I bought an old Procunier with a two jaw chuck that can use any size tap up to 1/4". It would not drive a tap even as I applied more down pressure so I took it apart and noticed the cork clutch was glazed over. I scuffed up the cork and roughed up the mating cone surface and it worked like new.
I discovered tappers about 15 years ago, reading an online article. My reaction was, gotta have one; I went to eBay. I found a new listing, 15 minutes old: Ridgid tapper $50. I damn near broke my arm hitting Buy It Now. Didn't know anything about Ridgid's version, but the article had given a new price, and a common used price, and both made gambling $50 a no brainer. Turns out, the seller had bought it new, 20+ years before, used it once, then put it on a shelf, and never used it again. Ridgid no longer makes them, but it has a Jacobs collet, with two sizes of the rubber & steel insert, Jacobs still make and sells chucks, and inserts. It is a self reverser, and does more capacity in the one size of tapper than Procunier. The type 1E has a capacity of #10 in mild steel, and ¼" in aluminum. I'd have to go to the shop to check, but I think I can do up to ⅜" in steel with the Ridgid. If you see a Ridgid at a good price, grab it. I was just starting production on a rear disk convention kit when I found this, and the Ridgid has done me well for that, and for all of my other tapping where I don't need a more accurate threaded hole, (90° to the material, wise), or with small taps, (
Thanks for the stories George! I think you're dead right about converting an old drill press into a dedicated tapper. That's what I'll be doing with mine when I finally upgrade. I'll keep my eyes open for a Ridgid.
@@ViceChief took it all apart. The bottom bearing seems to be problematic. Seems loose to me Kind of odd how theres really no downward pressure besides a spring
@@zackblack4098 The pressure matters more in the "up toward the spindle" direction because that's when the tap is tapping. Agreed tho it's an odd machine.
Hey buddy, squirt a little oil through the ball in the top every so often. Not to much, don't want any oil on the clutch. What kind of oil you ask? Any kind that won't splash, way oil, 10-30, or anything else slippery. Happy tapping.
Vice Chief Great, that will work. I give mine a couple squirts, a coupe times a year. It's not a picky tool, just enough to create an oil bath with out getting any on the clutch. You'll hand this one down to your kids!
I bought an old Procunier with a two jaw chuck that can use any size tap up to 1/4". It would not drive a tap even as I applied more down pressure so I took it apart and noticed the cork clutch was glazed over. I scuffed up the cork and roughed up the mating cone surface and it worked like new.
I discovered tappers about 15 years ago, reading an online article. My reaction was, gotta have one; I went to eBay. I found a new listing, 15 minutes old: Ridgid tapper $50. I damn near broke my arm hitting Buy It Now.
Didn't know anything about Ridgid's version, but the article had given a new price, and a common used price, and both made gambling $50 a no brainer.
Turns out, the seller had bought it new, 20+ years before, used it once, then put it on a shelf, and never used it again.
Ridgid no longer makes them, but it has a Jacobs collet, with two sizes of the rubber & steel insert, Jacobs still make and sells chucks, and inserts.
It is a self reverser, and does more capacity in the one size of tapper than Procunier. The type 1E has a capacity of #10 in mild steel, and ¼" in aluminum. I'd have to go to the shop to check, but I think I can do up to ⅜" in steel with the Ridgid.
If you see a Ridgid at a good price, grab it. I was just starting production on a rear disk convention kit when I found this, and the Ridgid has done me well for that, and for all of my other tapping where I don't need a more accurate threaded hole, (90° to the material, wise), or with small taps, (
Thanks for the stories George! I think you're dead right about converting an old drill press into a dedicated tapper. That's what I'll be doing with mine when I finally upgrade.
I'll keep my eyes open for a Ridgid.
thank you for this video. just got one yesterday and it has a small wobble. trying to figure out where it is
Glad you found this video - hope you find the problem!
@@ViceChief took it all apart. The bottom bearing seems to be problematic. Seems loose to me
Kind of odd how theres really no downward pressure besides a spring
@@zackblack4098 The pressure matters more in the "up toward the spindle" direction because that's when the tap is tapping. Agreed tho it's an odd machine.
That’s what planetary gears sound like. Totally normal. Even oiled up that gear type, straight cut gears simply make noise.
Hey JoeKind, thanks. I wish I'd had you around when I first got it. I do love this tapping head, it has definitely earned its keep!
Hey buddy, squirt a little oil through the ball in the top every so often. Not to much, don't want any oil on the clutch. What kind of oil you ask? Any kind that won't splash, way oil, 10-30, or anything else slippery.
Happy tapping.
Thanks Seth. I have some Waylube around that seems like just the thing.
Vice Chief
Great, that will work. I give mine a couple squirts, a coupe times a year. It's not a picky tool, just enough to create an oil bath with out getting any on the clutch.
You'll hand this one down to your kids!
It's probably 12mm and not 1/2"