In a message dated 3/21/04 3:14:16 PM, NBuck4149@AOL.COM writes:

<< 40 piece set from Harbor Freight and have been pleased with the quality and
variety. So far they have been good enough for cleaning threads and the
occasional new hole. Hard to go wrong for $10. >>

The problem with this grade of tool is that they will fail when they are
needed the most.  A tap breaks most often when it is being backed out not when it
is cutting the threads.  And, as unlikely as it may sound, broken taps occur
in aluminum more often than in steel.  A cheap tap is an accident waiting to
happen and a broken tap causes all manner of lost effort.  Instead of buying a
set of junk taps mostly composed of sizes which will never be used, I think it
is much better to buy quality taps as they are needed.  Think Butterfield or
Cleveland Twist, not Ron Fu.

George