Sutton M1020300 M3 x 0.5 Metric Coarse Bottoming Hand Tap - Straight Flute, TCA

The Sutton M102 is a metric coarse (ISO) bottoming hand tap in 7 sizes, M3 to M12, with a straight flute and a square shank, made from Tungsten Chrome Alloy (TCA), sold singly on a card. A bottoming tap offers a continuous cutting edge with almost no taper and is usually used to cut threads to the bottom of a blind hole.

The square shank is designed for hard threading work in a variety of materials. Ideal for routine maintenance, repair work and for re-threading where high accuracy and tolerance thread is not critical. Carbon taps are not suitable for precision, safety or critical threads. They are for general purpose and DIY use only. The straight flutes are designed for tapping into materials where chips break up readily and present no disposal problems, particularly in through-hole tapping. Straight flute taps are only suitable for hand operations, tapping up to 1-1/2 x diameter.

Where this product is used

• Routine maintenance, repair work and re-threading where high accuracy and tolerance thread is not critical.
• Tapping through holes in materials where chips break up readily.

Design features

• Tungsten Chrome Alloy (TCA): carbon taps for general purpose use.
• Square shank: for hard threading work in a variety of materials.
• Straight flutes: suited to through-hole tapping.
• Lead: A bottoming tap offers a continuous cutting edge with almost no taper and is usually used to cut threads to the bottom of a blind hole.

Sizes and item numbers

Tap drill is the drill size to use before tapping.

Using the tap

• Drill the tap drill size shown in the size table for the thread you are cutting, then start the tap square to the hole.
• Turn the tap with a tap wrench on the square shank, backing off regularly to break the chip.
• Use a cutting fluid suited to the material being tapped.
• Use for hand tapping only, to a depth of up to 1-1/2 x the tap diameter.

Key specifications

Related products

Related Sutton taps: M100 taper taps, carded, M101 intermediate taps, carded, M200 taper taps, M203 set of 3 and M105 impact taps. Browse threading tools and threading dies and sets, or Tap Magic cutting fluids.