This section provides an overview for tap wrenches as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 16 tap wrench manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked tap wrench companies as of November, 2024: 1.KINEX Measuring, 2.Walter Surface Technologies Inc., 3.Minerallac Company.
Table of Contents
Categories Related to Tap Wrenches
A tap wrench, also known as a tap handle, is a manual tool used for cutting screw holes. It is a special tool necessary for creating screw holes. The tap wrench consists of a long, thin rod with handles on both ends. A tap, a drill-like tool, is attached and secured in the square hole at the center of the wrench.
There are various types of taps, including tapered types that narrow towards the end and dimensional types that maintain a consistent diameter throughout.
Tap wrenches are utilized for turning taps to cut threaded holes in materials such as steel, which are not overly hard. However, cutting large screw holes manually can be challenging.
These wrenches are often used with taps for tasks like repairing ill-fitting screws in original holes or connecting metal parts with screws.
Cutting a screw hole is a complex process requiring experience and skill in metalworking. Initially, a hole must be drilled with a drill bit that matches the desired screw size. If the hole is too small, it can be corrected, but if it's too large, a larger screw hole may be necessary.
The first step involves cutting a tapered hole. Using a non-tapered tap for finishing will not work effectively. A guide hole at the entrance of the screw hole is crucial and challenging to make with a finishing tapered tap.
When using a tap wrench, turn it slowly. After turning halfway, return it to the starting position and continue to drill deeper. Applying lubricating oil can facilitate smoother turning of the tap and easier hole drilling.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
LFA Industries, Inc. has been a manufacturer of drill chucks and accessories for power tools and various industries since 1984 and is headquartered in Illinois, USA. The company offers industrial heavy-duty keyed chucks, integral shank chucks and adapters, tap wrenches, and arbor removal tools. These products are sold in North America and are utilized by customers, including national catalog companies, tool manufacturers, industrial suppliers, and tool repair centers. It is also a subsidiary of Amyot France, which has been producing drill chucks since 1925.
Walter Surface Technologies Inc. is a Canadian manufacturer and distributor of industrial abrasives that was established in Montreal, Quebec, in 1952. The company primarily produces pads for sanding, cutting, and polishing applications in various shapes and dimensions. It also offers power tools such as angle grinders, tooling such as step drills, and electrolytic weld cleaning systems. The company operates internationally, with subsidiaries of its own in seven countries across South America, North America, and Europe.
The L.S. Starrett Company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Athol, Massachusetts. The company is a manufacturer of industrial, professional, and consumer measuring and cutting tools to customers globally. The company has three general product segments: precision hand tools, gage blocks, and surface plates. Precision hand tools include depth gages, micrometers, squares, and over 15 other types of handheld measuring tools. Gage block offerings include individual blocks, sets, and accessories.
Lowell Corporation, based in West Boylston, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of mechanical hand tools since 1869. The company specializes in providing a range of standard and custom-designed tools that incorporate their renowned ratchet technology. Their product lineup, including ratchet arms, ratchet clutches, socket wrenches, roller clutches, and related items, which are made in the USA. Lowell Corporation places a strong emphasis on the significance of utilizing appropriate tools and well-designed machinery to achieve maximum productivity and performance in work environments.
Minerallac Company, based in the United States, is a well-established manufacturer of electrical hardware and fasteners since 1894. The company's comprehensive product range includes electrical boxes, conduit hangers, and cable connectors, meeting a wide range of customers needs. They provide extensive product offerings, effective and efficient packaging, service that maximizes economic efficiencies, and large array of American made products. They offer a comprehensive package of electrical hardware and fasteners for their distributor partners.
Western States Hardware was founded in La Puente, California in 1968. Western States Hardware serves customers across the United States, offering products in a number of categories including: nuts, screws, & bolts, metric nuts, screws, & bolts, drills & cutting tools, saw blades, electrical connectors, pipe nipples, & pipe fittings, industrial brushes, parker brass fittings & valves, anchors, abrasive pads, belts, & discs, chain & rigging accessories, various tools, valves, staple & nail guns, power & insert bits, and hoses, tubing, & clamps. Altogether, Western States Hardware offers over 750,000 products available.
Associated Fastening Products, Inc. (AFP) was established in the early 1990s in Itasca, Illinois. AFP is a manufacturer and distributor of both standard and special fasteners for all uses, with many customers in the agriculture and gun manufacturing industries. Some of AFP’s product and service offerings include automatic screw machining, CNC services, brass fittings, standard fasteners, CNC machining, laser and waterjet cutting services, custom cold headed fasteners, metal stamping services, standard and special washers, cable ties, hardware kits and bagging, Swiss screw machining, inventory management, large diameter bolts, security fasteners, and wire form products.
Anchor Bolt & Supply, Co. was established in 1952 in Odessa, Texas to provide the Permian Basin region of West Texas with a readily available source of threaded fasteners. Today the company is a manufacturer and distributor of fasteners with over 14,000 line items on shelves as well as more that are available through vendors. The company has 11 product lines of fasteners as well as miscellaneous hardware & accessories such as paint, tape, and other materials. In addition to its product lines, the company offers 24-hour free customer service.
KINEX Measuring, established in 1910, is a manufacturer of measuring instruments based in Prague, Czech Republic. The company specializes in developing mechanical and digital measuring instruments based on research and development of new materials, technologies, and processes. Its product line consists of micrometers, tap wrenches, calipers, v-blocks, and more. It also provides repair, calibration of measuring instruments, special gauge design, and equipment operation support. The company fully complies with DIN Standards and conducts inspections and calibrations according to ISO and VDI 2618. It serves various industries like automotive, aerospace, machinery, and electronics.
Threads Tools Co. Ltd. was officially registered in 2011 as a manufacturer and exporter of thread-cutting tools located in Hangzhou, China. The company produces a wide range of products, including taps, dies, tap wrenches, die stocks, thread gauges, and other related fittings. GSR threading tools have extensive applications for precise thread cutting, measuring, and repairing. The company is a joint venture between Hangzhou GSR Tools and GSR Germany, which has been in the business since 1889, serving the needs of manufacturing, machining, and domestic applications.
Master Resource Industries Inc. is an international professional hand tools manufacturer located in Taiping, Taichung Hsien, Taiwan. The company specializes in producing hand tools in Taiwan, offering hand handles, sockets, tool accessories, and socket sets. It also provides impact tools, impact handles, as well as impact sockets, and impact tool accessories. The company has also acquired several patents in many countries, including Taiwan, the USA, the European Union, and China.
WISEMAN Threading Tools Ltd is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of threading tools and gauging products established in 1987 in Redditch, Worcestershire, UK. The company specializes in producing various gauges and tools for cutting threading. These include tap wrenches and die stocks, Coventry die heads, and boxed threading sets. The company also offers calibration services for gages, as well as restoration and repair for chasers and die heads. Its products are mainly used by clients in the automotive, medical device production, and petrochemical sectors.
Patience & Nicholson NZ Ltd. is a manufacturer of cutting tools founded in 1921 and headquartered in Victoria, Australia. It offers a wide range of cutting tools, including abrasives, adaptors, carbide burrs, chisels, and countersinks, as well as drills, hand tools, hole saws, and threading tools. These products are utilized in diverse applications in construction, manufacturing, automotive repair, and home improvement. The company has manufacturing sites in Australia and New Zealand to supply a specific range of drills for both domestic and export markets.
Drill America, founded in 1923 in New York City, is a family-owned and operated manufacturer and supplier of contactor and industrial cutting tools. The company supplies tens of thousands of different cutting tools and instruments to distributors across the US, Canada, and other parts of the world. The company’s most popular products are drills and reamers, dies and taps, end mills, countersinks, and carbide buns. Industries catered to include Manufacturing, Hand, Power, and Lawn-care Tools.
Toolsavings, LLC is based in Chicago, Illinois and is a supplier and distributor of industrial supplies for both individual and corporate customers. Toolsavings offers an extensive catalog spanning over 10 categories such as Cutting Tools, Toolholding, Air and Power Tools, Fasteners, and Measuring Instruments from brands such as 3M and Destaco. Cutting tools include drills, reamers, and saws. Toolholding includes boring heads, retention knobs, and sawholders. Air and Power Tools includes blow guns, grinders, and tire gages. Fasteners includes screws and pins. Measuring instruments includes calipers, microscopes, and squares.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | KINEX Measuring |
9.3%
|
2 | Walter Surface Technologies Inc. |
9.3%
|
3 | Minerallac Company |
9.3%
|
4 | LFA Industries, Inc |
7.4%
|
5 | Haggard & Stocking Associates, Inc. |
7.4%
|
6 | Starrett |
7.4%
|
7 | Western States Hardware |
7.4%
|
8 | Lowell Corporation |
7.4%
|
9 | Drill America |
5.6%
|
10 | Threads Tools Co., Ltd. |
5.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the tap wrench page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 8 | 72.7% |
Czech Republic | 1 | 9.1% |
China | 1 | 9.1% |
Taiwan | 1 | 9.1% |