standard metric and imperial hand taps, there's a range of specialty taps for specific applications — thread repair, helical insert installation, pipe fittings, and unusual thread forms. These taps cut threads that standard hand taps can't produce, and AIMS Industrial stocks the range Australian workshops actually need for thread repair, fabrication, and specialist work.
The specialty tap categories we cover
- Thread repair taps — slightly oversized taps for cleaning damaged threads back to a fresh, full-engagement thread
- Recoil insert taps (STI taps) — for cutting the oversize tapped hole that accepts a wire-form thread insert
- BSPT taps (taper pipe) — for cutting British Standard Pipe Taper threads in pipe fittings
- BSPF taps (parallel pipe) — for cutting British Standard Pipe parallel threads
- NPT taps (American pipe) — for cutting American National Pipe Taper threads
- UNC and UNF taps (imperial) — for older imperial-spec equipment and US-imported gear
- BSW and BSF taps (British) — for heritage British-spec equipment
- Specialty thread forms — Acme, trapezoidal, and similar non-standard forms on indent
Recoil insert taps explained
A Recoil (or Helicoil) insert is a wire-form helical coil that creates a threaded bore from a slightly larger drilled and tapped hole. They're used to repair stripped threads in soft material (aluminium, magnesium, cast iron) or to create stronger threads in soft material than the parent thread alone would deliver. The STI (Special Thread Insert) tap is sized to cut the oversized thread the insert screws into — different from the standard tap of the same nominal size. Get the right STI tap for the insert size; substituting a standard tap won't work.
Pipe taps explained
Pipe taps cut the threads on the inside of pipe fittings (the female side of a pipe connection). Taper pipe taps (BSPT, NPT) cut a slight taper into the thread so the joint seals as it tightens; parallel pipe taps (BSPF) cut a parallel thread that needs an O-ring or sealant for the seal. Match the tap to the standard the fitting is built to — BSP and NPT are not interchangeable.
Thread repair workflow
For damaged threads, the workflow is: clean and inspect the existing thread, drill out to the tapping drill size for the insert, tap with the appropriate STI tap, install the insert with the matching insert tool, break off the tang. Recoil and Helicoil sell complete kits that bundle the tap, drill, insert, and install tool for each thread size — a sensible purchase for a workshop dealing with regular thread repair.
Brands stocked at AIMS
Sutton Tools, Bordo, and Champion cover the standard tap range. Recoil is an approved brand for thread inserts and STI taps. We can source on indent for less common thread forms.
Need help with a specific thread form, repair situation, or tap selection? contact our team — we'll work through the application.
People Also Ask — Specialty Taps
Q: What's a thread repair tap, and how is it different from a tap that cuts a brand new thread?
A thread repair tap is slightly oversized and designed to clean a damaged thread back to a fresh, full-engagement profile — it restores an existing thread rather than cutting new thread geometry into virgin material, so it isn't a substitute for a standard tap when starting a hole from scratch.
Q: Why does a Recoil (Helicoil) insert need its own STI tap rather than a standard tap of the same nominal size?
The STI (Special Thread Insert) tap is sized to cut an oversized tapped hole specifically matched to the wire-form insert that screws into it — a standard tap of the same nominal size cuts the wrong hole size for the insert and won't produce a usable repair.
Q: What are spark plug taps and wheel stud taps used for?
Both are specialty thread-restoration taps for specific automotive repair jobs — spark plug taps restore stripped or damaged spark plug threads in a cylinder head, and wheel stud taps restore wheel stud or lug nut thread that's been damaged, rather than being general-purpose taps for cutting fresh thread.
Q: What's an Acme or trapezoidal tap used for, and how does it differ from a standard V-thread tap?
Acme and trapezoidal taps cut the wide, flat-topped thread profile used in power transmission lead screws, rather than the sharp V-profile of standard fastener threads — a completely different thread form suited to load-bearing linear-motion applications, not general fastening.
Q: What's the benefit of a combined drill-tap over drilling and tapping as two separate operations?
A combined drill-tap drills the hole and cuts the thread in a single tool pass, cutting the number of tool changes in a production run — useful specifically where cycle time matters more than the flexibility of separate drill and tap operations.