Maybe someone can tell me if this is already being done by someone, or if there's a technical reason why this is not a good idea.
I've found when using helical wire type thread inserts in shallow, blind holes that the taps provided with the kits are simply not adequate. They are taper style taps, where you really need a plug tap or even a bottoming tap for a blind hole. So what I end up doing is if I'm repairing one piece, I drill and tap all the holes and then cut the end of the provided tap off with an abrasive wheel, give the end a slight chamfer on the bench grinder, and then go back and bottom-tap the holes, insert my inserts, etc.
The only downside to this procedure is that then the remainder of the kit is useless until I buy another one to get a fresh tap, as it's hard to get a plug tap, especially a homemade one, started in a fresh drilled hole by hand.
The question is, why not provide the kits with TWO taps, a taper tap and a bottom tap? Does anyone even make ready made bottom taps for helical wire thread inserts, and can you buy the regular taper ones separately? Or is there some technical reason that what I'm doing, while it seems to work, may be incorrect?
nate