Cleveland C54444 Hand Tap 1/4-20 Unc Plug 4-flute Hss

Product Description

The CLEVELAND C54444 is a 1/4-20 UNC straight flute hand tap designed for cutting internal threads in both blind holes and through-holes. Built from high speed steel with a bright uncoated finish, it features a plug chamfer lead and four flutes for efficient chip evacuation during hand tapping operations. The tap measures 2.5 inches overall with a thread length of 0.63 inches and carries a Class 2B fit with an H1 thread limit, making it suitable for standard tolerance threading work. Machinists and toolroom technicians reach for this tap when producing machine-screw-size threads in production and maintenance environments.

The C54444 is suited for threading operations in alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel. The plug chamfer — typically 3 to 5 threads of chamfer lead — makes it the standard choice for starting a thread in a pre-drilled hole where the full thread depth is not required from the very first pass. It fits common tap wrenches sized for a 0.191-inch square drive. Applications span general machining, repair work, and light production threading in job shops and maintenance facilities.

Key Features

• 1/4-20 UNC thread form with right-hand thread direction
• Plug chamfer lead for blind hole and through-hole threading
• Four straight flutes for chip clearance in short-chipping materials
• High speed steel construction — no coating, bright finish
• H1 thread limit and Class 2B fit for standard tolerance applications
• No coolant-through requirement — suitable for hand tapping with cutting fluid applied manually

Compatibility

Designed as a standard 1/4-20 UNC hand tap compatible with tap wrenches and T-handle holders accepting a 0.191-inch square drive shank. Suitable for use in alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel workpieces.

Installation Notes

Hand tapping should be performed by a machinist or qualified technician using the correct tap drill size for 1/4-20 UNC threads prior to tapping. Apply a suitable cutting fluid for the workpiece material and back off the tap periodically to break chips and prevent binding. Secure the workpiece firmly before tapping and use a calibrated tap wrench to maintain perpendicularity to the hole. Never force a tap past resistance — forced tapping is the primary cause of tap breakage.