re: #174 CuriousLurker

The lapping is tapering the end or the wire so it can start into the next smaller die. Each squeezes the wire into a smaller diameter and forces the lengthening. Lots of friction and some heating happens. So the die does the size work, the lapping is an in between step. We use a wet process so the heating of the lapping does not make that tiny bit of wire at the and go brittle enough to break off in the die. A splendid way to ruin the die. Or waste time & material.