Description
Product Overview
Hand-tapping threaded holes on the drill press is a workflow killer — you’re fighting perpendicularity every cycle, breaking taps on the entry, and producing inconsistent thread quality that sends jobs back to the bench for rework. A quality quick-change tapping head eliminates all of that: it drives the tap straight, reverses automatically on retract, and swaps collets in seconds so you can run an entire thread schedule without breaking your setup. The Kato SA412-III on a Morse Taper 3 shank is precisely that solution — a proven, reversing tapper that fits directly into a drill press or mill spindle and delivers repeatable, torque-controlled tapping from M3 through to M12. This unit presents in like-new condition with a full set of seven tension-compression collets included.
- Automatic forward/reverse operation — the SA412-III uses a built-in clutch and reversing mechanism so the tap drives on the down-stroke and backs out cleanly on retract without repositioning the spindle direction. This is what prevents tap breakage and crossed threads at scale.
- Tension-compression float — the collet chuck has axial float built in, meaning the tapper accommodates minor lead-screw mismatch between the machine feed and the tap pitch. Critical when running on a drill press that doesn’t have a synchronised feed.
- MT3 shank with tang — the Morse Taper 3 shank seats directly into a standard drill press or Bridgeport-style mill quill. The tang positively locks the tapper against rotational slip under load, no drawbar required. MT3 is the most common spindle taper in Australian jobbing shops for this size class.
- Quick-change collet system — collets swap without tools via a push-and-twist action, so moving from M5 to M8 takes under ten seconds. Seven collets are included covering M3 through M12, which accounts for the majority of general engineering thread schedules.
- Ideal for — production tapping on a drill press or knee mill, batch threading in fabrication and fitter/turner work, toolroom use where consistent tap alignment is non-negotiable, and home shop operators stepping up from hand-tapping to machine tapping.
Condition
Used (Like New / minimal use, full mechanical function)
The tapper body and shank show no meaningful signs of shop wear — the knurled collar, body finish, and MT3 taper surfaces are clean and unmarked, consistent with a tool that has seen very light use or bench storage rather than heavy production. The collets are in matching condition with no visible wear to the driving flats or collet bores. The reversing mechanism engages and releases cleanly with the tactile positive action characteristic of a properly functioning Kato unit. The “MT3-SA412” and “KATO TAPPER” markings on the body are sharp and fully legible. One collet (M12) shows a lighter, slightly different surface finish compared to the others — likely a replacement or from a different production batch — but this has no bearing on function. As with any used tapping head, it is recommended to confirm clutch slip torque behaviour on a scrap piece before committing to a critical job, and to verify each collet seats and releases cleanly in the chuck body prior to use.
Included:
- 1 x Kato SA412-III Quick Change Tapper — MT3 shank
- 1 x M3 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M4 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M5 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M6 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M8 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M10 tension-compression collet
- 1 x M12 tension-compression collet
Not included: Original storage case or box, instruction sheet. No drawbar is required for MT3 taper use.
Brand Information
Kato is a Japanese manufacturer with a long-standing reputation in the machine tapping attachment market, producing tapping heads used in toolrooms and production shops across Japan, Australia, and export markets worldwide. Kato tappers sit in the same recognised tier as Tapmatic and Procunier — purpose-built, mechanically robust tapping heads known for consistent clutch action and long service life when properly maintained. Japanese manufacture is a reliable indicator of close tolerances in the collet interface and taper geometry, and the SA412 series has been a shop-floor staple in this size class for decades.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kato |
| Model | SA412-III (Quick Change Tapper) |
| Type | Reversing tension-compression tapping head |
| Shank / Mount | Morse Taper 3 (MT3) with tang |
| Tapping Capacity (Metric) | M3 – M12 |
| Collet System | Quick-change tension-compression collets (push-and-twist) |
| Included Collets | M3, M4, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12 (7 collets) |
| Operation | Automatic forward / reverse via built-in clutch and reversing mechanism |
| Axial Float | Yes — tension-compression float to compensate feed/pitch mismatch |
| Compatible Machines | Drill press, knee mill, machining centre with MT3 spindle |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| Condition | Used (Like New) — minimal use, full mechanical function |
| Included Items | Tapper body + 7 x collets (M3–M12) |
| Not Included | Storage case, instruction sheet |
Keywords
Kato SA412 tapping head, Kato quick change tapper, MT3 tapping head, reversing tapper MT3, tension compression tapping attachment, quick change tapper M3 M12, machine tapping head drill press, tapping head mill spindle, Kato tapper Australia, tapping head collet set, production tapper toolroom, Morse taper 3 tapping head
