Source for tiny metric threading dies?

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Captain_Obvious

Captain_Obvious

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Hi all,

I've done my fair share of googling and I found a few sizes, but really small metric dies are very difficult to find... well, at least at reasonable prices. There are sources that charge something like 100 euros per piece, which is just too much.

So I figured model engineers deal with small threads, so you guys may know sources for these tools. The sizes I'm interested in are between 0.3mm and 0.8mm. Larger than that are easy to find, but these tiny sizes not so much.

I've made my own dies, but the problem with them is that by default they cut an oversized thread, so I have to make them adjustable to get the fit I want. Not really a huge issue, but it would be nice not having to find the proper adjustment every time I make a screw.

I've also bought small dies from a Swiss supplier, but they're not able stock them anymore. My French is awful and their English isn't great, so from what I've understood from our correspondence, the factory they buy from doesn't supply the smallest sizes anymore.
 
Hi,

I assume that you mean M1.4 x 0.3 pitch and M5 x 0.8 pitch ! Dies down to M2.5 are cheap and readily available, particularly from China, ones smaller do seem to be much more expensive. Aldi did a tap and die set not too long ago with sizes down to M3 along with the correct tapping size drills. All HSS and split point drills to boot, in a nice steel case.
 
Hi BaronJ,

Nope, I mean thread nominal diameter, not pitch. These are common sizes used in horology. I have plenty of tools for M1 and above sizes, but these tiny ones are difficult to find.
 
Hi, When I read your post I did wonder, since you didn't mention diameter. I must admit that the smallest tap and die I have is M2, and I've never used that set. Oddly enough I drilled and tapped three M2.5 holes yesterday, very carefully :eek:

I've seen some of the screws used in watches and wondered just how they can be made so small with threads that need a microscope to see them. I do wish sometimes that I had the skill to do work that fine.
 
BaronJ said:
Hi, When I read your post I did wonder, since you didn't mention diameter. I must admit that the smallest tap and die I have is M2, and I've never used that set. Oddly enough I drilled and tapped three M2.5 holes yesterday, very carefully :eek:

I've seen some of the screws used in watches and wondered just how they can be made so small with threads that need a microscope to see them. I do wish sometimes that I had the skill to do work that fine.
Click to expand...

Yeah, they do seem pretty non-existent the first time you see them. But really they're not all that difficult to make. The thing about horology that makes it difficult is that it's not enough to make it function, but it needs to look pretty too. Here's a few 0.4mm screws I made one in gold plated brass and one in steel and the dies I made not long ago. One is 0.8, non-adjustable and the other one is 0.6mm adjustable.

dies.jpg
 
miglincit said:
Found another shop for this set: https://www.boley.de/shop/3668.sortimente/514960.gewindeschneidwerkzeug?acceptCookie=1

Google-search with keywords: 'wiru gewindeschneidwerkzeuge' but it is obvious that others are branding the same set ;-)

But this set seems to be really expesnive ~€ 400,- !!

Thomas

Thomas
Click to expand...

Whoa, I missed that one! I even have an account at Boley! Horology tools are always expensive. That's just the way it is. But then, I don't think that set is incredibly expensive for what you get. Typically these dies cost about 30 euros a piece.
 
Unfortunately these Chinese "tools" are garbage. They try to mimic the old style screw plates made by the Swiss and German tool manufacturers, but the quality is nowhere near the vintage European tools. Either way this type is better suited for chasing existing threads, not so great for making new screws.

I'm leaning towards buying the Wiru set. Would you be kind enough to see how much the shop in Vienna charges for it? I can't seem to register on their website as my country (Finland) is not available in the list.

I'm still waiting for Boley to get back to me, as I seem to have lost my account details.
 
Captain_Obvious said:
Unfortunately these Chinese "tools" are garbage. They try to mimic the old style screw plates made by the Swiss and German tool manufacturers, but the quality is nowhere near the vintage European tools.
Click to expand...
This was something I did not considered....

Captain_Obvious said:
I'm leaning towards buying the Wiru set. Would you be kind enough to see how much the shop in Vienna charges for it? I can't seem to register on their website as my country (Finland) is not available in the list.
Click to expand...
I will, but please give a week or so.

Thomas
 
Oh wow, thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

I'll send an email to the shop in Vienna. If that price is including VAT, then I would consider the set very affordable.

I have a bucketload of really high quality NOS 1.7mm taps in sets of three. If you want a set or two, just PM me your address and I'll send them to you as a token of appreciation.

taps.jpg
 
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