DIES HSS or Carbon Steel

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One thing I have learned is that a good quality tap whether it is made of HSS or Carbon Steel generally work fine. I do prefer taps made from plain old carbon steel simply because you can often shatter them if they break off in a hole, with HSS you either have to be ingenious and figure a way to fish them out, or you are left with the prospect of either grinding or burning them out (EDM), or starting over.
 
The idea between grades of steel used in Taps, dies, drills and machine tools is predominately what they can cut. Normal medium-high carbon steels are good to about HRC(Rockwell) 20-25 , while your HSS without Cobalt (T1,M2 grades) used in general run of the mill taps , dies and drills is good to about HRC 62 (50 HRC is around cheap Chinese needle roller cages) , then from there you go,to 5% and 8% Cobalt HSS (M35,M42)which doesn't soften when you heat it up while grinding it(even to cherry red), and this is what most better quality HSS Tool steel used in lathe cutting bits and milling cutters is. Also remember, a high carbon steel cutting tool will give a better and more accurate finish then HSS, which gives a better finish and accuracy then Carbides! Not talking about looks btw.
 
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