Abstract: A hand tapping device has a driving rod at one end provided with a handle and a chuck at the other end for holding a tap. A housing located between the rod and chuck is attached at one end to the rod for axial movement and at the other end to the chuck. A sleeve attached to the rod provides a guide for axial movement of the housing in response to rotation of the rod to effect cutting threads by the tap as the housing expands from the rod and sleeve with a progressively reducing force exerted by a spring located within the housing. At the same time, a graduated scale on the outer surface of the housing indicates the distance the housing moves outwardly from the sleeve and the corresponding depth of the tapped threads.