Like this one:




A friend of mine has one a work but has no idea where it came from. Its spring loaded to provide light pressure on the tap, fits into a pillar drill so you can turn it and ensures the thread is prfect right from the start of the hole.

Does anyone know where I can get one from?

Cheers

Ive seen them before but never bought one as I find that it is as easy to put a centre punch or bit of steel ground to a point into the drill chuck and just locate it in the back of the tap, or a conventional tap wrench and apply pressure to the drill lever with one hand whilst turning the tap wrench with the other.For soft materials it is possible to just put the tap in the chuck to start the thread square.
Paul.

seems its a sprung centre and a normal tap holder, but the sprung centre seems hard enough to get hold of. Carter tools in the US do them, not found a uk supplier tho

They are usually apprentice pieces

However you can get one from Chronos



Tapping Guide
Ref: 318221

MACHINE TAPPING GUIDE!


This very useful and attractive tool is a must when accurate threading is required
this too present the tap to the work nice and square
the centre is reversible and sprung loaded to allow taps with both male & female ends to be used

Body Length 65mm Body Dia - 10mm

Price inc UK Mainland Carriage : £5.17

HTH

Neil

Perfect, cheers!