Looking for a Tapping head for my drill press

JRB Blades

JRB Blades

Well-Known Member
I am looking to purchase a tapping head for my drill press. Mainly tapping small holes (2-56 at the moment). Not looking to spend $$$$. Anyone have any suggestions? I found this Grizzly tapping head anyone have any experience with this one? Looking for one that will just fit into the drill press without taking out the chuck (if that's possible).

www.grizzly.com

Tapping Attachment - MT #2 - Grizzly Industrial

<p>Turn your drill press into a tapping machine. Adjustable internal clutch mechanism lets you tap 1/8" – 1/2" (M3 – M12) threads.<p><b>SPECIFICATIONS: </b><ul><li>Arbor: MT#2<li>Jaw Type: 3-Jaw, Spring-Loaded<li>Maximum Speed: 700 RPM<li>Construction: High Carbon Steel<li>Steel Hardness...
www.grizzly.com www.grizzly.com
 
I bought a used Tapmatic 30X on Fleabay a couple years ago.
They show up there all the time, but they aren't real cheap.
It works well for the small stuff I use.
Make sure you get the collets with it if you buy one.
 
barlowchiro said:
I am looking to purchase a tapping head for my drill press. Mainly tapping small holes (2-56 at the moment). Not looking to spend $$$$. Anyone have any suggestions? I found this Grizzly tapping head anyone have any experience with this one? Looking for one that will just fit into the drill press without taking out the chuck (if that's possible).

www.grizzly.com

Tapping Attachment - MT #2 - Grizzly Industrial

<p>Turn your drill press into a tapping machine. Adjustable internal clutch mechanism lets you tap 1/8" – 1/2" (M3 – M12) threads.<p><b>SPECIFICATIONS: </b><ul><li>Arbor: MT#2<li>Jaw Type: 3-Jaw, Spring-Loaded<li>Maximum Speed: 700 RPM<li>Construction: High Carbon Steel<li>Steel Hardness...
www.grizzly.com www.grizzly.com
Click to expand...

What's the taper on your drill press chuck? That tapping head is a Morse taper #2. It will be stamped on your drill press chuck or spindle what the taper is. You need a tapping head to match that. None of them that I'm aware of chuck into an existing drill press chuck.

Changing the chuck is not difficult or time consuming.
 
barlowchiro said:
I am looking to purchase a tapping head for my drill press. Mainly tapping small holes (2-56 at the moment). Not looking to spend $$$$. Anyone have any suggestions? I found this Grizzly tapping head anyone have any experience with this one? Looking for one that will just fit into the drill press without taking out the chuck (if that's possible).

www.grizzly.com

Tapping Attachment - MT #2 - Grizzly Industrial

<p>Turn your drill press into a tapping machine. Adjustable internal clutch mechanism lets you tap 1/8" – 1/2" (M3 – M12) threads.<p><b>SPECIFICATIONS: </b><ul><li>Arbor: MT#2<li>Jaw Type: 3-Jaw, Spring-Loaded<li>Maximum Speed: 700 RPM<li>Construction: High Carbon Steel<li>Steel Hardness...
www.grizzly.com www.grizzly.com
Click to expand...
i have a reversable tapping attatchment has a MT # 3 shank If that would work give me a hollar
blksmith234@gmail.com
 
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barlowchiro said:
The only thing I see on my chuck is “3-6mm JT3”

Is that what I should be looking for?
Click to expand...

Yeah, so that means your chuck is a Jacob's taper #3. So that Morse taper #2 tapping head won't fit. You'll need a tapping head with a JT3 chuck taper.

Or....another drill press with a MT2 chuck for a dedicated tapping head.
 
usaknifemaker.com

Drill Chuck 33JT Jacobs Taper - Keyless

Keyless ChuckJT33 - Jacobs Taper 331/64"-3/8" openingA keyless chuck doesn't require a drill chuck key to open or close. If you have never used one of these you would think just hand tightening a bit in a chuck wouldn't be good enough to hold it. A keyless chuck will absolutely hold your drill...
usaknifemaker.com usaknifemaker.com

Would this hand chuck fit my drill press? I know I have a JT3, and this one is a JT33.
 
barlowchiro said:
usaknifemaker.com

Drill Chuck 33JT Jacobs Taper - Keyless

Keyless ChuckJT33 - Jacobs Taper 331/64"-3/8" openingA keyless chuck doesn't require a drill chuck key to open or close. If you have never used one of these you would think just hand tightening a bit in a chuck wouldn't be good enough to hold it. A keyless chuck will absolutely hold your drill...
usaknifemaker.com usaknifemaker.com

Would this hand chuck fit my drill press? I know I have a JT3, and this one is a JT33.
Click to expand...

I do not think those are the same taper.

I went to home depot and bought a cheap drill press that always stays set up with the tapping head that matches the taper. That way, I'm never changing back and forth.
 
I have a tapping head (purchase from Enco before they went under), and a dedicated drill press for it. John is correct in above.... IF you are going to use your existing drill press, the tapping head MUST be a JT3. Once you get a tapping head mounted on a drill press, you DO NOT want to be taking it off, and putting it back on......it can become a real hassle, and the more it's on/off, the less likely it is to stay in place on the drill press spindle.

I actually purchased the tapping head..... THEN I went to home depot and purchased the drill press that it would fit on.

IMG-4396.jpg


IMG-4394.jpg


IMG-4395.jpg


You will have to design/build/mount something to catch/contain the reversing handle..... which is the part you see clamped to the drill press column in the pics. All these type of tapping heads have a reversing feature..... and that handle sticking out/into the slotted fixture on the drill press column is it.
 
Thanks! Looks like I need another tool for the shop! I'll just add it to the list: drill press/tapping head, mini mill, disc grinder....
 
I replaced the motor on mine with a 1 hp 3 phase motor and added a KBAC 24D VFD with the fwd/rev switch. Now I not only can tap and back out I have the added advantage of infinite speed control with the turn of a dial. Once the tap starts cutting threads the drill press will self feed. I also have a HF foot switch so that when the tap had done it's thing or if I get a spinning piece all I have to do is step off the switch.

Let me know if I can help you.
 
Wayne Coe said:
I replaced the motor on mine with a 1 hp 3 phase motor and added a KBAC 24D VFD with the fwd/rev switch. Now I not only can tap and back out I have the added advantage of infinite speed control with the turn of a dial. Once the tap starts cutting threads the drill press will self feed. I also have a HF foot switch so that when the tap had done it's thing or if I get a spinning piece all I have to do is step off the switch.

Let me know if I can help you.
Click to expand...

You did this to your drill press? That sounds interesting...
 
Thank you guys for all your help and explaining what I need. After contacting the drill press manufacturer, it appears that I have a MT 2 taper where the arbor inserts into my drill press and a JT 3 taper where the arbor inserts into my chuck. If I am understanding this correctly, I can have a tapping head as long as the taper on the drill press side of the arbor has a MT 2 taper? Hope that makes sense.
 
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