Screw taps for watchmaking and model making Metric Mini Threads & Nano Threads
Every craftsman should have a good eye and steady hands. However, this is especially true when it comes to very small dimensions. If you have ever used a tap ≤2mm, then you know what we are talking about. Because on a microscopic level, even the slightest wobble can have fatal consequences. There are an astonishing number of areas in which 2 mm screws and even much smaller Dimensions are used. The demand for taps ≤2mm is correspondingly high.
Who needs a tap ≤2mm?
If you are now wondering who needs such tiny taps with a diameter of ≤2mm or less, you may be surprised. The small tools are surprisingly widespread. Here are some of the most common applications for taps ≤2mm:
The watchmaker's tap has been around for a very long time
The most important tool is the tap ≤2mm for an old craft. Watchmakers use the smallest screws, as there is not a lot of space in the watch case and tiny screws require tiny threads. A 2 mm diameter tap is even too big! No wonder the magnifying glass is the centrepiece of every watchmaker's workshop. Because only with magnification can the watchmaker's screw tap tap be used precisely.
The modelling tap is widely used in the hobby sector
Passionate craftsmen can also be found in model making, but there everything is done on a smaller scale. It goes without saying that screw tap in model making must therefore also be quite small. The ≤2mm tap also fits perfectly into this environment and allows screw connections at micro level. A tap set for model making is indispensable for producing stable and lifelike miniatures.
Mini taps can also be found in other industries
Model making taps and watchmaking taps are classic areas of application when it comes to using taps ≤2mm. But other industries wouldn't get very far without mini taps either. Whether in apparatus engineering or precision mechanics, everything is simply getting smaller and smaller these days. And where screws are shrinking, a tap with a diameter of 2 mm or less is needed. In microelectronics, every millimetre counts when it comes to smartphones, smartwatches and the like. Medical technology also requires the smallest devices and relies on mini screw tap to anchor implants and bone screws.
What actually makes a tap ≤2mm?
Taps with a diameter of ≤2mm almost look like they belong in a doll's house. Yet they have everything you can find on their big brothers. Just much smaller. The geometry of the taps with a diameter of 2 mm or less is optimised for the size in order to make the filigree tools as stable as possible. Of course, all of this is also properly standardised. However, DIN 14-2 only covers mini taps with a diameter of less than 1 mm. Everything above this, i.e. up to taps ≤2mm, follows DIN 13 for the metric ISO standard thread. In fact, the selection of mini taps extends up to M 2.6 - up to this point, a thread is considered a mini thread.
You must pay attention to this when using a ≤2mm screw tap
Taps with a diameter of 2 mm or smaller require special care when using them. Even "full-grown" taps tend to break off if used incorrectly. The tiny taps with a diameter of ≤2mm are even less able to withstand mechanical stress. As a first measure against the threat of tool breakage, it is advisable to only purchase taps with a diameter of 2 mm or less from trustworthy manufacturers. High-quality tools made from robust material are less likely to break, and this also applies at a micro level.
Next, you are faced with the question of how you want to operate your tap with ≤2mm diameter. Theoretically, you can also cut the smallest threads by hand, but then you really shouldn't be prone to nervous shaking. The use of a stationary drilling machine or a tapping machine promises more success. This is guaranteed not to shake, which means you have already eliminated one risk factor.
Otherwise: small drill bits, big problems. In other words, the smaller the dimensions, the more the general problem areas that you can always encounter at thread cutting are exacerbated. So when using taps smaller than 2 mm, pay particular attention to all the tips and advice you come across. This includes that you should never forget to use sufficient lubricant. You should also take special care of your tap with a diameter of up to 2 mm. Avoid soiling and have the tool sharpened in good time if necessary. Then the thread cutting will also work in the micro range.
Taps ≤2mm in the BAER online shop
Are you looking for a modelling tap, do you want to dedicate yourself to watchmaking as a new hobby or tinker with old electronic devices? At BAER - your screw tap manufacturer - you will find what you need. In our online shop, we stock both taps with a diameter of ≤2mm and mini screw taps under 1mm in accordance with DIN 14-2. These mini taps under 1mm are available in sets of 10 pieces. The tools standardised to DIN 14-2 are so delicate that it is not worth buying them individually. More robust sizes over 1mm, on the other hand, are also available individually in our range in addition to the 10-pack version.
BAER taps with a diameter of 2 mm or less are made of high-quality high-speed steel and are manufactured with absolute precision. This means that they have all the prerequisites to serve you well for a long time as modelling taps or watchmaking taps and to provide you with the best possible support in your work.
Do you have any questions about our range or need detailed purchasing advice before deciding on a tap ≤2mm? Then use our contact form to get in touch with our customer service quickly and conveniently!