TM,
The pic you have shown there does in fact show one of the main failings of the commercial products.
Where a hand tapper really scores over doing it by hand, is that very small taps very rarely break, if ever, because the side to side and tilt over isn't present.
To get back to the point, these commercial units are usually supplied with a large rotating handle, OK for 3/8" taps but easy to break a small one if it starts to bind in the hole. There is no 'feel' on them.
As you most probably know, I modified my small cast iron surface plate to have a swing over hand tapper, that allows me to position the tap almost anywhere on the tables surface, very handy when doing large jobs, you don't have to have the job precariously overhanging the table while you try and tap it.
I am not trying to get you to make them to this design, but show you how I overcome the 'feel' problem.
Under the main handle you will notice a knurled disk, this is turned with fingertips to allow you to feel if you are putting a bit too much pressure on the tap, and it really does work.
The chuck I used was I think the smallest one that Jacobs make, 0 to 6mm. A bit limiting if you want to use a larger tap, but they can be done by other means, this one holds the smallest taps you will ever use.
John
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