{"product_id":"british-standard-whitworth-bsw-taps","title":"BRITISH STANDARD WHITWORTH BSW TAPS","description":"\u003cp\u003eSutton Tools manufactures high-quality British Standard Whitworth (BSW) taps available as individual intermediate hand taps, 3-piece sets, or comprehensive tap and die sets. They offer two primary material grades: Carbon\/Tungsten Chrome Alloy for light maintenance and general-purpose DIY, and High-Speed Steel (HSS) for heavy-duty industrial thread cutting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eBritish Standard Whitworth (BSW) is an imperial, inch-based screw thread standard established in 1841 by Sir Joseph Whitworth. It is historically significant as the world's first national screw thread standard.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKey Geometric Characteristics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eThe design of a BSW thread is defined by three specific geometric features:\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e55-Degree Flank Angle\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: The V-shaped grooves of the thread meet at an included angle of exactly \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e55 degrees\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. This makes it shallower than modern Metric and American Unified threads, which use a 60-degree angle.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eRounded Crests and Roots\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Both the peaks (crests) and valleys (roots) of the thread are \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eperfectly radiused and rounded\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. This smooth design prevents stress concentration points, making BSW threads highly resistant to metal fatigue in heavy machinery.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eCoarse Pitch\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: BSW is a \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003ecoarse thread series\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. It features fewer threads per inch (TPI) than \"fine\" thread standards, allowing it to be cross-threaded less easily and assembled rapidly in heavy industrial environments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBREAKDOWN OF 1\/8 X 40\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e1. \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e1\/8\"\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — The Major Diameter\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eThis represents the \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003enominal outer diameter\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e of the male thread (the outside edge of a bolt or screw).\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eDecimal Equivalent\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Exactly \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e0.125 inches\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eMetric Equivalent\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Approximately \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e3.175 millimeters\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Fsg96\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e2. \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e40\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e — Threads Per Inch (TPI)\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eThis indicates that there are exactly \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e40 individual thread peaks\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e along one structural inch of the fastener's length.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003eBecause it is a small 1\/8\" diameter, 40 TPI is considered a \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003ecoarse pitch\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e relative to its size.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eThread Pitch\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: The actual physical distance from one thread peak to the next is 1 Divided by 40 = \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e0.025 inches\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (0.635 mm).\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Fsg96\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e3. \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eThe Hidden Geometry (BSW)\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"n6owBd awi2gc\"\u003eBecause it belongs to the Whitworth family, a standard 1\/8\" x 40 thread naturally incorporates two vital design requirements:\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e55° Flank Angle\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: The V-grooves slope inward at a 55-degree angle.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eRounded Profile\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: The crests (peaks) and roots (valleys) are distinctly radiused to smooth out stress points.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003eTYPES OF TAPS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1. Taper Tap (The Starter)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eDesign\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Features a long, gradual chamfer at the tip covering the first \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e7 to 10 threads\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003ePurpose\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Used to start the threading process. The long taper allows the tool to easily enter the drilled hole, align straight, and gently begin cutting the first shallow groove.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eLimitation\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: It cannot cut a complete thread to the bottom of a hole because the tip is narrow and lacks full-sized cutting teeth.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Fsg96\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2. Intermediate \/ Plug Tap (The Follower)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eDesign\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Features a shorter chamfer at the tip covering the first \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e3 to 5 threads\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003ePurpose\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Used after the Taper tap to cut the threads deeper and closer to full size. In a \"through-hole\" (a hole drilled all the way through the metal), an Intermediate tap is often the final tap needed to finish the job.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eNote on Terminology\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: In the UK, Australia, and BSW standards, this is widely called an \u003cem class=\"eujQNb\"\u003eIntermediate\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e tap. In the US, it is commonly referred to as a \u003cem class=\"eujQNb\"\u003ePlug\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e tap.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"Fsg96\"\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"otQkpb\" role=\"heading\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e3. Bottoming Tap (The Finisher)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"KsbFXc U6u95\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eDesign\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Features a very short chamfer at the tip covering only \u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003e1 to 2 threads\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. The rest of the tap features full-sized, sharp cutting teeth.\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003ePurpose\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Used exclusively to finish \"blind holes\" (holes that stop mid-way through the metal and do not go all the way through). It allows you to cut full, usable threads right down to the very bottom floor of the hole.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"Z1qcYe\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"T286Pc\"\u003e\u003cstrong class=\"Yjhzub\"\u003eLimitation\u003c!--TgQPHd||[]--\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e: Never use this tap to start a hole. Because it has no guiding taper, it will wobble, cross-thread, or immediately snap under the sudden cutting pressure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Sutton Tools","offers":[{"title":"1\/8 X 40 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898235074,"sku":"T4510318","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/8 X 40 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898267842,"sku":"T4520318","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/8 X 40 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898300610,"sku":"T4530318","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5\/32 X 32 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898333378,"sku":"T4510397","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5\/32 X 32 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898366146,"sku":"T4520397","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"5\/32 X 32 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898398914,"sku":"T4530397","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3\/16 X 24 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898431682,"sku":"T4510476","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\/16 X 24 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898464450,"sku":"T4520476","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"3\/16 X 24 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898497218,"sku":"T4530476","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1\/4 X 20 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898529986,"sku":"T4510635","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/4 X 20 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898562754,"sku":"T4520635","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/4 X 20 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898595522,"sku":"T4530635","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3\/8 X 16 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898628290,"sku":"T4510953","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3\/8 X 16 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898661058,"sku":"T4520953","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"3\/8 X 16 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898693826,"sku":"T4530953","price":14.65,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/2 X 12 \/ TAPER","offer_id":47943898726594,"sku":"T4511270","price":20.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/2 X 12 \/ INTERMEDIATE","offer_id":47943898759362,"sku":"T4521270","price":20.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1\/2 X 12 \/ BOTTOMING","offer_id":47943898792130,"sku":"T4531270","price":20.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/6335\/8914\/files\/TAPMETRIC_d1ebacb5-bfed-4b18-a6c0-80e7d845a9ed.png?v=1782174658","url":"https:\/\/www.srbindustrialsupplies.com\/products\/british-standard-whitworth-bsw-taps","provider":"SRB INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY","version":"1.0","type":"link"}