Cleveland C55242 Hand Tap 5/8-18 Bottoming Tin Hss Unf

Product Description

The CLEVELAND C55242 is a 5/8-18 bottoming hand tap designed for cutting internal threads in blind holes and through-holes. Made from high speed steel with a TiN (titanium nitride) coating, this tap delivers extended tool life and reduced friction during threading operations. The 4-flute straight flute design provides stable cutting performance on a range of ferrous and non-ferrous materials. With an overall length of 3-13/16 inches and a thread length of 1-13/16 inches, it fits standard tap handles used in manual threading work. The H3 thread limit and 3B class of fit make it suitable for standard tolerance threading in production and maintenance applications.

This tap is intended for use in machining, maintenance, and repair environments where right-hand UNF threads are required. The bottoming chamfer allows threading close to the bottom of blind holes, making it the correct choice when thread engagement must extend near the full depth of a drilled cavity. It is well suited for use on alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel workpieces. Machinists, tool and die makers, and maintenance technicians working in shop or field settings will find this tap appropriate for both production runs and one-off threading tasks.

Key Features

• Bottoming chamfer for threading to the bottom of blind holes
• TiN coating extends tool life and reduces built-up edge on common metals
• 4-flute straight flute geometry for stable, consistent thread form
• H3 thread limit with 3B class of fit for standard tolerance applications
• Right-hand thread direction, UNF thread standard
• No coolant-through requirement — compatible with manual and light machine tapping

Compatibility

Designed for right-hand UNF thread tapping in alloy steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and free-machining stainless steel. Suitable for blind hole threading and through-hole threading applications using a standard tap handle or tapping fixture sized for the 0.480-inch shank diameter.

Installation Notes

This tap should be installed in a properly sized tap handle or machine tapping chuck rated for the 5/8-18 thread size. Secure the workpiece before beginning threading, and apply an appropriate cutting fluid for the material being tapped to reduce friction and extend tap life. For blind holes, confirm hole depth is sufficient to accommodate the tap's thread length before bottoming out. Use care when reversing to clear chips, and inspect the tap for wear or chipping between uses.