Tapping a 7/16" X 20 TPI thread into 1/2" mild steel

If you can get the corners under a drill press, use the press head to keep the bit vertical and turn the collet by hand to cut the threads. The splined collet will pull tap into the threads by itself. Not my favorite thing to do, tapping holes especially in brittle cast iron!

I've used this method a lot. It work great, especially with soft metals like aluminum, copper, brass and plastics where its easy to to start crooked and strip.

Why 7/16 fine? It isn't overly common unless you have a really good hardware store or order the bolts and stuff you need.