Browse by Thread Form
If you're tapping threads on a machine, the thread form matters as much as the tap itself. A Metric M6 tap and a 1/4" BSW tap look almost identical on the shelf — use the wrong one and you've either got a stripped thread or a fastener that won't seat. That's why we stock all 11 thread forms separately, so you're not guessing.
Metric is the go-to for the vast majority of production work — it's the ISO standard and what almost every new machine, fixture and fastener is designed around. If you're not sure which thread you need, start there. BSP and its variants (BSPP and BSPT) are the standard for pipe and fluid connections throughout UK and European industry — if you're tapping for hydraulic fittings, pneumatic lines or gas installations, you'll need one of those three. BSW and BSF cover older British imperial machines and heritage work; they're still in demand for classic vehicle restoration, legacy agricultural equipment and anything built before metrication took hold.
UNC and UNF are the American equivalents — coarse and fine — and are common on any plant or equipment imported from North America. NPT and NPSF handle the pipe thread side of that, particularly on compressed air and fuel systems. BA threads are the outlier: a miniature British standard running from 0BA down to 25BA, used mainly in instruments, electronics and precision mechanical assemblies where nothing else will do.
All taps in our range are available in HSS as a minimum, with carbide options across most thread forms for harder materials or higher-volume production. Orders placed before 4:30pm ship same day. If you need a thread form, size or specification you can't see listed, call us on 01732 887334 — we hold more than we can practically list online.
