Spring loaded tapping guide made from scrap

I do a lot of metal working at home which often require tapping holes. Now I've always done this "free hand". Thats fine, you just have to be carful.

I watch YouTube and see many metal workers using a guide which is placed between the tap and the drill press or lathe chuck. This device holds the tap in the correct position and maintains pressure between the tap and work piece whilst threading. My video show me making one of these devices.

There are male and female variants of a spring loaded guide, mine is for mainly the larger tap, or male variety.

I also heat treat the tip of the tool and cold "blue" the finished product to reduce the risk of rust.

It was made from workshop scrap and the only cost was my time, apart from the bluing liquid.

Link below is for the seller of this product. It does seem to work well.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phillips-Professional-Cold-Blue-bottle-250ml/202987829469 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSvu8qcdLb4