Hands-On: GearWrench’s 75-Pc. Tap and Die Set
By Chuck CageSummary/Conclusions
As a standard tap and die set, the GearWrench 75-piece is of good quality, offering a selection of useful taps/dies and in a nice storage package. But when you throw in the ratcheting T-handle, this becomes the set to own. Our favorite way to determine whether a tool is worthy or not is to place it in the same drawer with our other similar tools and watch over weeks or months to see which one ends up in use. In this case, it was the GearWrench.
And if you already have a large tap and die set — or sets – you can actually purchase a 5-piece drive-only kit from GearWrench that includes the ratcheting T-handle and all the hardware you’ll need to use it with your other tooling.
Street pricing for the 75-piece set starts around $160, which is a decent price for any similarly-sized set — and a great price when you factor in the ratcheting T-handle. The drive-only set start at around $55. If you decide to go shopping for either of these, keep an eye out for different branding as GearWrench sells these to KD and Craftsman (and maybe others as well) who brand them in addition to the GearWrench name. Sometimes deals can be had shopping all the brands.
Tap & Die [GearWrench]
Street Pricing (75-Piece Set) [Froogle]
Street Pricing (5-Piece Drive Set) [Froogle]
75-Piece Set Via Amazon
5-Piece Driver Set Via Amazon
March 31st, 2007 at 5:55 pm
If you buy “real” HSS split adjustable dies (which adjust so you can get a thread dead on) and “gun” or spiral fluted taps (which eject the chips out the front or the back of the hole depending on the style, so you don’t have to back up every couple of revolutions), you will never go back to the rethreading style in the gearwrench set. I’m sure they’re good, but you can do a lot better if you are going to thread a lot of holes. Heck, look into fluteless or form taps as well - they don’t cut but cold forge the threads! Great for tiny sizes as they’re a lot stronger.
And then get a tapping head (Tapmatic) for your drill press…
April 7th, 2007 at 11:18 am
I wish these came with the right complement of drills.
April 7th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Bill: This is a great reason to own a decent 115-piece drill set. You’ll hear some argument that you should never buy anything but the best drills available, but I’ve always believed that you’re better off having a lesser bit that’ll work for what you need right now than having just a few great bits — that are useless because you don’t have the size you need.
You can find a decent 115-piece (all lettered, numbered, and fractional sizes) for under $100 (and sometimes as low as $50). At those prices they won’t last forever, but you can always replace the ones that fail with better bits; they’re the ones you’re using a lot anyway, right?
April 8th, 2007 at 8:44 am
1) The ratcheting action is not a reason to buy this set. I have a set of ratcheting tap wrenches and 99% of the time I use them in the non-ratcheting mode. Every time you have to back the tap out you have to switch modes, gets to be no fun very fast.
2) It is much more economical and practical to buy only the taps and dies you will actually use. Probably 75% of these taps will never be used. Buy what you need when you need it and buy a quality tool, you’ll be better off in the long run.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I managed to pick up the 5 piece handle set at Sears a few weeks ago for $30. After trying it a few times, I love it!
I do find it a bit annoying to back out the tap due to the ratcheting mechanism, but that’s something I could live with since the overall usage is a wonderful experience.
October 21st, 2007 at 2:59 pm
they’ll have you suicidal suicida. Huda Swithun.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Looks like the KD 3885 40 pc tap & dye set at http://www.denlorstools.com/ GearWrench has really came out with some neat stuff lately.
February 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Woops I it’s a 75 piece set that’s the KD 3887.