What Tap to Clean Head Stud Holes?

[euro911sc]

I typically get my supplies from MSC. Here is a page of relavent Taps, but they discuss things in terms of 'Thread Limit' which I assume is determining the difference between cleaning and cutting taps.

MSC Supply Pages

Googling 'Thread Limit' produced this page of how to calculate:

Thread Limit Calcs

But, it didn't really answer my question on cleaning out threads...

I already chased 1 hole and then thought better of it... nothing large was cut, just a bare minimum of grime was on the tap. Then I searched here and found I should use a special kind of tap... ok so maybe I only screwed up one hole... I think I can live with that.

So, what do I buy to clean these out?

Best regards,

-Michael

[hcoles]

there is a difference between cutting taps and cleaning taps....
I used a cutting tap to clean which was probably not correct...
maybe there is a wire brush type of tool that you can put in the threads and spray brake cleaner in at the same time as turning the brush.

I looked on the web for cleaning taps...I found for english but not metric

[adomakin]

i would just use an old head stud. I bought a m10x1.5 tap as told in waynes book-turned out to be a cutting tap and not a cleaning tap-not good. after speaking with henry at supertec he advised me that an old head stud will normally do a good job of breaking up any old loctite/crap especially if you use a liberal amount of solvent cleaner etc. just keep working it in and out of the hole and keep blowing out the crap with air/solvent in a can until its nice and clean. thats more than enough. good luck!

[88-diamondblue]

Grind off a side of the old head stud or a correct size bolt which will help clean the thread and give a place for the crud to accumulate while you are cleaning. Did that with my rebuild and worked well to clean the threads out.

[bbh03]

This is what I did. I think you'll be surprised how well it works. Dental picks help too.

Originally posted by hcoles
there is a difference between cutting taps and cleaning taps....
I used a cutting tap to clean which was probably not correct...
maybe there is a wire brush type of tool that you can put in the threads and spray brake cleaner in at the same time as turning the brush.

I looked on the web for cleaning taps...I found for english but not metric

[cstreit]

I cut a slot in a used head stud with a cutoff wheel... As mentioned if gives a place for the gunk to go...

[euro911sc]

Cool, I just used a dremel and cut some slots in the old stud and it worked great.

Thanks guys! Beer's on me!

-Michael

[Tom F2]

Or a gun brush with some solvent and compressed air.

[Jim Sims]

Both Sears and Snap-On sell the correct metric "cleaning/chasing taps and dies"; one has to buy the whole set (including inch sizes) at Sears ($70?) but Snap-On sells the individual cleaning/chasing taps and dies.

[hcoles]

Jim,
The item I could find on Sears that fits the bill is
Sears pn 00942275000 mfr pn 971 2750
seems cheap..$50? or so.
Is this the one?
-h

[Jim Sims]

That's it; I see the price has been reduced but it's out of stock on-line. A Sears store may have it in stock.