Car mechanics, for example, use chasers on spark plug threads, to remove corrosion and carbon build-up. However they still fit tighter than actual fasteners, and are fluted like regular taps and dies so debris can escape.

Chasers are made of softer materials and don't cut new threads. Because of this, machinists generally clean threads with special taps and dies-called chasers-made for that purpose. However, using an ordinary tap or die to clean threads generally removes some material, which results in looser, weaker threads. The process of cutting or forming threads using a tap is called tapping, whereas the process using a die is called threading.īoth tools can be used to clean up a thread, which is called chasing. A die is used to cut or form the male portion of the mating pair (e.g. A tap is used to cut or form the female portion of the mating pair (e.g. Many are cutting tools others are forming tools. Taps and dies are tools used to create screw threads, which is called threading. Tap in a wrench for creating female threads (left), and die in a wrench for creating male threads (right).