Are round dies out?
 

I need to thread a rod to 10-24. I've looked all over, can't find the die. I found 3 different 10-32 dies.
I should state that all my SAE stuff is inherited from my father, so all of this is at least 50, and maybe 70+ years old.
I've looked online at all the usual suspects, Ace Hardware, Menards, Farm & Fleet, Napa, etc, and everyone has 1" hex dies. Of course all the handles I have are for round dies. Does anyone still sell round dies? I found a set at Harbor Freight, but I'm not so sure about the quality.

I ordered what was listed as a round die off eBay, but it was a thread chaser, not a die. I'm not sure I want to try again.

up here mastercraft (Canadian Tire) still does round dies for sure. Think Snap on does to.

https://www.mcmaster.com/round-dies/screw-thread-dies-6/

10-24 at McMaster

$$ sacred feces!

MSC industrial:

https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/Threading/Round-Dies?searchterm=10+24+die&navid=4287923967

Amazon:

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=10+24+round+die&ref=nb_sb_noss

First of all, what material? I mean if you're threading hard stuff then you need quality. I get by with a cheapo set because most everything I deal with (furniture and what nots) is not hard steel. I might use a decent thread chaser on grade 8 automotive, but if it needs threading I'd buy new.

http://www.gustavstoolanddieinc.com/

Shameless post.

I’m seeing $18 bucks-ish.

I’m guessing I’d have to buy maybe 10 in the next 20 years, maximum.

For me, it’s 20 bones each...ok, fair enough.

Is your reaction more applicable to the high volume users?
edumacate me...please.

Using cutting oil liberally will help a less quality die work well. Only twist it 1 turn at a time before reversing to cut the threads, and clean out often....patience !

Cold Rolled steel rod.
A smarter guy would just buy some 10-32 nuts and be done with it.
The OCD in me says "I must replace the missing 10-24 die", even though I may find it later, or maybe never need it again. OCD really sucks sometimes. I'll buy replacement flatware or plates when one gets lost or broken, when it would be more cost effective to just buy another set and mix them in.

The McMaster listing is high, I wouldn't buy the carbon steel die, I'd likely buy the high speed steel die at $33.71, and that seems extreme when you used to be able to buy a whole set for around $60, all made in the USA, but that era is long gone. Guess that's another part of getting old, remember what things used to cost, and comparing that to today.

Anyone want to talk house prices, or the price of long hoods?

I'm sorry, but every time I see the thread title my brain converts it to "round eyes" which makes me chuckle. And I keep almost expecting to see one of those threads with a similar or similar sounding title to this one. I guess it's fortunate that I haven't.

Harbor Freight, whole set $10

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/specialty-hand-tools/tap-die-sets/carbon-steel-sae-tap-and-die-set-21-pc-61398.html

You can't use threaded rod?

Yes, I could use threaded rod. That's not the point.
The question is - can I go into a local store and buy a round die to thread steel?

The harbor freight set is out, it says right on the page "not for steel"
Every store I can think of sells hex dies. Yes, you can order round dies online, but they used to be in stores.

I'm trying to shift back to shopping locally, instead of going to Amazon or eBay or some other online place first. 35 years ago I worked in the hardware department of the local Sears, and not only could you buy tools, you could usually get some advice on how to use them, not a 10 minute Youtube video for what should be a 30 second explanation. Now the Sears is boarded up, along with another 2 of the anchor stores at the local mall. J.C. Penney is holding on by a thread, and when they go the whole thing might shut down.

There's still an old fashioned hardware store downtown, but they only sell hex dies. They're the first place I checked, then Ace, then I started looking online, but only at stores with a local presence.

Maybe I'll run across a set at a garage sale.

Round dies are not 'out'. But expecting to find a 10-24 die in any store nowadays is a bit of a stretch.

Inventory is cut everywhere, dies are not sold very often to John Q Public, and 10-24 is less popular than 10-32. And then add in the fact you won't buy a hex die...

Any industrial supply house will get you what you want.

Fastenal lists round dies in 10-24 in carbon and chromium steel. There's even a branch in LaCrosse, but that size in a round die is a ship from the manufacturer and not stocked.

I think your local ace done steer you wrong. They just confirmed why people find it easier to buy online: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/taps-and-dies/2366375

If they didn't offer to bring it in, eff-em.

Unless you are trying to thread hardened steel or stainless, I suspect that harbor freight set will be fine.

I have a drawer full of machinists dies at another location. If you are in no hurry, I'll check next time I'm there, probably this weekend.

I fell for that a few years ago. I swear the dies probably wouldn't even thread over the correct bolt from Ace Hardware.

Returning them, the girl asked "so why?". I discussed the crapitude and her response, as she gave me my money back, was "well, duh...". I think I bought some bungee cords and spring clamps with my winnings.

Yes, the TiN especially.

Success!
We took a trip to Bettendorf IA this weekend to visit the granddaughter. While we were there, I decided to check out Home Hardware in Davenport - billed as Davenport's oldest hardware store.
I knew I was in the right place when I saw the large selection of numbered drill bits. I walked around the aisle and found the taps and dies. At first I was disappointed, as all the dies were hex shaped. But what was this, on the bottom shelf of the rack? An old wooden case, with cutouts for dies. ROUND DIES. But a lot of them were empty. But there, in the middle, was a slot that said 10-24, and there were a couple left. So I grabbed one and headed to the counter to see the damages, as there was no price that I could see on the case. I'll let the receipt speak for me.

It's an Ace die, not Ace Hardware, the brand Ace was made by Hanson, which are now Hanson Irwin. Made in the USA, says so right on it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1620012035.jpg