Thread Cutting

[custard]

I'm trying to produce some small boxes with threaded lids. Cutting the threads by hand is above my skill level, so I'm looking for some kind of automated jig.

The Klein threading jig seems to be the best known option, but I've a few questions,

1. Does anyone have any hands on experience with this jig?
2. Are there any other alternatives?
3. Are there any UK distributors or would I have to order from the US?
4. Would it be possible to use this jig with a Nova DVR XP lathe with a 1 1/4" x 8tpi spindle thread?

 

[cornucopia]

I have no experince of that paticular jig but the genral feedback on threading jigs is by the time you've set them up you could have hand chased the thread.
hand chasing threads really is easy and very satisfying to do- well worth a try before buying a jig.

 

[robo hippy]

I bought the Bonnie Klein jig after taking a 3 day workshop with her here in the US. The main difference between hand chasing and thread cutting with her, or other thead cutting jigs is that you can cut theads in just about any wood with a thread cutter, and with hand chasing, you need a hard, closed grain wood, or so I have been told. Not too difficult to make, if you are a machinest, a thread cutter goes on the headstock, and you have a jig to mount the box blanks on, at center height, that advances the wood into the cutter at 16 tpi, or whatever thread you want. The jig has to adjust from side to side for different diameters of boxes and inside and outside threads. Bonnie sells direct, not through catalogues. I think it was about $400 US. She does have a video out about it, but it is about 10 years old.

As to which method is fastest, I don't know. I have seen only one hand chasing demo, and it wasn't too fast, but he isn't a production box turner. The threading process takes me about 15 minutes, and I can still see a lot of room for getting faster.

robo hippy

 

[Richard Findley]

The main difference between hand chasing and thread cutting with her, or other thead cutting jigs is that you can cut theads in just about any wood with a thread cutter, and with hand chasing, you need a hard, closed grain wood, or so I have been told.

I'm not doubting what you say Robbo, just curious, but how can it do that? You are quite right when you say hand threads are best done in very dense timber such as Box or African Blackwood.

Like George I only have experience with hand chasers but $400 Vs £18 I know which I'd buy first!!!!

PS, There is a deffinate "Knack" to hand chasing but rewarding once you've got it!!

Cheers,

Richard

 

[shedhead]

Richard, when you say hand chasers £18 what do you mean? Is it the chasers from metal working lathes you are meaning?. I thought the price of Crown, and other companys that sell chasers were about £45 For the two tools. :?

Can you give me a link to the chasers you mentioned. I love making boxes and would like to be able to cut my own. The lower price sound good. Maybe George you could do a Threaded Box with your walk through pictures.

Can the experts explain to me how you line up a threaded box keeping the grain matched????? I have always wondered how when the box lid is closed the grain matches at this point???

 

[cornucopia]

any woood can be threaded with the help of ca- i have a padauk box which is half sapwood with a threaded lid, but the best woods are as Richard said boxwood- lignum vitae-african blackwood etc

i have done a nut and bolt with a thread you can see it in my blog- i have offerd to do a better wip of threading but i really need a camera man so you can see the chasers in action and no one took me up on it.

you get the grain to line up by removing material from one of the two surfaces which form the joint - this allows the box lid to come to its final fully closed posotion in a diffrent place.

 

[wizer]

George I don't mind coming up and being camera man (we could even do a short video clip). Would be a few weeks time tho.

 

[cornucopia]

George I don't mind coming up and being camera man (we could even do a short video clip). Would be a few weeks time tho.

thanks for the offer tom maybe in the Autum though, my workshop is unuseable during the summer-i've only cut wood ready for this weekend based on a poor forcast, last weekend I nearly cooked- it reached a muggy 28 c in there :evil: - i'm going to use the down time in mid summer to gut it and try some of that silver reflective bubble wrap insulation and swap the fibre boards for plaster board or block board.
you are welcome any time though.

 

[wizer]

Yeh just let me know when your free. No rush.

 

[Richard Findley]

Richard, when you say hand chasers £18 what do you mean? Is it the chasers from metal working lathes you are meaning?. I thought the price of Crown, and other companys that sell chasers were about £45 For the two tools. :?

My apologies, I was sure I only paid that much a few years ago. They've either gone up considerably or I remebered wrongly (or maybe a bit of both )

There is a new tool available from Ashley Isles called the Uni-chaser:

This is about £25 and saves you buying 2 tools. Not tried it but I've been told it works well. Info here: http://www.johnberkeley.biz/page8.html

Cheers,

Richard

 

[robo hippy]

Hand chased threads are made with a cutter that is essentially a scraper. I have heard that some will lubricate the wood with oil and finish to help the cut go easier. I think it is supposed to help it cut like green wood. You can also chase the threads with thin CA glue which will help harden it. With a thread cutter, you have a mini saw blade spinning fairly fast, so it slices more than it scrapes. I guess it is like why a planer or jointer can tear out some wood grain, but you almost never have that problem with a table saw.

robo hippy

 

[The Shark]

Hi Guys,
Sorry George, but I missed your request for a camera man.
Not wanting to tread on Tom's toes, I am offering my services for a quick trip up the A447 if you have a small camera job that doesn't warrant Tom travelling all that way to get to you.
Leave it with you!

Malc

 

[wizer]

No toes tread. I'll be knocking back on Georges door any way...one day :lol:

 

[Happy amateur]

Custard

There are two recommended DVDs on the market. Try and get hold of one.
John Berkeley - Screwples

Allan Batty's Masterclass - Hand Thread Chasing

Fred

 

[cornucopia]

Custard

There are two recommended DVDs on the market. Try and get hold of one.
John Berkeley - Screwples

Allan Batty's Masterclass - Hand Thread Chasing

Fred

allan batty's is the one i learnt from- but I have also had some pointers from john too.

Hello malc -you are welcome to pop in as It is always nice to meet fellow members( i had a sit in miles hot's lotus this week he kept teh keys firmly in his pocket and laughed at my brum brum noises though :lol: )- but as i explained earlier unless it suddenly gets allot colder I dont think i'll be doing allot more turnong until the autum.

 

[TobyB]

Going back to the original post - don't know what lathe you wanted a jig to go on, but the Wivamac has this option ...

http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/WivaMac ... rning.html

Haven't got it or tried it out - but looks versatile and opens up possibilities perhaps ... but again ... NOT cheap!

Cheers

Toby

 

[Richard Findley]

With a thread cutter, you have a mini saw blade spinning fairly fast, so it slices more than it scrapes.

Oh I see!! Thanks for that Robbo, I didn't realise that's how they work. That might account for the price some what!!!!

Cheers,

Richard