Chasing tap with replaceable chasers

A tool comprising:

• a shaft portion;
• a head portion connected to said shaft portion;
• a plurality of thread Chasers having thread cutting teeth, each thread chaser extending radially from said head portion and being removably and replaceably connected thereto;
• means for adjusting a radial position of said chasers relative to said head portion of said tool;
• a plurality of tool blocks extending radially from said head portion and said thread chasers being connected to extend radially from said tool blocks, wherein each of said tool blocks comprises a dovetail shaped base end and said head portion comprises an axial elongate dovetail cross-sectional shaped slot having a axially open face, said dovetail portion of said tool block slidable into said open face of said slot to be held therein and extend radially thereout;
• and means for retaining said tool block within said dovetail slot;
• and
• wherein said tool blocks comprise axially arranged chaser slots at distal ends thereof, sized and configured to hold said chasers partially therein to protrude radially thereout.

A thread forming tool, comprising:

• a head portion;
• a plurality of tool blocks replaceably connected to said head portion;
• a plurality of cutting chasers replaceably connected to said tool blocks, said tool blocks and said chasers mounted for radial orientation of said chasers;
• and
• a second plurality of tool blocks installable as replacements to the said first plurality of tool blocks, said second plurality of tool blocks having a longer radial dimension than said first plurality of tool blocks, said second plurality of tool blocks configured to hold said thread cutting chasers in a radial orientation.

A method of cutting threads in a select size bore comprising the steps of:

• providing a cutting tool having a head portion;
• providing means associated with said head portion for attaching thread cutting chasers at spaced apart positions around its perimeter, said chasers extending radially outward, said means allowing a selection of radial extent of said chasers corresponding to the select size bore to be thread cut;
• installing said chasers to said means at a select radial extension;
• installing said head portion into said bore;
• rotating said head portion to cut said threads.