Taps & Dies Group Buys

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Kn0ttyTurner

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Joined
Dec 30, 2025
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Hello All,

I saw that this group has previously done a group buy for taps and dies to be used with kitless/bespoke pens. Is there currently any plans to get another round setup for this year? I would be interested in a few various sizes!
 
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Kn0ttyTurner said:
I guess i haven't thought that far ahead. I am just getting into bespoke pens now. I think starting with some M12&M13 sets would be good? But I'll also need to get taps for the nib threads.
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Check out this link, Turners Warehouse should have what you need. Anymore I think most people are getting here T&Ds from them.

www.turnerswarehouse.com

Search: 6 results found for "tap and die"

We are a small family owned and operated business in sunny Arizona. We specialize in pen kits, project kits, ring turning and resin casting. We carry a wide range of lathes, tools and accessories for all your woodturning needs.
www.turnerswarehouse.com
 
Just my 2 cents...

The nib housing thread taps are pretty readily available and while a little pricy, aren't prohibitive.

"Most" people start with a M13 set for Cap/Barrel threads. I recommend working out the math on your design before purchasing. M12 is doable, but definitely tighter depending on what size nib you want to use.

Recommendation: If you haven't yet started making kitless/bespoke, give serious consideration to purchasing a single start tap and die set and giving it a try to make sure you enjoy the process. They are SO much more affordable.
 
I also vote for beginning this odyssey using single-start M13 x 0.75 (or M13 x 0.8) tap and die for the cap/barrel threads.

My suggestion for a nib unit to start with is JoWo #6, that requires a tap M7.5 x 0.5 (or M7.4 x 0.5).

Bock #6 is an equally good choice in my opinion. You just have to be careful buying the tap for Bock #6 units, they are a bit different. Kirk at PenRealm.com sells the correct ones.

Both of those nib units require multiple drills inside the grip section. By far the easiest thing to do is buy a step-drill that Rick Herrell has ground to make all the internal steps with a single tool instead of having to swap out 3 different drill bits and ensure they are lined up perfectly concentric. Rick's vendor sub-forum: LINK Check out his catalog of neat stuff and post a message there saying what you're interested in. (He also makes threaded mandrels to hold a section, and threaded mandrels to hold a pen cap and barrel.)
 
d_bondi said:
Just my 2 cents...

The nib housing thread taps are pretty readily available and while a little pricy, aren't prohibitive.

"Most" people start with a M13 set for Cap/Barrel threads. I recommend working out the math on your design before purchasing. M12 is doable, but definitely tighter depending on what size nib you want to use.

Recommendation: If you haven't yet started making kitless/bespoke, give serious consideration to purchasing a single start tap and die set and giving it a try to make sure you enjoy the process. They are SO much more affordable.
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thanks for the advice! i may already have an m13 sitting around that is single start.
 
Kn0ttyTurner said:
thanks for the advice! i may already have an m13 sitting around that is single start.
Click to expand...
For the price of a metric triple start tap and die at regular retail price, a complete set of tools (all drill bits, tap and dies, mandrels, JoWo nib unit) is available from Barry Gross at bgartforms. I have no financial interest, just a satisfied customer.

www.bgartforms.com

Kitless Combo KCS-1.5 Complete Combination Special

This package contains all seventeen (17) pieces needed to make a "Kitless" pen! Step by step picture instructions included. Set includes: One (1) - Jowo nib and housing Three Mandrels (3) - Upper, lower and nib housing mandrels - made from durable 7075 aircraft aluminum Three (3) - Taps (Jowo...
www.bgartforms.com www.bgartforms.com
 
its_virgil said:
For the price of a metric triple start tap and die at regular retail price, a complete set of tools (all drill bits, tap and dies, mandrels, JoWo nib unit) is available from Barry Gross at bgartforms. I have no financial interest, just a satisfied customer.

www.bgartforms.com

Kitless Combo KCS-1.5 Complete Combination Special

This package contains all seventeen (17) pieces needed to make a "Kitless" pen! Step by step picture instructions included. Set includes: One (1) - Jowo nib and housing Three Mandrels (3) - Upper, lower and nib housing mandrels - made from durable 7075 aircraft aluminum Three (3) - Taps (Jowo...
www.bgartforms.com www.bgartforms.com
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These are all single start, including the cap threads
 
dschem said:
These are all single start, including the cap threads
dschem said:
These are all single start, including the cap threads
Click to expand...
its_virgil said:
For the price of a metric triple start tap and die at regular retail price, a complete set of tools (all drill bits, tap and dies, mandrels, JoWo nib unit) is available from Barry Gross at bgartforms. I have no financial interest, just a satisfied customer.

www.bgartforms.com

Kitless Combo KCS-1.5 Complete Combination Special

This package contains all seventeen (17) pieces needed to make a "Kitless" pen! Step by step picture instructions included. Set includes: One (1) - Jowo nib and housing Three Mandrels (3) - Upper, lower and nib housing mandrels - made from durable 7075 aircraft aluminum Three (3) - Taps (Jowo...
www.bgartforms.com www.bgartforms.com
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

its_virgil said:
For the price of a metric triple start tap and die at regular retail price, a complete set of tools (all drill bits, tap and dies, mandrels, JoWo nib unit) is available from Barry Gross at bgartforms. I have no financial interest, just a satisfied customer.

www.bgartforms.com

Kitless Combo KCS-1.5 Complete Combination Special

This package contains all seventeen (17) pieces needed to make a "Kitless" pen! Step by step picture instructions included. Set includes: One (1) - Jowo nib and housing Three Mandrels (3) - Upper, lower and nib housing mandrels - made from durable 7075 aircraft aluminum Three (3) - Taps (Jowo...
www.bgartforms.com www.bgartforms.com
Click to expand...
I have to second its_virgil's comment. Have purchased Barry's set and taken his fountain pen workshop twice. Likewise, i have no financial interest in praising the tools and the workshop. Careful planning with single start tooling can reduce the turns necessary to uncap; and still give a good seal.
 
I started turning fountain pens about one month after the last group buy, and it seems that there is really only enough demand to do them years apart. I started with single thread taps and dies, and eventually bought an M14x0.8 triple thread tap and die from Turner's Warehouse at retail. I'd like to also get the M13 and M15 versions, but I'm now finding cases where I prefer to use the single thread taps rather than the triple. I think you can get by with the single thread for some time before investing in triple threads. I thought more people would care, but I haven't had a single customer ask about it or suggest a preference one way or another. What they do seem to care about is the threads being smooth and air tight, but not being so tight that they feel like they are going to break the pen trying to unscrew it. There are pros and cons to each, and different pen designs and goals may preference one over the other.
 
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