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Looking for British BA tap/die set, BA 0-10.

I bought my BA taps and dies from Amazon of all places but they are sharp and work well somewhat surprisingly, or its because I've only used them in brass to date. They are branded ALPS (made in India I believe)
Amazon tap and die set BA 0-12
Otherwise you are likely going to be sourcing from the UK - I've ordered a few oddball ME taps and dies from these guys, but a full BA set will be near double the Amazon price.
Macc Models
 
Similar set from Amazon U.S. for a lot less (above set also available for same price as Amazon.ca):


IMG_9060.jpeg

0 - 10 instead of 0 - 12
 
I located a few sources for BA threading tools but then went a different direction so I haven't actually ordered from them:

Polly Model Engineering

Polly Model Engineering online shop
www.polly-me.co.uk www.polly-me.co.uk

Reeves 2000 - Model Engineering Supplies

The World's largest stockist of model engineering supplies. Supplier of castings and drawings for over 170 different models. Over 10,000 items stocked
www.ajreeves.com



Note that the BritishFasteners site has technical information on 11 (!!) different oddball thread standards:

British Threads - ME

britishfasteners.com britishfasteners.com

Craig
 
Elektrishun said:
Here is the exact item you are looking for at eBay.com but quality unknown:

British Association Tap and Die
Click to expand...
I bought what appears to be that same set but I don't remember where I bought it from (likely Amazon). I actually haven't tried to cut any threads with it but I can tell you the quality of them looks atrociusly bad all the way around. They "might" cut satisfactorily but I don't have high hopes.
 
DPittman said:
I bought what appears to be that same set but I don't remember where I bought it from (likely Amazon). I actually haven't tried to cut any threads with it but I can tell you the quality of them looks atrociusly bad all the way around. They "might" cut satisfactorily but I don't have high hopes.
Click to expand...
I threw my set away, the taps and dies together made extremely loose fitting threads. And looked terrible under the optical comparator.
Switch to metric or buy from RDG Tools or Chronos , or the other UK based suppliers that trlvn listed.
 
Well! I'm glad I asked, as, though I've seen many of the items mentioned here, I've had no direct experience with them. Now I have something to think about for sure.

A couple of notes:

ChazzC said:
Similar set from Amazon U.S. for a lot less (above set also available for same price as Amazon.ca):
Click to expand...
A reviewer here says these are actually BSW and not BA. That's a big difference!

gerritv said:
Switch to metric
Click to expand...
Can't do that, as I'm working on a loco built with BA fasteners.

And as for buying from the UK, prices plus shipping seem to put the cost into the astronomical realm.

I'll digest all of this for a while and cast about for a good used set.
 
I bought these a few years ago from Model Engineering Supply in the UK. Not cheap, but very good quality, producing tight threads.
IMG_5488.JPG
 

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DPittman said:
I bought what appears to be that same set but I don't remember where I bought it from (likely Amazon). I actually haven't tried to cut any threads with it but I can tell you the quality of them looks atrociusly bad all the way around. They "might" cut satisfactorily but I don't have high hopes.
Click to expand...
I checked and my order was through Amazon.
My review is on the Amazon page (it's obvious which is mine and there is only 2)
20250202_141924.jpg
 
Ishmael said:
A reviewer here says these are actually BSW and not BA. That's a big difference!
Click to expand...
Eeeks I guess I better figure out the distinguishing features of those two threads and decide what i actually have. I'd be really p1ssed if I cut the wrong thread for an intricate little steam engine part thinking I had done it right and cram the two parts together. I had bought this set for the someday chance that I might work on a steam engine project that required BA threads.
 
DPittman said:
Ya it's ain't nothing special. It's made of compressed sawdust.
Click to expand...

I see. That sucks. It looks like Walnut in the photo. So much for that!

Why 3 taps per slot? Are they a set of full taper, 1/2 taper, and bottoming? Or are they course, fine, and extra fine?
 
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