Taps
and dies are
cutting tools used to create screw threads
in solid substances including, but not
limited to, metal, wood, and plastic. A tap
is used to cut the female portion of the
mating pair (e.g. a nut). A die is used to
cut the male portion of the mating pair
(e.g. a bolt). Other than pipes, it is more
common to create the hole into which a bolt
is screwed than to create the item that is
screwed into a hole. Thus, taps are often
more commonly available. The process of
cutting the threads in a hole is called
"tapping" the hole.
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