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8-40 tap recommendations

Thanks. I did order a 5 set of 1/16 and a 5 set of 1/8 carbide endmills. If I have any spares left when this is done I will be shocked.
 
Im not a gunsmith but I play pretend in my basement. I tap quite a few Remington 1903A3s (very hard metal).The taps I use are from Serbia I believe.
 

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Just take your time, man. Keep that frustration in check, or walk away 'til "later".

And at least there, you can work from both sides, as needed.
Amazing how many problems can be solved while mulling them over for a day or two. I never had that luxury working, but now that I tinker in retirement it is evident on how true it is. Most of my best ideas come to me while I lie in bed for a few minutes after waking up.
 
I was able to get the tap out without messing the threads up and finished tapping the rest of the action.

It was not a conventional method and I made a video that I will post after I get some time to edit it all together.
Glad to hear the happy ending. Looking forward to seeing how it worked.
Something I gleaned from my many hours reading the Machinery's Handbook is that taper taps don't work well with stainless. The very shallow depth of cut leads to material quickly work hardening. Plug taps are a better choice.
 
I never free tap with small taps. Hole gets drilled then a spring loaded center installed in the quill and tap handle has corresponding center in the end to accept. If the tap feels like it doesn’t want to cut I put it aside and grab a new one. I also tend to drill, plunge mill or ream the tap hole a few thou oversize (6-48 for example I just use a 1/8” endmill)
 
I don’t know anything about boelube but a gallon jug of molybdenum saved my butt (and taps) on many occasions. Danny
 
Glad you got it out without damage to the threads.
With #10, #8, #6, or #4, I never use spiral taps or anything with more than two flutes.
Dull ones gall rather than cut and trying to back them out is a great way to snap.
It's been a while, but I've experienced a lot of 304, 316 and 400 stainless from China that have hardness nodes in the metal that'll ruin a hardened steel cutting tool in one pass.
Because I no longer work on machinery, all mine are done by hand. Don't have tap-free anymore, or any welding anti-spatter spray. I have found coconut oil works better than any other tapping compound I have tried.
 

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