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Cleveland C55180 straight-flute hand tap, plug style, 3/8-16 UNC, gold TiN finish, high-speed steel

Cleveland

Cleveland C55180 Straight Flute Hand Tap, Plug, 3/8-16 UNC

SKU CH-TB9N-TTJME

Straight flute hand tap cuts 3/8-16 UNC threads in a 5/16 inch hole with high-speed steel and TiN coating

  • Straight-flute design clears chips in through-holes
  • Plug chamfer starts threads easily in 3/8-16 UNC
  • High-speed steel with TiN coating resists wear
  • 25 in thread length suits standard tapping depth
  • 94 in overall length fits common tap handles

Cleveland C55180 Straight Flute Hand Tap

The Cleveland C55180 is a straight flute hand tap designed for creating internal threads in a variety of materials. It suits machinists and maintenance technicians who need to cut 3/8-16 UNC threads by hand or with a tap wrench.

Upgrade from worn or undersized taps

This tap replaces dull or damaged tooling that produces loose or oversized threads. The jump is worth it when existing taps no longer hold the H3 limit or when a TiN coated tool is needed for longer life in steel and stainless steel.

Installation and common issues

The tap is turned by hand using a suitable tap wrench aligned with the drilled hole. What usually goes wrong is misalignment causing tapered threads or breakage if chips are not cleared regularly during the cutting process.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Bits, Hole Saws & Accessory Kits, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $14.99
Cheaper than about 77% of the 5,493 comparable items (median $27.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameCLEVELAND

Questions about this item

What tap drill size is required for the 3/8-16 UNC threads on this C55180 tap?

Use a 5/16 inch drill bit to achieve the recommended 75 percent thread engagement before tapping.

How do you correctly start this plug tap in a through-hole to avoid cross-threading?

Apply steady axial pressure while turning the square shank clockwise; the plug chamfer guides the first threads, so do not force the tap or it will cut crooked threads.

When should this high-speed steel TiN-coated tap be replaced?

Replace the tap when the cutting edges show visible wear, chips form on the flutes, or thread quality drops below the 2B class of fit.

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