Klein has come out with new combination drill and tap bits that can create threaded holes with a power drill, driver, or screwdriver, in just a single step.
These new bits will be available in 6 sizes – #6-32, #8-32, #10-24, #10-32, #12-24, 1/4-20, and the set will include extra #6 and #8 taps. The drill taps can be used in aluminum, brass, copper, plastic, and mild steel, up to 10 gauge thick (which is 0.1345 for mild steel).
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The drill taps are engineered with 1/4″ hex shanks, for use with quick-connect chucks, and are made from high speed steel for performance and durability.
Klein is bundling the drill taps as part of an 8pc (6 sizes) set (catalog #32217), and replacement taps are also available.
The new drill tap bits also have a deburring component that can slightly chamfer holes for cleaner results and easier fastener insertion.
Price: $57
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First Thoughts
These aren’t the first tools of their kind – you can find similar combination drill taps from Greenlee, Champion, and other brands. Still, it’s nice to high quality bits under Klein branding.
The street pricing is a bit steep – $57 for 8 bits seems like a lot, although I don’t think I could put together a kit with 6 drill bits and 6 spiral taps for less. Industrial-grade combination drill tap bits are priced at $15 to $18 each, for the sizes included in this kit, making Klein’s pricing look more reasonable.
However, for the price, I would expect these bits to be made in the USA. They’re not, they’re made in China. It will be interesting to see how these bits compare to other brands’ combo drilling and tapping bits. Maybe the higher pricing of these Klein bits reflects better quality or performance.
I’m eager to try these out, although they’re not going to be suitable for all applications. Curiously, Klein mentions a 10 gauge drilling and tapping capacity, but some of their product photos and the promo video show the bits being used on thicker bar stock.
John
I see on Klein’s website that they do mention the deburring feature of the bits but they do not show the maximum capacity of 10 ga steel that you stated. I’m wondering if the pic above is a piece of aluminum (maybe 1/4″). I’ve also seen somewhere that Klein doesn’t recommend these for impact tools but all of their promo pics clearly show them chucked in impact drivers. Full specs and application notes on the manufacturer’s product page would be helpful.
http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/tapping-tools/drill-taptool-kit
Made in China at this price is a disappointment especially from a company like Klein that makes so many products here in the states.
Stuart
Whoops, I must have missed that. There’s no mention of the deburring feature in Klein’s press materials, but it’s clear that it’s on the bit.
I asked for clarification about drilling and tapping capacity, and they reiterated “10 gauge.” I’m pressing for further clarification, as “10 gauge” means different thicknesses for different materials, and their product imagery definitely shows bar stock that’s thicker than 10 gauge.
John Sullivan
Wouldn’t the inherent wobble/play in any quick-connect system be a drawback for hole tapping? Even though hand-tapping has a huge amount of play and wobble due to natural human error, I would still think that you’d want to minimize it as much as possible.
Tyler
The video mentions the ability to “drill, tap and de-burr” at the end. They are a nice set, but I wonder what kind of replacement costs one is looking at if you break a combo bit. Standard replacement drill bits aren’t too expensive and one rarely breaks a tap. They definitely aren’t for precision work, but I can see some benefits if you frequently need to drill and tap a quick hole in softer metals.
Nathan York
You can buy a set at harbor freight, sae or metric, for under 20 dollars. I never would pay 57 as easy as the smaller sizes will snap.
You want some wobble because as soon as you put it in a power tool, the easier will be to put it in a bind and break.
Years ago when porter cable actually made great tools they sold a power tapper that you put standard taps in. That tool had at least 5 degrees of play or wobble to help prevent snapping smaller taps.
fred
Bosch (1642VS) and Fein also made corded tapper/drills. We had a Fein in our fabrication shop:
http://www.amazon.com/Fein-ASge-648-2-Inch-Capacity/dp/B00307RWY2
mnoswad
was that the one with the auto reverse? as soon as you would pull up on the tool, it would reverses out automatically, also had a wobble bit holder to allow the tap to self feed in straight. great tool.
Nathan York
Yes it did. I had an early version of the Porter cable that ran at 400 rpm no variable speed then my dad gave me a later version with variable speed trigger, so better when dealing with smaller taps.
Jason O
I’ve purchased/used the Harbor freight ones, work great zero issues, no reason to over pay for the klein/greenlee brand
MT_Noob
The whole concept of a 2 in one drill tap never occurred to me. But I can see a lot of use cases for it…
Thanks for another eye opener.
AngryDrumGuy
Does anyone make a USA version?
fred
In 2010 the Champion versions were made in the USA – but 5 years on – I’m not sure if they still are – here’s one link:
http://www.tools-plus.com/champion-cutting-tools-dt22hex-1-4-28-ipac.html
Noah
Its even the same case as the greenlee set, just in orange.
KL
My complaint with all these is that they’re too short to be of much use except for sheetmetal, likely electrical boxes, eh? Machinist supplies have long sold versions that are more “real”. The problem for me in the mill is that if I’m drilling a #21 at 1500rpm in the mill I can’t tap 10-32 at that or even let the tap come close to starting or it’s all over. So, stop and switch to low, but then I gotta hope that the corresponding low is slow enough to tap or I’m cranking the variable speed all day. End result, not much time saved and expensive tooling if you break it.
LINK
Jason O
I use them constantly as an electrician
Nick
I believe they use 10 gauge as a baseline because if you’re tapping into anything thicker, the threads would still be in the material and the debuting feature wouldn’t work. I’m also curious about the quality of these. I expected them to be made in the US as well. Greenlee sells a similar set for about $20 cheaper.