The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Tap & Die Set or Nut & Bolt Dressing Set?

Well, my frame is painted and I'm getting ready to start reattaching everything. I'm going to use the original nuts and bolts where ever possible. I stopped at Sears yesterday thinking I would get a tap and die set to clean up slightly buggered threads. Next to the tap and die sets they had a set of similar tools specifically for dressing nuts and bolts. They looked as if they would be easier to use than taps and dies for what I want to do. Since in 53 years of my life I have needed a tap or die maybe 5 times, I was interested in this set. I'd like to hear comments from the more experienced mechanics. Thanks in advance (design).

Check Lareoke's website. He uses a vibratory parts cleaner and various metal treatment kits from Eastwood and if I was doing what you are, I would treat all my nuts and bolts that way. It makes them like new.

His website is all over, check links or previous posts, or profiles. Good luck. Others will comment on the die set I am sure. I want one too.

Dressing sets are usually junk. They are considerably cheaper, and there is a reason for that. I tried to used a dressing set on one ocassion, the thread I was trying to fix was harder than the metal in the dressing set - basically destroying the die.

If you are worried about price, and you don't use them very often, just buy the tap or die that you need. They are avaialble separately.

Don't buy a tool that is insufficient to do the job.

I have a nice Craftsman tap and die set that I bought from Sears a few years ago.. When doing the restoration work on my truck I used the set many times.

If you are planning to re-use as many bolts as possible, I am sure you would get plenty of use from a good set.

I have tried the dressing tools as well. I agree with Vaughn. If the dressing tools were so great, the tap and die makers would be out of business.

Thanks guys. This was exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for. I appreciate it.

For a quick thread fix on bolts, you can also get thread files. About 8 inches long with a square cross section. One file has 8 different thread sizes, 4 on each end. Don't have any idea about cost, but they are wonderful tools.

I bought the Craftsman 20 pc. Master Rethreader and have used it quite a bit. I also have the vibrating tumbler thingy from Eastwood, and you need the rethreader to clean out the groves in the nuts and bolts after they're shiney.