push-pull tapping attachment

[pacman454]

Years ago I worked for a company that made metal doors and frames. They have a push pull attachment for a portable drill, that would be used with a tap for threading holes.
It would tap the hole as it drills in and would reverse when you pull back on the drill, reversing the tap. Now that I want to get one for our shop I cant find them anywhere. Has anyone seen these before, and if so where can I get one?

 

[meintsi]

Don't know if they make one for a portable drill but I do know that they have small units for small taps (6-32 screws)for bench drills.

Manufactured buy a company under the name of TAPMATIC.

http://www.tapmatic.com

Bought them here through a local distributor named
Tools and Abrasives

Can definitly vouch for their quality.

 

I used to have one of these. I won't swear to it but I believe that they were made by either Bostitch, Stanley, or Black & Decker. They were pretty common in the 50's and 60's. You could try the tapmatic tapping head, if you've got the extra money to play with. Have you tried Ebay for the push/pull unit? They seem to have everything else. Good luck.

 

[MikeMilburn]

Same here, it was Black and Decker, great rig, you just had to get co-ordinated so you would pull back at the right time and not bottom the shank against the work piece...Mike

 

[evelrod]

I don't know where you live, but here in SoCal the tapping device is available from B&D as well as Milwaukee (and other mfgr I would imagine). Most tool stores have them available and many rental yards also. Just the tapping attachment is also available in a pneumatic version. Not sure what max size capability is but I have used one for 1/2 inch. They are phenominal---that's the bottom line. We would not be able to compete on the job without these marvelous little machines! One man with a helper oiling and the Milwaukee can do 3/8 NC in 1/2 A36 plate at the rate of over 1000 holes per hour,absent problems. Drilling the holes is the real holdup to production.

You might try

http://www.harborfreight.com

just for 'drill'!

Rod

 

[tomek]

I wander if some one can explain how machine knows that one of many tappers on multi head tapping tools is broken. I saw recently on my excursion to one of our town’s manufacturing plants a large milling machine with lots of drills and then these holes were tapped and I did not ask about what happen if one of them is broken. Now I am hounded with this question.
Thanks
Thomas
triag@adam.com.au