2,3 or 4 flute taps?

[Jim Dunn]

Which is the best to use on wood? I would suppose that the harder the wood it would be better to use 4 flute and soft wood would use a 2 flute, but I'm guessing here. I also have some 3 flute taps but not enough to make a difference, just asking the question.

[Thomas Hotchkin]

Jim
I have always used four flute for hand taping in metal and wood, and two or three for machine taping. For wood taping I have found if you lube the hole with paint thinner before cutting your threads, you end up with a better results. Hope this helps. Tom

[Jim Dunn]

Thanks Tom>

[pat warner]

It's what I do, tap in wood (http://patwarner.com/images/pwinsert.jpg). Almost dead, new, 2, 3 or flutes, coated, uncoated, spiral, hss, carbide, L or R handed, they'll all tap wood without adversity.

[Chris Fournier]

Lesser flutes work better to remove chips in wood. This being said I'd use whatever I had in a test piece, you'll likely be successful.

[Jim Dunn]

It's what I do, tap in wood (http://patwarner.com/images/pwinsert.jpg). Almost dead, new, 2, 3 or flutes, coated, uncoated, spiral, hss, carbide, L or R handed, they'll all tap wood without adversity.

Helicoils in wood is over-kill for what I need for now and beside they have to be taped in just like cutting threads for a screw, right? I'm just trying to weed out some of the taps I don't think I'll use in the future.

[pat warner]

Buy hss, what's ever on-sale.

[Jim Dunn]

http://www.patwarner.com/images/greyback.jpg

I'm glad you posted the helicoil pic instead of this one.