Thread Chasing

I realize in your inquiry you are asking about hand chased threads however, I think it is worth mentioning Willard Baxter's new threading jig "Baxter's Thread Master". It is a very fine threading machine capable of threading up to three inch diameter turnings. I have used it quite a bit over the last year and find it to be very easy to set up and use. It produces very fine quality threads when a tight grained wood is used. It is very versatile and can be purchased to fit almost any lathe. Contact Willard at Baxter's Belmont Shop for more information. snipped-for-privacy@aol.com

Regards to All, Bill Sullivan (Soon to be full-time:)

Buy Fred Holder's book on thread chasing. Buy Allan Batty's video on thread chasing. Get a 16 tpi chasing set. You need the chasers, a tool to recess behind the threads (buy it or make it), and possibly the arm rest. Arm rest is optional, in my opinion.

Use very hard woods like blackwood, cocobolo, etc. Not too brittle, but tight grained. Hard maple might be too soft.

Waste some wood practicing the hand motions. Getting good clean threads requires a nice rhythm. It is quite difficult to chase threads at 500-600 rpm. A variable speed lathe running 200-250 rpm is great.

************************************************* Geoff, To chase threads, you have 2 main choices:

1. Learn how to use a hand held chaser. a. Pros are: 1) relative low expense to purchase a chaser (or several if you want more than 1 thread size); 2) quick and easy to set up and do the the threads; 3) impress all your friends with your seemingly impossible skill. b. Cons are: 1)learning curve may take a while; 2) you may (probably will) ruin some work before you have it down 100%; 3) they don't work too well on softer woods.
2. Buy or shop build a jig like Bonnie Klein designed and sells. a. Pros: 1) fast learning curve; 2)good repeatable threads; 3) just change the drive mechanism for different threads; 4)will cut hard and soft woods equally well; 5)impress your friends with your spending power or shop jig building ability. b. Cons: 1) high initial cost; 2)slower to set up and use; 3)you'll be jealous when you watch a hand chaser at work.

Just my opinion, some will vary.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

Another alternative, though not cheap: buy the Nova Ornamental Turning tool with the cutting tools designed to do exactly that. As I said, it's not a cheap option--about 700-900 USD for the appropriate cutters--but it is (from what I understand) one of the more accurate and easy to use tools. I'm about to spend USD 1100 on the whole kit 'n kaboodle, side cutters, thread cutters, and top cutters so I can do some serious ornamental turning. Of course, if you're in wood turning for more than the pleasure (i.e. making a buck to keep feeding the addiction, like me), then this could be the route for you. If you're interested in seeing more about the OT tool from Teknatool, check out

And no, I don't work for them, nor am I paid to endorse their products. I'm just a satisfied customer (also own the Nova DVR 3000 woodturning lathe and various chucking systems).

-- Ali T. Borahan AliSails - Fine Wood Artistry & Custom Woodcrafts Web URL:

ditto on allan batty's video ... and if you buy chasers from cs, they include allan's handbook on redesigning the tools.

I know the subject is thread _chasing, but as with LDD, Vertilathes and sharpening jigs promoted by a professional from N.Z., here's my knee-kick response again: I believe a small metal lathe should be included in almost every woodturner's stable of home appliances.;) Over the years it will earn its keep in repairs, fun in tinkering and making useful things. Most threads cut or chased on turned wood are limited to small objects. A used. or even a new, small metal lathe costs little more than a a set-up limited to threading (not chasing) wood and can perform many other operations useful to a woodturner. With apologies to the true machinists in rcw, using a metal lathe need not be an intimidating exercise in precision, expertise, shop space nor expense. I am the paradigm of sloppy but happy messing around with a metal lathe, including cutting threads on small boxes. Don't get me started on the cost-benefits of a small buzz box. ;) ;) Arch

p.s. I'm still at heart, basically a loyal _Wood_ Turner!

Fortiter,

Arch

Do you have any recommendation as to a good "small buzz box"?

Juergen

Arch wrote:

Hi Juergen, You might be the only person to ever read one of my posts to the end. ;) My arc welder is an old Sears 150 amp. AC machine for

220 V. To weld, braze, cut or heat metal with it has been almost as useful for me, as a woodturner, as hay wire, duct tape and LDD. I best ask Leo Lichtman, John Lucas, and others more uptodate & savvy, to answer your question. I hope they might discuss the possible advantages to woodturners of being able to machine & join metal. Arch

p.s. a possible symposium subject? ;)

Fortiter,

I agree with Arch. I have a 9 inch South Bend Metal Lathe, as well as a wood lathe - and the South Bend is awesome doing one of the things it was primarily designed for - cutting threads. I have made a good number of very large diameter screw threads for work bench vises for myself and my children. The accuracy and the fit of the screws are awesome. One problem with most metal lathes, though - they only cut down to about 4 threads per inch. This is ok if you want finer threads, but not if you want a coarse thread. ((I had to modify my lathe to cut 2 threads per inch)).

I will post a picture out on alt.binaries.pictures.woodworking, or on WOW for anyone interested.

Also -I have the Beall woodthreading set - a great set to do 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 1 inch diameter threads. Cuts very clean. I also have some thread boxes to cut similar sizes (they work well - if you sharpen the cutter frequently - easy to do on a narrow (1x42") belt sander).