2025 Spring Triple Start Tap and Die Group Buy

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hooked

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2025 Spring Triple Start Tap and Die Group Buy

EXTENDED TO 4/12!​

My name is Mark, and I will organize the Tapco group buy this year. I will borrow a lot from @RobS, @hokie, and other past organizers since they all completed previous group buys. This post and group buy offer have been approved by @Monty, the IAP group buy coordinator.

This buy is focused on achieving the maximum discount for our members on triple-start tooling used for custom/kitless/bespoke pen making. These are the taps and dies many use to make triple-start cap threads, which can result in fewer turns to get the cap onto the body of the pen, a quality in custom penmaking that many customers appreciate.

Please note that I will not accept payment until after the offer ends. This allows you to order a product to help hit our quantity goals but will enable you to opt out if our group's quantity goals are unmet.


PRICING​

The original pricing details from Tapco are attached to this post. You can also visit the thread on gauging interest to see pricing discounts.


TERMINOLOGY​

The US and EU use different terms to identify a TAP.
For this group buy please refer to the diagram below.

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  • Taper Tap (8-10 tapered threads) is usually only needed when using metal materials
  • Plug Tap (3-5 Tapered Threads) may be used when starting in plastics
  • Bottoming Tap (1-1.5 Tapered Threads) is recommended after using a Plug Tap for transparent blanks, or in designs where the tapping depth is limited.
We are not planning on offering taper taps for this buy. Please research discussions from past group buys, or feel free to PM me to discuss the differences and answer any questions you may have.


Titanium Nitride Coating (TiN)

Titanium nitride coating is available at an additional expense on all taps ordered. The price for this add-on is on the price sheet for each tap. This is 100% optional and can be selected on your order form.

"Titanium Nitride coatings significantly improve the performance of tools and parts by increasing hardness, reducing wear, and extending service life. The coating can be used in a wide range of applications to increase cutting speed and accuracy while minimizing maintenance requirements."

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE
​
If you want to participate, click on the large "place order" graphic at the bottom of this post. This will lead you to a Google form to place your order. If you prefer not to use an online ordering form, please contact me directly, and I will take your order through the IAP direct messaging system.

THE CUTOFF FOR PLACING ORDERS IS SATURDAY, April 5 AT 9:00 PM EST EXTENDED TO 4/12 at 9:00 PM EST.

Since the discount we receive depends on the number of orders for each tap/die size, the exact cost of your items can't be 100% determined until all orders have been placed. The order sheet lists the highest possible price (if you are the only one purchasing the item) and the most probable lowest price (if the group buys 12 taps/12 dies). The price you will pay for an item is likely between these two numbers (and hopefully the cheapest price!)

TO SEE THE CURRENT DISCOUNT LEVELS, CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM. I WILL BE UPDATING THIS DOCUMENT MANUALLY, SO PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 24 HOURS FOR YOUR ORDER TO SHOW.

This google doc also shows the items each person has ordered. If you prefer for your order to remain anonymous, let me know and I will put "Anonymous" instead of your IAP username.


PAYMENT​

You will receive two invoices. The first will be sent to you the day after the group buy closes (April 6) and will be for the cost of your taps and dies, fees, shipping, and insurance. Payments can be made via PayPal. I will give you instructions for how to pay when I send you your invoice.

THE PAYMENT DEADLINE IS TUESDAY, April 14 AT 9:00 PM EST.

The second invoice will be sent later and will be for the shipping cost from Tapco. This cost will be split evenly among participants. Please pay this within two weeks of receiving it.

PayPal (2022 Tax rule changes)
When using PayPal, please use the "Friends and Family" option. This allows for money transfers without triggering a taxable event per the 2022 tax rules. Due to the new 2022 tax rules the "Goods and Services" option is NOT viable and will NOT be accepted as it will trigger a 1099 and will be seen as taxable income. There is $0 mark up on group buys and therefore "Goods and Services" is not appropriate.

All the items in the spreadsheet should be available for purchase. If for any reason an item is backordered or unavailable, your money for that item will be refunded to you.


SHIPPING AND INSURANCE​

I will ship your orders via USPS Priority Small Flat Rate Box. There is $50 insurance included with small flat rate boxes. I will add additional insurance for your purchase's full retail value as a default. The amount to be insured is the value of replacing the parts (the item's value without a discount). While this will cost extra, I STRONGLY suggest you accept this insurance. I cannot be responsible for what happens to your package after I ship it to you. If you don't want this recommended insurance, you may opt out on your order form. The order form also shows you the cost of insuring your shipment.

Tapco estimates that it will take "4-5 weeks, maybe sooner" from the time of our order (April 16) to ship. Once I receive the shipment from Tapco, I will ship to participating IAP members within 5 days. You can expect your brand new taps and dies in hand by early June (to account for shipping from Tapco and to you).

I am willing to accept international orders. Please note that shipping will take longer and be more expensive (starting at $41+insurance) if you are ordering from outside the US, and depending on the country, USPS may not offer shipping insurance.

IF YOU MISS THE DEADLINE FOR ORDER SUBMISSION OR PAYMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE GROUP BUY.

Thanks for reading, let's get those discounts!

DM me if you have any questions.


placeorder.png


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As a side note, I am still waiting on part numbers for the bottoming taps for the single start taps. I am also waiting to hear back if there is a one-time tooling fee like in other group buys. Tapco did not mention this to me this time.


Edit: I just added the single start bottoming taps part numbers to the price sheet and order form. I was also told there is no longer a tooling charge for dies, so we will not be expecting that additional charge for this order.
 
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I am on an airplane right now, but it seems the button is working at the bottom of the post. Please let me know if you do not see that button. Perhaps I should use a text link as well.

Here is a text link:

docs.google.com

TAPCO Group Buy Order Form

Please use the following form to place your order for the IAP Tapco group buy.
docs.google.com docs.google.com


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I was just thinking I needed some more taps and dies, it's like you read my mind. Need to check my list of what I need and I'll jump in in a few days. Thanks for running a buy!
 
I put in MY ORDER, with some numbers to help boost the qty up for M13.

@rherrell is 100% correct, if you use a proper TAP holder, you can start with a bottom tap. Note @rherrell makes the best darn tap and die holder ever. I love mine.

RobS
 
End of first weekend update.

We are off to a good start for M13. Taps are at 12. Dies are one away from another discount.

Thanks for all of the participation so far!
 

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We have hit a great price on an M13 set! Our group is now paying $207.85 for a tap and die set. Retail is out of stock in the USA, priced from $285 to $339.

We are one tap away from another $40 discount on M14. Another couple of M14 die orders would get us below retail on this set as well.

It would be fantastic if you are considering placing an order but are waiting for numbers to go up to go ahead and please place the order. If we do not hit the numbers that you would like to achieve, I would not expect you to go through with your purchase. Getting the numbers up is the best way to get more people involved. The goal for a product seems to be 6 to get below retail prices. If you sign up for a product that does not achieve a quantity of 6 sold, I will contact you before sending any invoices to see if you would like to opt-out.


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Latest update:

There is just under a week to go. We have reached our goal on the M13 sets, and M14 and M12 are very close. 👍 We have reached the goal on the taps, but we need a few more dies in those sizes to ensure we keep the numbers for the group buy. If anyone is on the fence about either of these sets, a couple more will get us below retail.


M12 x .8 - This size is excellent for smaller pens and works perfectly with the #5 nib. This is great for people who prefer fountain pens on the smaller side. It also pairs well when making slimmer ballpoint and rollerball kitless pens.

M14 x .8 - Many makers use this for a #6 nib, particularly pens sleeved with another material. It is going to produce a larger diameter pen for someone who prefers a bigger pen. The M14 pen size also allows you to experiment with the #8 nib. The section wall can get thin, but you can make #8 pens.

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hooked said:
M12 x .8 - This size is excellent for smaller pens and works perfectly with the #5 nib. This is great for people who prefer fountain pens on the smaller side. It also pairs well when making slimmer ballpoint and rollerball kitless pens.
Click to expand...

Mark, I'm too lazy to do the math right now. What size section tenon/threads do you use when you make a pen with M12x.8 TS threads on the barrel and cap? I'm guessing M9x.75.
 
d_bondi said:
Mark, I'm too lazy to do the math right now. What size section tenon/threads do you use when you make a pen with M12x.8 TS threads on the barrel and cap? I'm guessing M9x.75.
Click to expand...

David, yes, I use an M9 x .75. I added the M12 size about a month ago, so I haven't done much with it yet. I attached an image below if you would like to see the drill sizes I use for a basic 3 piece M12x.8 pen.



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hooked said:
David, yes, I use an M9 x .75. I added the M12 size about a month ago, so I haven't done much with it yet. I attached an image below if you would like to see the drill sizes I use for a basic 3 piece M12x.8 pen.



View attachment 383519View attachment 383520
Click to expand...
Thank you Mark! I'll noodle it around a bit. I might add the M12 to my order.

I'm disappointed but not surprised that there isn't more interest in the M15 stuff. That is the perfect size for making pens with the #8 Nib.
 
Latest update:

We have about 60 hours left with this group buy. I have been posting the group buy on Facebook, making phone calls, sending emails, and have gotten a few more M13 orders. We still need to find one or two people who need either M12 or M14 dies by Saturday. My goal is to get those items to 6 to ensure everyone who ordered taps stays in the group buy.

If anyone would like to spread the word a bit or knows of anyone who might be interested, please send them a link to the group buy. I have also placed a banner graphic below that you can use to help promote the last push on social media.

Thanks,
Mark

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Sugar Creek Pen Co. said:
I'm willing to wait if it means getting some more people on board.
Click to expand...

Ok. Let's see how the next 24 hours go. If anyone has an issue extending the group buy, please PM me.

I contacted Tapco to check if they would honor the prices for another week, and they agreed.

We just hit $196.10 for an M13 tap and die set!
 
Group Buy Extended until 4/12!

The current group has decided to extend the group buy one week in hopes of getting the M12 x .8 and M14 x .8 tooling price below retail. We need 1 person to order an M14 set and probably 1-2 people for the M12 set. An M13 x .8 set is now under $200! Anyone is welcome to join in to get that great price.

I have had a couple of members pull out due to tariffs. Hopefully, a little extra time will raise the numbers just a bit to get us over the top. Fortunately, @d_bondi is also at the Atlanta pen show this weekend, letting some makers there know about the group buy.

Here are our latest numbers:

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Midweek Update:

We hit our below-retail goal on m14 x .8 tooling today. We briefly hit our numbers for m12 x .8 yesterday, but someone then had to pull out of the group buy. We are still under retail, but we need one more m12 x .8 die to get that tooling way over the top.


Current tap and die set price:

m12 x .8 - $257.40 - If we get one more die to the order, the price goes down to $201.45. Retail is $265 on this set.

m13 x .8 - $196.10 - One more tap gets us to $191.30 for a set, the highest possible discount!

m14 x .8- $250.25 - Retail is $300 for this set.

m11 x .8 and m15 x .8 - Need more orders

Single start tooling - Likely need more orders, but M10 x 1 bottoming taps are not too bad if you are looking for a high-quality bottoming tap ($36.51)


Note that the chart below does not include the one m12 order that has been canceled. We still need one more die to get the 6-count discount.

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You can also get a set at Victor for $17. Some people prefer Tapco quality over the less expensive foreign made taps and dies. While there aren't many options out there for us to get triple start tools, there are many options for single start tooling.

I have reached out regarding their pricing on this product. Waiting for an answer.
 
kronewi said:
My problem is, I have never done a bespoke pen before and wouldn't know what sizes would be needed.
Click to expand...

While there are many many possibilities, I think it is safe to say that the most common are M13x.8 triple start for cap and barrel threads and M10x1 single start for the section. Then you choose what nib (Jowo or Bock) and get that tap as well.

Mark's (@hooked) response below is much better thought out!
 
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kronewi said:
My problem is, I have never done a bespoke pen before and wouldn't know what sizes would be needed.
Click to expand...
Honestly, if you are not sure you want to go this route, I would start with a single start m14x1 for the cap threads and m11x.75 or m11x.1 for the section threads. This will get you into kitless fountain pen making for a minimal investment. These items are not available in this sale and are relatively inexpensive from many online stores. If you are more interested in rollerballs, most likely go with a smaller cap thread like m12 x 1 and an m9 x .75 for the section threads, but start with the much less expensive single start tools.

If you are interested in going further and investing in triple-start tooling (this group buy), it will not be possible to get a better price on M13 x .8 tooling than what the group is getting for a price right now. I would pair that with an M10 x 1 single-start tap and die set for the section. Although, I would purchase the single start outside of the group buy through turners warehouse, beaufort, victor machinery, even Amazon. There are many videos online showing how to make a pen with this particular pairing of taps and dies.
 
So if I to go through the group buy and get the M13 x .8 tap and die and the M10 x 1 tap and die, is there one on the group buy for the nib? I saw the post on it but most people I have looked at recommend the JOWO? nib. Just don't want to order the incorrect tap.
 
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kronewi said:
So if I to go through the group buy and get the M13 x .8 tap and die and the M10 x 1 tap and die, is there one on the group buy for the nib?
Click to expand...
There is not. Here is a link to the tap for the Jowo #6 tap. That is what you would need for that nib, and would work well with the m13 and m10 set.

meisternibs.com

Tap for #6 Nib, TiN Coated

M7.4 x .5 Tap for #6 nibs Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coated for longer life, improved lubricity, reduced friction.
meisternibs.com
 
hooked said:
There is not. Here is a link to the tap for the Jowo #6 tap. That is what you would need for that nib, and would work well with the m13 and m10 set.

meisternibs.com

Tap for #6 Nib, TiN Coated

M7.4 x .5 Tap for #6 nibs Titanium Nitride (TiN) Coated for longer life, improved lubricity, reduced friction.
meisternibs.com
Click to expand...
Thank you. I placed my order for the other 4 items.
 
You can buy a 6.5 x .5 tap for the Jowo #5 or a 7.5 x.5 for the #6 nib and they will work just fine. then if you think you need to or want to invest in the 6.4 x .5 or 7.4 x .5 taps you can do so later.
6.5 and 7.5 taps are easier to find and a more common size.
 
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I want to remind everyone that this group buy will close tomorrow night (4/12) at 9 PM EST. I will send out payment information on Sunday for everyone who ordered. Once I receive all payments, I plan to place the order next Wednesday.

I will contact anyone who ordered products that appear will not reach the expected discount. This includes m11 x .8 tools (1 order received), m15 x .8 tools (4 sets ordered, need 2 more to get price down!), and perhaps m10 x 1 tools (4 orders). I never received any orders for m9 x .75.

Please make sure to get your orders in for anyone who wants to join in. I am still looking for one person who needs an m12 x .8 die/tap. I had another member pull out, which puts us one short there again.


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