Which is better quality:

Dubro or Great planes?

thanks

While I've never compared the two side-by-side, for the type of work we do you don't need the best quality.

And just to qualify my statement, I spent 15 years as a machinist

I would say Du-bro by a slim margin but they are very close. Both will do everything you need to do.

As Minnflyer said above, either one will be good for most everything we are going to do. I use a set that I picked up from Harbor Freight. I wouldn't do machinist level work with them, but for what I do on my planes they are more than enough.

Ken

You are not cutting steel, you are cutting at worst, aluminum or fiber reinforced engine mount, often just balsa or balsa hardened with CA, . Either set will be fine. While it's not great, I've been using a HF set for about 10+ years and it's held up on steel.

Jack

like said before , most any of the sets will work for our stuff. Its nice to get the tap and drill set together, makes things easier. Sears sells some very good sets. thats what I bought when I was working in a machine shop.

If you taping aluminum or any metal, be sure to use tap oil. Your taps will last longer and you will cut a better thread. Aluminum seems to be the worse for loading up tooling, I would use a good amount of oil with taping it.

When taping its a good idea to back the tap out of the metal once in awhile and clean the tap. Taps can and will break at the worst time, I know I have broke more than my share.

sticks

thanks for the advice guys!

Cheers,V.

A bar of soap is much better lubricant for tapping aluminum, give it a try. I just dampen the surface and rub the tap on it.

when I started at my shop, they were using Johnson wax for a cutting fluid. Your soap idea maybe something to try.

sticks