Bought a tap and die set, how did I do?

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I went to the flea market this morning and came across a Westward 110pc. tap and die set model #1PZ54.  I've used a neighbors a couple of times so I figured why not grab one for myself.  Guy had $50 on it, I gave him $45.  The box hinge is broke but I think I can fix it with a metal hinge.  I know it's made in China but something is better than nothing right?  I really have no clue what something like this is worth so let me have it.....did he get me or did I do ok?Also should I apply oil or grease to the tools while not in use to prevent rusting?  They will more than likely be in my garage that is not heated or cooled so they will be at the liberty of the weather.Thanks.
Reply:HOMERUN for $45.  Even if the quality is so/so you got your foot in the door. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Looks like a good deal for $45. At the least it looks to be a complete set with none missing or broke.If you cant fix it with a hammer, it must be an electrical problem."Boy, everyone starts with a full bag of luck and an empty bag of experience. The trick is to fill the bag of experience before the bag of luck is empty."-Grandad circa 1990ish
Reply:Hey, quality is a dart throw with the chicoms, but it's a start. I had a cheap set years ago where the taps were a one shot thing but what a guy can do is replace them one at a time with quality taps if that's the way it turns out. If they turn out good quality then great. I see some of the larger dies are split dies so that can be a plus. A tap and die set opens up a whole new 'can do' world."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Use oil and lots of it, any good pipe threading oil, or Tap Magic, Mystic Metal Mover, Rapid Tap, etc......Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I've made my own taps in an emergency situation Just take a number 8 bolt and a small grinder and grind a groove down each size.  Those taps are going to cause you so much grief that you will consider them a lesson in misery. If you only thread wood, plastic, and aluminum they will do a fine job They might even make threads in one hole of Iron. I threw a set like that in the middle of the gulf of Mexico. I guess you could say I deep sixed em. The best thing I can say is they are really good for loaners.  To people that you want to get even with. It was very nice of the company to mark them so prominently as Carbon steel.   Mac
Reply:Westward is Grainger's house brand. Just a little FYI."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Good call, yhis looks to be what I have.  I paid a little less than their price.  http://m.grainger.com/mobile/details/?R=1PZ54
Reply:Having a full set is handy and for the price you did well. I've paid that money (or more) for just one tap.
Reply:$249 at Grainger.Tim Beeker.
Reply:For $45.00. . .  You did  very well ! Hobart Handler 190Hobart Spool-Gun 100Lincoln 225 ACMiller & Pipeliner HoodDewalt 14" Chopsaw, GrindersHarris O/AVictor TorchCustom Built O/A CartCustom Welding CartHeavy Duty 16 Speed Floor Drill PressPipe-BenderDrill Doctor
Reply:I really don't think that they are going to be as bad as stated above.  I would be proud to use those.  I have a harbor freight set that really blows. But it does work and do what is supposed to. Chances are your set, if Grainger is selling for that price is way better and goes through a more rigorous quality control process. There are a lot of things made in CHina that come from the same factory with different levels of quality, made in the same factories,  that have different requirements from buyer. I could be way off  as I'm just guessing, but I doubt it.My given welding web rank "Solderer" Couldn't be more trueClarke Hotshot-Spoolgun flux/mig 135SG1986 Miller Dialarc 250 AC/DC
Reply:It's not a bad deal until one breaks in the hole you're tapping, that's when the value of High Speed Steel (HSS) comes into play. As stated before, use plenty of cutting oil in properly sized pilot holes with proper technique and you should be good to go for most applications, just be wary of using those in an important piece of work. All the best!  When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:Great deal!-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:I spent about 15 years as a machinist  then graduated to  toolmaker and eventually they stupidly called me an engineer ( HA~!! I never when to engineering school). We never bought sets. The manufacturers of good taps, dies, end mills, drills etc., don't sell sets. Here's what I can tell you about what you got:It's carbon steel. Says so right on the box. Those kinds of tools need to be High Speed Steel. The loading and stress on the cutting edges and bodies of taps and dies is enormous. What you got will be great for cleaning threads that have been damaged, but they'll break and dull fairly quickly if you use them to create threads in raw stock.  You can get away with thin work like tapping  holes in thin material 1/8"  thick or so, but don't try to use them to  do deep bind holes. The dies  are probably going to fail quickly if you use them to generate  2 A or B or better class threads threads .But there is a trick you can use to get more out of them.Threads come in classes.   You should ignore the classes entirely and use oversize tap drills to lighten the load on the taps and undersize rod and bar stock to do so  on the dies. They will still fail but not so soon. But like I said: They will be great for thread restoration.  That's how I'd use 'em.Hey~!! It's a hobby. It's not supposed to make sense~!!