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YMW Yamawa Taps & Threading Tools Made in Japan
Shop YMW Yamawa taps at Suncoast Precision Tools for hand tapping, CNC machining and production threading. Made in Japan, the line includes spiral point taps, spiral flute taps, hand taps, roll form taps, pipe taps and screw thread insert taps, plus center drills and pre-tap hole check pins. Compare inch and metric thread sizes, thread limits, work-material applications and available coatings to select the tool for your job.
Spiral Point Taps for Through Holes
Spiral point taps, often called gun taps, push chips ahead of the cutting edges and are generally used in through holes. YMW I-Series IPO taps suit straightforward tapping tasks, while Z-PRO PO and material-specific ZELX families cover a wider range of machine-tapping applications. The powder metal PM-PO series includes tools for harder steel applications; select the style, substrate and thread limit for the workpiece.
Spiral Flute Taps for Blind Holes
Spiral flute taps generally carry chips back toward the shank to clear blind holes. Choose SP and SP OX, metric AU+SP or I-Series ISP designs according to the material and tapping conditions. Steam Oxide options help reduce chip welding in soft, low-carbon steel. Check the chamfer and thread length against the required hole depth, and follow each series' hole-type recommendation.
Hand Taps & Straight Flute Taps
YMW hand taps serve manual and machine-tapping applications, with straight flutes that hold the chips produced in suitable materials. Choose HT-CI for cast iron, AXE-HT for cast aluminum or ZELX MOLD for designated mold and tool steels. Application-specific ZELX carbide taps provide another option for listed abrasive and non-ferrous materials. Compare plug and bottoming chamfers for the required thread depth.
Roll Form & Thread Forming Taps
Roll form taps create internal threads by displacing ductile material without cutting chips. N-RS tools target suitable aluminum, brass and copper applications, while N-RZ and ZELX HP-RZ tools cover compatible stainless and alloy or carbon steels. ZELX OL-RZ includes tools for specified dry-forming conditions. Use the selected tap's required pre-tap hole diameter and lubrication recommendations.
Pipe Taps & Screw Thread Insert Taps
Shop YMW NPT and NPTF taper pipe taps or NPS and NPSF straight pipe taps for the corresponding thread standards. Screw thread insert (STI) taps cut the larger receiving thread needed for a helical coil wire insert; the installed insert accepts the specified nominal screw size and pitch. Match the pipe thread standard or insert specification, work material and hole type before choosing the tap.
Center Drills & Pre-Tap Hole Check Pins
Yamawa center drills and combined drills and countersinks prepare center holes for machining operations, including listed 60-degree designs. CPC-S straight check pins inspect prepared hole diameters and depths before thread cutting. CPC-T tapered pins check holes for cutting taps, while CPR-T pins check holes for forming taps. Choose the pin for the intended thread and tapping process.
YMW ZELX Taps for Stainless Steel, Aluminum & Titanium
Choose the tap series for the alloy you are machining. ZELX SS covers stainless steel and selected alloy steel, high-carbon steel and ductile iron applications. ZELX AL and ALS address designated aluminum and other non-ferrous materials. ZELX NI serves nickel-, cobalt- and iron-base heat-resistant alloys, including Inconel, Hastelloy and Waspaloy applications. ZELX TI targets titanium and titanium alloys, with additional listed uses in magnesium and beryllium copper. Compare each item's application, geometry and treatment before ordering.
Z-PRO & Rigid Tapping Tools for CNC Machining
The YMW Z-PRO range includes HT hand taps, PO spiral point taps, SP spiral flute taps and specialized VU and MHRZ families. VUPO and VUSP taps use powder high speed steel and special coatings for machining-center applications with water-soluble tapping fluid. MHRZ roll taps cover suitable medium-hardness carbon and alloy steels up to 35 HRC. For synchronized rigid tapping, compare ZELX FR blind-hole and FR LHSP through-hole designs, selecting the flute geometry for the required chip flow.
Oversize, 8-TPI & Medium-Hardness Steel Taps
Find .005 H11 oversize spiral flute taps when the job calls for the specified oversize thread allowance, or compare the 8-TPI series for eight-thread-per-inch applications. MHSL spiral flute taps are intended for through-hole tapping in medium-hardness steels around 25-35 HRC. Match the thread diameter, pitch and limit to the drawing, then check the series recommendation for the work material and hole type.
YMW Yamawa Tap Selection Questions
- Are YMW taps made by Yamawa in Japan?
- YMW supplies Yamawa threading tools to North American customers. The YMW tools featured here are made in Japan by Yamawa.
- Which tap should I choose for a blind hole or through hole?
- Spiral point taps generally direct chips forward through the hole, while spiral flute taps generally bring chips back toward the shank in blind holes. Specialized series can differ: MHSL is intended for through-hole tapping, and ZELX FR LHSP uses a left-hand flute helix for downward chip flow. Flute helix direction is separate from thread direction. Follow the individual tap's application guidance.
- What is the difference between plug and bottoming taps?
- The chamfer is the lead section that starts the thread. A bottoming tap has a shorter chamfer so it can produce full threads closer to the bottom of a blind hole. Check the listed chamfer length and allow clearance for the tap tip and chips.
- When should I use a roll form tap?
- Choose a forming tap when the work material is sufficiently ductile and compatible with the selected series. Forming displaces material without making chips and requires the specified pre-tap hole diameter and lubrication. Do not assume a cutting tap's drill size is suitable for a forming tap of the same nominal thread size.
- What do Steam Oxide and NX mean?
- Steam Oxide is a surface treatment used on selected YMW taps to help reduce chip welding. NX is identified here as Nitrided + Steam Oxide (NX). NI is a separate nitrided treatment. Available finishes also include uncoated, TiN, TiCN and other coatings, depending on the series; choose the finish recommended for the work material and tapping conditions.
- What should I check before ordering a YMW tap?
- Confirm the inch or metric thread size, pitch, thread standard, thread limit, work material, hole type and required thread depth. Also compare chamfer, substrate, coating, shank diameter and overall length. Use the YMW tap size and application filters to narrow the selection, then review the individual product specifications.