IRWINTap And Die Set, Metric, 41-Piece (26317)

I almost didn't order these due to the complaints and pictures of the machining defects (large, hanging burrs) in the dies. However, after looking around, I realized EVERYTHING else is hencho en China so I took a chance, figuring I could always send 'em back if I didn't like what I saw. The dies in my set DO in fact have a bit of a burr in some of them, but it's on the back (non-cutting) side of the entrance "ramp" to the die, and will have no effect on threading performance whatsoever. Now mine weren't as bad as those in the other reviewers' pics, but I wouldn't even consider the burrs in mine to be a defect; they don't hurt a thing. Otherwise, the finish on the taps and dies is excellent, and I'm very happy with them. All the dies and all but the smallest three taps are labeled "USA," and it could just be that there wasn't room on the line to mark the smallest taps - they appear to be identically manufactured.Now for the bad... I would guess the tap handles and pitch gauge are all Chinese. The chuck-style tap handles are made of steel and seem pretty good, but the chrome plated tap and die handles are all made of some pot metal Chinesium, and feel pretty darn cheap in the hand. I've got US made tap and die handles from my mid-90s Craftsman fractional set, so the handles weren't a big deal to me, but for the money, and given the quality of the actual taps and dies, I would have hoped for better here. The case is decent, but a couple of the taps are tight in their slots, and the tray will not sit properly unless the die centering tangs are fully closed, which is a minor annoyance. Overall, I'd give this set 4.5 stars, mainly because they put the quality where you really need it, and have kept making these in the U.S. which matters to me both in principle and for practical reasons (they actually work). I gave it 5 stars because a tie goes to the runner.

Hanson Irwin means quality. There is no substitute. There is a reason SnapOn uses these for their Blue Point brand. These are an investment, not just a tool.

I've used the SAE version of the Hanson/Irwin tap and die set for years, and my positive experience with that set prompted me to purchase this metric version. Good quality and good price (Amazon seems to have the best deal, most sites are at least $20 more, some as much as $100 more). This is the same set you will get if you purchase the 41-piece tap and die set from McMaster-Carr (catalog #2647A12), but it costs about $40 more through McMaster-Carr. One reviewer said that this set is also the same set that Snap-On sells. That is true, though the Snap-On set costs at least twice as much. Exactly the same thing (Snap-On catalog #TDM117A), just with a Snap-On logo attached. Hanson also used to make an identical set a number of years ago for Sears Craftsman, but with the Craftsman logo. Having said that, this set is much better quality than the set Sears sells today (Sears stuff is almost all Chinese-made now, a sad state of affairs for what used to be a proud company that sold excellent products). Hanson/Irwin is still U.S.-made, believe it or not. The Hanson/Irwin set also comes in a more compact case than the current Sears version, which makes storage easier. I highly recommend this set. PLEASE, if you care about quality, the environment, and the American economy, don't buy Chinese junk (Harbor Freight, etc.)! Otherwise, reputable U.S. companies will be forced out of business and we'll all have to settle for low quality crap that breaks, gets tossed, fills the environment with unnecessary trash, and adds to our national trade imbalance. Buy quality stuff, and use it for life!One thing you might want to consider if you buy this set, however, is upgrading to a decent ratcheting tap handle. The one in the set is OK, but it's not the greatest and it is not ratcheting. Hanson and Starrett make excellent handles, including long-reach extension versions. Starrett is more expensive (though outstanding quality), but the Irwin version is also very good, and is a fine value.

For what this set costs, the case was disappointing. It is cheaply made plastic and the smaller dies do not fit securely in their compartments and because of that most of them were out of place when I opened it. In addition, the die wrench was only partially assembled so when I picked it up the screws and plates fell and rolled under my workbench. Now I have to hunt for them. Not good, Irwin!!

Probably as good as I'll ever need. MANY times better than the stuff from horrible fright. Cut easily into materials that bent my old HF taps.I did find it amusing that, for a metric tap set, the included chart only listed SAE sizes for the drills and clearances. Guys, the correct drill size for an M6 tap is 5mm, not whatever 64ths. Oh well, looking that stuff up is what Machinerys Handbook is for.