MigGunslinger
Red Skull Member
I am thinking about dropping some company coin on improving our overhead tapping speed and capability. We have some products that we install that need a lot of 3/8"-16 threads tapped through steel above ceilings.
As of now we drill the steel from the bottom and hand tap all of the holes, some of the guys will get adventurous and chuck the tap in their cordless drill and use the clutch to keep the tap from breaking. When a tap does break, it is above the ceiling so it is a nightmare to fix and changing the location of the fastener is not possible.
I am considering this tapper tool that I saw on fireball tools:
Any experience with this thing? I like the flexible head and the auto reverse when you pull back.
The only thing that would be better is a cordless option, my guys run Makita and Milwaukee 18v tools but neither seem to offer a dedicated tapping tool. Is there a similar type of device that you can use with a regular cordless drill?
I know that the impact rated combination drill / tap bits have come on the market, my issues with those are again related to the ceiling. Ideally the steel would be no more than 1" above the sheetrock but sometimes we are reaching 4-5" up through a hole just big enough to fit a long extension socket to tighten a jam nut. Those combo bits are usually short and the above tapping tool could fit our 6" pulley taps.
Couple of notes:
1. I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest solution, with the labor cost we have it would not take many broken taps for a $600 tool to pay for itself.
2. This needs to be something that we can use on a platform ladder and not worry about the contractor's safety guy walking in while my installer is doing an impression of a ceiling fan.
3. Steel thickness would usually be 1/4" - 3/8" max
As of now we drill the steel from the bottom and hand tap all of the holes, some of the guys will get adventurous and chuck the tap in their cordless drill and use the clutch to keep the tap from breaking. When a tap does break, it is above the ceiling so it is a nightmare to fix and changing the location of the fastener is not possible.
I am considering this tapper tool that I saw on fireball tools:
Any experience with this thing? I like the flexible head and the auto reverse when you pull back.
The only thing that would be better is a cordless option, my guys run Makita and Milwaukee 18v tools but neither seem to offer a dedicated tapping tool. Is there a similar type of device that you can use with a regular cordless drill?
I know that the impact rated combination drill / tap bits have come on the market, my issues with those are again related to the ceiling. Ideally the steel would be no more than 1" above the sheetrock but sometimes we are reaching 4-5" up through a hole just big enough to fit a long extension socket to tighten a jam nut. Those combo bits are usually short and the above tapping tool could fit our 6" pulley taps.
Couple of notes:
1. I am not necessarily looking for the cheapest solution, with the labor cost we have it would not take many broken taps for a $600 tool to pay for itself.
2. This needs to be something that we can use on a platform ladder and not worry about the contractor's safety guy walking in while my installer is doing an impression of a ceiling fan.
3. Steel thickness would usually be 1/4" - 3/8" max
