Tap & Die Sets

Tap and Die Sets for Cutting and Repairing Threads

A tap and die set is the workshop kit for cutting a new screw thread by hand, or for chasing and repairing a damaged one. Taps cut internal threads into a pre-drilled hole (the kind of thread you find inside a nut, a tapped bolt hole in a casting, or a blind hole in machined steel). Dies cut external threads onto a rod, stud or bar. Put the two together in a combination set and you can thread both halves of a fastener joint — or repair a stripped or corroded thread on either — without sending the job out to a machine shop. Not sure which tap and pilot drill size you need? Our Tap & Drill Selector matches the right tap to the right drill size for your thread and material.

AIMS Industrial stocks 85+ tap and die sets and thread-cutting kits covering metric coarse, metric fine, UNC, UNF, BSW, BSF, BSP (parallel and tapered), NPT, NPS and BA thread systems, from single-size professional sets through to 110-piece general workshop kits. Every set on this page is genuine stock from Goliath, Sutton Tools, Trax, Saber, P&N, Bordo and Typhoon Tools — no unverified brands, no guessed specifications.

Tap and Die Set Quick Reference — Thread System & Set Sizes

The table below covers only thread systems and set configurations genuinely stocked in this collection, cross-checked against live product data.

Taper, Intermediate and Plug Taps — What's the Difference?

A three-piece tap set gives you all three cutting stages for a clean, full-depth thread:

• Taper tap — the longest lead chamfer (typically 8–10 threads). Starts the thread cleanly and squarely, spreading the cutting load over more teeth. Always use first.
• Intermediate (second) tap — a shorter lead (3–5 threads) that cuts deeper and straighter once the taper tap has established the thread.
• Plug (bottoming) tap — minimal lead (1–2 threads), used to finish a thread as close to the bottom of a blind hole as possible. Never start a hole with a plug tap — it has almost no lead-in and will bind or break.

Combination tap and die sets that include taper, second and plug taps per size give you a complete tapping progression for through-holes and blind holes alike.

Combination Sets vs Tap-Only Sets

Two formats are stocked in this collection:

• Combination tap and die sets — taps and matching dies together, often with a tap wrench and die stock included. These cover both internal threading (nuts, tapped holes) and external threading (bolts, studs, rod) from one kit. The more versatile choice for general workshop and maintenance use.
• Tap-only sets (e.g. Goliath's ETDS range) — taps in taper/second/plug or spiral-point configurations for a specific thread range, sold without dies. These suit workshops focused on internal threading and hole repair, and are commonly bought per thread-standard to build out a professional tap kit size by size.

Goliath also stocks a dedicated tap extractor range (TESET-1 for M5–M12, TESET-2 for M6–M16) — a specialist tool for removing a broken tap from a hole without damaging the surrounding material. Worth keeping alongside any tap kit, because a broken tap in a blind hole is one of the harder recoveries in a workshop.

How to Choose the Right Tap and Die Set

1. Match the thread standard to the equipment

This is the decision that matters most — a tap or die cut to the wrong standard will not engage correctly even if the nominal diameter looks close.

• Metric (M) — the standard for modern Australian and European-built machinery, fabrication and general engineering. Start here for general workshop coverage.
• UNC / UNF — US-origin machinery, automotive imports and equipment built to imperial standards. UNC for general fastening, UNF where a finer pitch is specified.
• BSW / BSF — older Australian and British machinery still in service. These use a 55° thread angle and different pitches to metric or Unified threads — a BSW tap will not cut a usable UNC thread and vice versa.
• BSP / BSPT — hydraulic and pneumatic fittings on Australian and UK-standard equipment. BSP parallel (BSPF) threads seal with a separate washer or O-ring; BSPT tapered threads seal on the thread itself.
• NPT / NPS — the US equivalent of BSP. NPT is tapered and seals on the thread (with sealant); NPS is straight and seals via a gasket. NPT and BSPT look similar but are not interchangeable — the thread angle and pitch differ, and forcing one into the other damages both.
• BA — small precision threads found on older instruments, electrical fittings and some vintage equipment. A specialist range rather than a general workshop set.

Not sure which thread you're looking at? A thread pitch gauge (a folding tool with blades matched to common pitches) settles it before you buy or attempt a repair — cheap insurance against cutting the wrong thread into an expensive part.

2. Decide combination or tap-only

If you need to thread both internal holes and external rod or studs, a combination set is the more efficient buy. If your work is mostly tapping holes — production work, maintenance on tapped equipment, hole repair — a tap-only set in your most-used thread standard is the better investment, and lets you build out a deeper size range without paying for dies you won't use.

3. Size the set to your actual range of work

General workshop sets (12 to 52-piece metric or imperial kits) cover the common sizes most jobs need. Larger combination kits (110-piece) add coverage across metric and imperial in one case — useful where a workshop genuinely services both. Single-range professional sets (e.g. a dedicated M6–M12 or 1/4"–1" UNC set) suit a workshop that already knows its most-used range and wants depth rather breadth, or needs to replace a specific worn tap or die without buying a full kit again.

4. Check the material against the job

Sets in this collection are supplied in HSS (high-speed steel) or carbon steel. HSS holds an edge longer and handles a wider range of materials including harder steels; carbon steel sets are a lower-cost option suited to occasional use on mild steel, aluminium and brass. Match the set to how often it will be used and what it will be cutting.

Brands We Stock — Verified Range

Every tap and die set in this collection ships under one of the following brands. Piece counts and thread ranges below are drawn directly from current stock.

• Goliath — the deepest range in this collection, with dedicated single-thread-standard tap and die sets across metric coarse, metric fine, UNC, UNF, BSW, BSF, BSP (parallel and tapered), NPT, NPS and BA, plus multi-standard combination kits (metric with UNC/UNF) and the TESET tap extractor range. Best suited to workshops building a comprehensive, professional-grade tap and die kit standard by standard, or needing a specific range not covered by a general set.
• Sutton Tools — the broadest set-size range in the collection, from 12-piece starter sets through to 52-piece combination kits, in metric, UNC, UNF, BSW and metric/imperial combinations, in carbon steel and HSS button-die construction. A long-standing Australian workshop brand.
• Trax — 20-piece single-standard sets (BSW, BSF, UNC, UNF, DIN) and larger 40 to 110-piece metric and metric/imperial combination kits, including the SKC-110M and SKC-110CFM comprehensive workshop sets.
• Saber — compact combination sets (S1–S4) pairing metric with SAE, UNC/UNF or 1/8" NPT, aimed at general trade and maintenance workshops wanting broad thread coverage in one affordable kit.
• P&N — 40-piece carbon steel sets in metric and UNC/UNF, a straightforward general-purpose option for trade and workshop use.
• Bordo — the 4220-S2 chrome alloy tap and button die set in metric coarse, for workshops wanting a chrome-alloy alternative to standard carbon steel or HSS construction.
• Typhoon Tools — a 110-piece UNF/UNC and metric combination set, giving broad thread coverage in a single kit.

Related Threading & Workshop Ranges at AIMS

Tap and die sets sit inside a wider threading and hand tool range. If this collection doesn't have the exact configuration you need, these related ranges are worth a look:

• Taps — individual taps across all geometries and thread standards, for topping up a set or building a production tap kit.
• Dies — individual round dies and die nuts sold separately from taps.
• Tap wrenches — essential if you've bought a tap-only set without a holder included; size the wrench to your tap's shank diameter.
• Tap drill sets — matched drill and tap combinations, so the pilot hole is always the correct size before you start cutting.
• Threading — the full threading tool range beyond tap and die sets.
• Hex keys & Allen wrenches — another core hand tool range for the same workshop toolbox.
• Key steel — for keyway and shaft work alongside general machining and fastening tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a tap and a die?

A tap cuts an internal thread — inside a drilled hole, like a nut or a tapped bolt hole. A die cuts an external thread — onto a rod, stud or bar. A combination tap and die set includes both, so you can thread or repair either half of a fastened joint.

Do I need a metric set or an imperial set?

For most Australian workshops, metric coarse is the first set to own — it covers the majority of modern machinery, fabrication and mechanical repair work. Add a UNC/UNF imperial set if you service US-origin equipment, automotive imports or older imperial machinery. BSW and BSF are needed specifically for older British-standard machinery still in service, and BSP or NPT for pipe and hydraulic fitting work — these pipe threads are not interchangeable with each other or with general metric/imperial sets.

What does a taper, intermediate and plug tap each do?

The taper tap has the longest lead and starts the thread cleanly — always use it first. The intermediate (second) tap has a shorter lead and cuts the thread deeper and straighter. The plug (bottoming) tap has minimal lead and finishes the thread as close as possible to the bottom of a blind hole — never use it to start a hole.

Should I buy a combination set or a tap-only set?

A combination set (taps plus dies) covers both internal and external threading and suits general workshop and maintenance use. A tap-only set suits workshops focused on tapping holes rather than threading rod or studs, and lets you go deeper into a specific size range. AIMS stocks both formats across metric and imperial standards.

What's the difference between BSP, BSPT and NPT pipe threads?

BSP (parallel/BSPF) is a straight thread that seals with a separate washer or O-ring. BSPT is the tapered version of BSP and seals on the thread itself. NPT is the US tapered pipe standard and looks similar to BSPT but uses a different thread angle and pitch — the two are not interchangeable, so match the tap and die set to the actual standard of the fitting you're working with, not just its nominal size.

What material should my tap and die set be — HSS or carbon steel?

HSS (high-speed steel) holds a cutting edge longer and handles a broader range of materials, making it the better choice for regular or professional use. Carbon steel sets cost less and are a reasonable choice for occasional work on mild steel, aluminium or brass. Bordo also offers a chrome alloy option in this collection.

Do I need a tap wrench and die stock separately?

Combination sets generally include a tap wrench and die stock. Tap-only sets — including Goliath's single-thread-standard ranges — do not, so you'll need to buy a tap wrench sized to your tap's shank and, if applicable, a die stock sized to your die's outside diameter. See our tap wrenches range.

What is a tap extractor and when would I use one?

A tap extractor removes a broken tap from a threaded hole without damaging the surrounding material — one of the trickier recoveries in a workshop, since a snapped tap is hardened and brittle. Goliath's TESET range covers M5–M12 (TESET-1) and M6–M16 (TESET-2). Worth keeping in the workshop alongside any tap set, particularly for blind-hole work where a broken tap is hardest to remove by other means.