Tapping is the way of manually cutting internal threads in a drilled hole using a tool called Tap and the method is known as Hand tapping. Taps are made up of high-speed steel in various forms of threads and come in a set of three, namely Taper Tap, Second tap and Bottom tap. Taps are identified as M12 x 1.75 where “M” means Metrix, 12 is thread diameter in millimetres and 1.75 is the thread pitch in millimetres.

Tapping might look simple though learners must take cautious consideration of how to have completed threads as holes may be damaged and taps break if proper precautions are not followed. Drill holes must be checked to be smaller than taps to leave proper amount of material to be cut off during threading thus producing 1.75 percentage of full thread.

While continuing tapping, always lubricate using thread cutting paste and turn the tap one quarter turn back to break shavings to avoid clogging and breaking of taps. Ensure that threads are cut straight by checking them using an engineering square on both sides with wrench removed.