Regrinding taps: sustainable & economical

In today’s world, sustainability has become a key concern for many people. Whether it’s recycling plastic containers or donating old clothes, we’re all making an effort to reduce our environmental footprint. But let’s face it—sustainability is even more appealing when it comes with tangible benefits. That’s why we’re talking about something as seemingly mundane as thread cutting tools. Yes, even something as simple as sharpening your old tools can contribute to sustainability by reducing waste and saving money.

Sharpening worn-out or damaged tools, like screw taps, is a great way to give them a second life. This practice conserves valuable resources, minimizes waste, and helps save money. While you might think you can do this yourself with a grinding wheel, it’s often best left to professionals. Expertise is critical to ensure that your screw taps remain precise and functional after the process. Trusting a professional resharpening service will help maintain the integrity of your tools and prevent costly mistakes.

The Value of Resharpening Screw Taps

Over time, screw taps endure a lot of wear and tear. It’s natural for them to lose their sharpness, especially as their cutting edges wear down or suffer from more severe damage such as broken teeth or cold welding. These issues can alter the geometry of the cutting edge, which can affect the quality of the threads produced. If you neglect regular maintenance, you run the risk of the tap breaking entirely, rendering it useless and potentially damaging the workpiece. Resharpening screw taps not only enhances the quality of your work but also provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution compared to buying new ones.

Resharpening screw taps is a practical and eco-friendly alternative to constantly replacing them. Not only does it save you money, but it also helps preserve the planet by minimizing unnecessary waste. Investing in the longevity of your tools is a smart move, both financially and environmentally.

How to Resharpen Your Screw Tap

Resharpening screw taps demands skill and precision. Every tool is different, and each instance of wear or damage requires tailored attention. Before starting, it’s essential to carefully identify and assess the exact nature of the damage. Precision is paramount when working with these tools, so it’s important not to alter their original geometry during the resharpening process. After all, you want the reshaped tap to perform just as effectively as before.

The lead and flank surfaces are the primary areas of focus during resharpening. Let’s break it down step by step:

Sharpening the Lead

For blind holes, the lead typically needs to be shortened to address wear. This is the initial step. Once this is done, the grinding wheel must be adjusted at the correct angle to the tap’s axis to restore the lead, ensuring the appropriate lead clearance angle and diameter.

Resharpening taps for through holes often doesn’t involve shortening the lead. Instead, this means the cutting section extends slightly, which needs to be considered when using the tool afterward.

Sharpening the Flank Surfaces

After handling the lead, the flank surfaces come next. This stage is critical to achieving high-quality results. The correct flank angle is vital and should be measured directly on the tool before grinding and verified afterward.

A Special Case: Spiral Entry Lead

Resharpening a spiral entry lead tap requires particular care. Professional resharpening services for screw taps use grinding fixtures that can adjust both horizontally and vertically. This allows for precise adjustments to the spiral entry lead’s inclination and angle. Within the spiral entry area, the flank angle remains crucial. Post-resharpening, the spiral entry should be about 1 to 2 threads longer than the lead.

Considerations When Resharpening Screw Taps

Resharpening thread taps involves numerous details and challenges. First, selecting the right equipment is crucial. Specialized fixtures designed for resharpening screw taps are available, but they generally only work for the flank surfaces. Professional resharpening services for thread taps often rely on advanced CNC machines for enhanced accuracy. The type of grinding wheel used also plays a significant role and may need conditioning during the grinding process due to the pressure exerted by the tap’s teeth.

Other factors also influence the success of the resharpening process. For example, a wet grind is typically preferred during the process. The feed rate and the angle of the grinding wheel also significantly impact the outcome.

Resharpening Thread Cutting Dies

It’s not just screw taps that can be resharpened—thread cutting dies are also candidates. They should be resharpened when signs of wear appear or when visible damage occurs. During the resharpening of thread cutting dies, the lead and spiral lead are usually the main areas addressed. However, if necessary, the thread part can also be reshaped using grinding pins. The flank angle remains important but can be challenging to measure accurately during the resharpening of thread cutting dies.

By now, you’re likely convinced that entrusting your screw taps and thread cutting dies to a professional resharpening service is the best course of action. At BAER, we’ve been manufacturing screw taps for decades and offer fast, friendly, and reliable resharpening services. Get in touch with us via our contact form or give us a call—we’d love to hear from you!