Drill America m39 x 3 High Speed Steel 6 Flute Bottoming Tap - Precise

In this review of the Drill America m39 x 3 High Speed Steel 6 Flute Bottoming Tap the bottom line is simple: this is a specialist hand tap for users who need to generate threads right to the bottom of a blind hole. The reviewer found it most useful for re-threading damaged holes and for precise finishing in cast aluminum and mild steel. It is sold as a single uncoated high speed steel bottoming tap and its chief appeal is the sharp cutting geometry that delivers clean threads at the deepest part of a hole.

Key Features

• Bottoming style: Generates full threads to the bottom of blind holes so you can tap as deep as the hole allows.
• High speed steel construction: Provides a balance of toughness and cutting performance for hand use or light powered tapping.
• 6 flute design: Offers improved chip clearance compared with lower flute counts when working in softer materials.
• Uncoated tool: Uses the base substrate without coatings, making it suitable for general purpose applications and simple maintenance.
• Re-threading capability: Works for making new threads or restoring damaged and jammed threads in common workshop materials.

Who It's For

The Drill America m39 x 3 bottoming tap is best for hobbyists, machine shop technicians, and maintenance staff who need to finish threads at the base of blind holes or repair stripped threads. It performs well in cast aluminum and mild steels and fits workflows where hand tapping or light CNC/robotic tapping is used.

People who regularly tap very hard alloys, require long tool life without resharpening, or need a coated tap for high production should look elsewhere; this uncoated high speed steel tool is optimized for versatility and sharp cutting rather than extreme wear resistance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Sharp cutting edge produces clean thread form in aluminum and common steels.
• Bottoming geometry lets users generate threads all the way to the bottom of blind holes.
• Versatile HSS material works both for hand tapping and light machine tapping.
• Single-piece uncoated design is easy to inspect and resharpen when needed.

Cons

• Durability can be a concern under heavy or improper use, with reports of breakage in demanding conditions.
• Uncoated finish limits wear resistance compared with coated taps for high-volume production.

Specifications

Product	m39 x 3 High Speed Steel 6 Flute Bottoming Tap
Brand	Drill America
Material	High Speed Steel (uncoated)
Flutes	6 flute
Style	Bottoming tap (for blind holes)
Pack	Pack of 1

Our Verdict

The Drill America m39 x 3 bottoming tap is a practical, value-oriented choice for anyone who needs to form threads to the bottom of a blind hole or restore damaged threads in common workshop materials. Its sharp HSS cutting edge and 6 flute geometry deliver good cut quality for hand or light machine tapping, but buyers should be mindful of its limits in heavy-duty production where coated or higher-wear-resistant taps would last longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this tap be used in a power tapping machine?
Yes, the HSS hand tap can be used for light powered tapping, but avoid excessive speed and torque to reduce risk of breakage.

Is the tap coated for extra wear resistance?
No, this is an uncoated high speed steel tap and is supplied without additional surface treatments.

Will it cut threads to the very bottom of a blind hole?
Yes, the bottoming style is specifically designed to generate a full thread to the bottom of a blind hole.