Balax 54065-01T Straight Flute Tap 5/16-18 Unc Cobalt Tin

Product Description

The BALAX 54065-01T is a straight flute machine tap designed for cutting internal threads in a range of metals. It is ground from M42 cobalt high-speed steel and finished with a Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating for improved wear resistance and longer tool life. The tap produces a 5/16-18 UNC thread to a 2B class of fit with a bottoming chamfer, making it suited for threading blind holes close to the bottom. With 4 flutes and an H5 thread limit, it is built for controlled chip formation in short-chipping materials. Licensed machinists and maintenance technicians install this tool in standard machine tap holders or tapping heads.

This tap is configured for right-hand threading and carries no coolant-through feature, making it straightforward to deploy in standard CNC machining centers, drill presses, and manual tapping setups. It belongs to the BX600 series and is rated for use in aluminum, cast iron, magnesium, and zinc. The bottoming chamfer allows thread engagement very near the base of a blind hole, which is a common requirement in precision machined components and repair work in industrial and maintenance environments.

Key Features

• M42 cobalt HSS construction for improved hardness and heat resistance versus standard M2 taps
• Titanium Nitride (TiN) coating reduces friction and extends tool life in abrasive materials
• Bottoming chamfer allows threading to within 1-2 threads of the bottom of a blind hole
• 4-flute design provides balanced cutting action and controlled chip formation
• H5 thread limit ensures consistent 2B class of fit on finished threads
• Right-hand cut, no coolant-through - compatible with standard tapping setups

Compatibility

Rated for use in aluminum, cast iron, magnesium, and zinc. Part of the BALAX BX600 series. Designed as an OEM-style machine tap for standard 5/16-18 UNC threading applications in compatible tap holders and tapping heads.

Installation Notes

Installation is performed by machinists or maintenance technicians using a compatible tap holder, tapping head, or tap wrench sized for a 0.318-inch shank diameter. Ensure the workpiece is securely fixtured and the pilot hole is drilled to the correct tap drill size for 5/16-18 UNC before tapping. Apply a suitable cutting fluid for the workpiece material to reduce heat and extend tool life. Avoid reversing the tap under load in deep holes to prevent breakage.