Threading Jigs?

a simple jig seems easy enough to make - I keep meaning to do it and get distracted - the premise being that making it is "fun" and buying it is "not fun" - with that caveat, get threaded rod, either 1.25 or 1 X8 so you can attach your chuck to it - get a couple of nuts to make a "head stock" now as you turn the rod, it will move laterally in the nuts, making the proper motion for cutting threads.

Now, get a 60 deg edge cutter and a cheap HF die cutting drill - mount in a dovetail type slide so you can align it at the proper diameter, fire up the drill and rotate the threaded rod to cut threads into the object being threaded.

Bill,

If "buying is not fun", then you're not doing it right. :-)

Seriously, I'm just not very good at rigging stuff like that up. I eventually get there, but it usually involves a lot of time and several screwups along the way. Sometimes that journey can be entertaining (if not to me, certainly to those watching), but in this case I'd just like to buy one and start cuttin' threads.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Klein jig, not much about the Baxter but I don't think it has been around very long. I'm leaning towards the Baxter, due to the larger capacity (5"), and direct fit on the Stubby without making a riser block.

Scott

Hello Scott,

Craft Supplies Ltd. in the UK sell a very simple threading jig that will fit any lathe that you can get a tool post for. It was one that I tried out when writing my book, Making Screw Threads in Wood. In our shop, we have a Klein Jig on a Klein lathe, the threading jig sold in the UK, and the Noval Ornamental turner which will cut threads. I also have a drawer full of chasers and much prefer them to any of the threading jigs. I ran a test with a fellow several years ago to see which of us could make a threaded box the fastest. He had a Klein jig on a Carbatec lathe, and I had a thread chaser on a Carbatec lathe. I won the race.

I have thread chasers in 24 tpi, 20 tpi, 18 tpi, 16 tpi, 14 tpi, 12 tpi, 10 tpi,

These are just some additional thoughts for you to consider.

Fred Holder

Fred -

Thanks for the info. I hadn't seen the one from CSLtd, so I'll take a look at that.

Actually, the Baxter has optional heads for 24, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, and

1. It comes with one head, and the others are available for (ouch) 0 each -- about twice what each set of chasers would cost?

I make most my boxes from harder woods, like walnut, koa, purpleheart. What would be the best thread pitch to start out with? Is 16 too fine? Would 14 be better?

I'm just not sure I could get the hang of hand chasing. For someone with the turning expertise you have, I'm sure hand chasing is easy and fast compared to the setup time of the jig. Since I'm just slightly beyond the beginner stage of turning, wouldn't I be better off with the jig?

...Scott

Hi Scott, I suppose there are many reasons for wanting to make threaded box lids; the fun of making a jig, the satisfaction of learning a skill, the novelty of a different kind of lid and whatever compels you personally to want to buy a threading device. All valid reasons of course, but none of which has much to do with a box owner's needs or even desires. Why unscrew a box lid to select or put away cuff links and earrings? Except when the box is open the threads are hidden and don't ornament.

Some threads in wood are traditional; nut crackers, curds & whey presses, kitchen canisters and other treen. Threads are needed for some special boxes such as religious containers and urns, but IMHO, most of the appeal of threaded lids for small boxes lies in the making thereof. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Hello Scott,

As far as getting started immediately, a threading jig would get you going much quicker than hand chasing and would also work with the softer woods like walnut. The Craft Supplies Ltd. device takes a little more fiddeling than the other jigs, but it is considerably less expensive and it does do a good job.

In the long run, the skill of thread chasing is a very useful one to have in your kit. Some time back, I needed to make some 12 tpi external threads, but didn't have a chaser. I had an old adapter that I had purchased from Grizzley by accident. I cut a slice out of the threaded area with an abrasive cut off saw and held it with a pair of vice grips. I chased the threads quite easily. Without that skill, if would have been difficult to get these threads.

For a box, the normal is 16 tpi, but 14 tpi would likely work well and would work better in the softer hard woods. A little thin super glue flooded over the wood often it easier to thread and makes the threads hold together better.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Fred Holder

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Here's you another opportunity for an additional sideline (to go along with your face plates and vacuum pumps). There should be a market if the price is rock bottom like the other items.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

So that the lid doesn't fly off and scatter the contents to the four winds when you drop the box?

Unless the whole box is threaded.

aaarrrggghhh!!! ken - you aren't supposed to call my bluff that way - I'm half way through a "do it yourself rose engine", half way through a 36 cad restoration, half way through ...... but maybe I should do it anyway??? I wonder what would be a good price for such a jig? and how much skill can I assume on the part of the user? would anyone buy a crude but worklable 8TPI jig at $45? (just add a harbor freight $7 die grinder and a cutter) Let's find out.....

anyone?

bill

My complaint with threaded boxes is that it takes several complete revolutions to separate the lid from the box. It shouldn't take more than a quarter turn to remove the lid. More than that and I think I'd find it annoying with frequent use.

snip.

One quarter turn to un-screw the lid? Can we assume that three-quarters of the lids' thread will be unmated? Why have a threaded lid on the box? Seems a suction fit would suit you better. I just checked my Richard Raffen cocobolo threaded box. It takes one and a third revolution to unscrew the lid. Not annoying at all and it sounds like it is made of porcelain....Nice sound. However I agree that a lid that takes several turns would "grow old" very quickly!

I beleive the "Bonnie Klein" standard is 1 and 1/2 revs. I agree...1/4 turn is not enough.

rr

M.J. wrote:

In takes a different type of thread to put a lid on a box with only a 1/4 turn. I've never tried it but one might be able to accomplish this by cutting out sections of thread in both the lid and the base so that the section with external thread slides through a slot in the internal threads. Then rotate about

Fred Holder

Wouldn't take a thread. No pitch required. Make the "teeth" on the upper, the gaps on the lower, make the gripping action with CA and some pumice.

No threads would certainly be my preference - unless one could just quarter-turn it to remove the lid. I'm thinking something along the lines of the action required to uncork a pickle jar - secure but easily removed with one quick motion.

(Forgot to respond to this in my previous reply.) A couple weeks ago I played with a box that had such a well fitting lid that the suction was difficult to pull it off - actually felt and behaved like it had a spring inside pulling it back on. When replacing the lid it would pop back up about 1/2 way due to the trapped and compressed air inside the box. Took 4 or 5 tries to squeeze enough air out of the interior to allow the lid to stay seated.

That box, too, would be an annoyance in use but it certainly was fun to play with and witness such a closely fitted lid.