Cleveland C54186 Hand Tap 5-40 Unc Plug Rh Hss

Product Description

The CLEVELAND C54186 is a 5-40 UNC straight-flute hand tap designed for cutting internal threads in both blind holes and through-holes. It is manufactured from high speed steel with a bright, uncoated finish and carries a plug chamfer for standard starting in pre-drilled holes. The right-hand, 2-flute design runs a Class 2B/3B fit at an H2 thread limit, making it suitable for general-purpose threading work where dimensional consistency and clean thread form are required. At 1.938 inches overall length with a 0.31-inch thread length, this tap is sized for small-fastener applications in production and maintenance machining environments. Machinists and toolroom technicians are the primary installers.

This tap is suited for threading operations on a range of workpiece materials including alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel. The straight-flute geometry makes it effective in both blind-hole and through-hole scenarios where chip evacuation can be managed by the operator. It is a hand tap, meaning it is driven manually with a tap wrench or held in a tapping fixture, rather than being designed for CNC rigid tapping. Typical applications include repair threading, prototype work, and low-volume production where manual control is preferred over machine tapping.

Key Features

• 5-40 UNC thread form, right-hand, Class 2B/3B fit at H2 thread limit
• Plug chamfer for standard entry in pre-drilled holes
• High speed steel construction for durability across ferrous and non-ferrous workpieces
• 2-flute straight-flute geometry supports both blind-hole and through-hole threading
• Bright, uncoated finish — no coolant-through feature, suited for hand or low-speed tapping
• Compact size: 1.938 inches OAL with 0.1875-inch square drive length

Compatibility

Designed for use in any application requiring a 5-40 UNC internal thread. Compatible with workpiece materials including alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel, as specified for CLEVELAND Series 1002 taps.

Installation Notes

This tap is intended for use by machinists or experienced technicians using a standard tap wrench or tapping fixture. Ensure the workpiece is securely clamped and the pilot hole is drilled to the correct tap-drill diameter for a 5-40 thread before beginning. Apply appropriate cutting fluid for the workpiece material to reduce friction and extend tap life. Advance the tap in small increments and back off periodically to break chips, particularly in blind-hole applications.