Threading Jig

[Brian McInturff]

I caught the last 20 minutes of Tim Yoders Woodturning show on PBS this past weekend. He was using a threading jig on his Stubby. Does anyone know who the manufacturer of that jig is?
Thanks,
Brian

 

[Don Andrews]

Bonnie Klien

Bonnie Klien is the only one I know of that sells threading jigs. I didn't see the show you mention though..

www.bonnieklein.com/

Good luck

Don

 

[Ted Monk]

I never saw the show either but it also could have been the Baxter's Thread Master from Best Wood - http://www.bestwoodtools.com/

 

[DOCworks]

Don't forget the Vermec jig from down under,
http://www.vermec.com/id1.html

I also like the looks of their sphere jig.

 

[n7bsn]

Brian
If you check the credits I think you will see a reference to Soren Berger. I believe that Tim had a prototype of his threading jig

Ralph

 

[Brian McInturff]

Oh? Seemed like a pretty cool jig. I was thinking the Klein was only for the smaller lathes. I quickly checked out Soren's website and if it was his then I think he made a couple changes but it could just be the small pics on my mobile. It will be interesting to see what his price will be on the jig.
Brian

 

[Charlie Knighton]

i was lucky to see Michael Mocho's rotation------Hand-Chased Threads Without Expensive Woods recently

he used thread chasers from Mark St. Leger
www.markstleger.com

and a special threading Elixir that he can supply at a nomial cost

 

[egsiegel]

I e-mailed Tim and asked what jig he used...
the jig is made by Soren Berger.

 

[john lucas]

www.bestwoodtools.com makes a threading jig that will fit most lathes. I have one and it works great.

 

[Jake Debski]

www.bestwoodtools.com makes a threading jig that will fit most lathes. I have one and it works great.

John, did you buy your threading jig since you began experimenting with the hand threading or did you have it first?

 

[n7bsn]

If you are interested in a cost effective system, a woodturner and flute maker over on Woodnet posted something to think about

He took a 3/4x10 tpi all thread rod. Connected it to one of those Oneway Live center to chuck adapters. Put a hand crank on the other end, mounted it (using two nuts and some steel) to a drill press sliding vise. Mounted that on enough Birchply to center raise it to center line on his lathe.

He put a cutter in a collet chuck on the head-stock.

He mounts the box/object/whatever in the chuck on his jig and cuts the treads, Obviously it's limited to 10 tpi, but it's certainly cheaper then Sorens, Best's or Bonnie Klines products.

TTFN
Ralph

 

[Joe Greiner]

Here's another DIY apparatus, with a home-made X-Y vise: http://homepage3.nifty.com/manasan/english/diy/turning/turn-1.htm

Click "Threading" or scroll down to it. Then click as instructed.

I think a bloke in Australia made a similar device, but I don't have the link at hand.

Something like the one Ralph described is on my bucket list, but slightly simpler (no adapters):
1x8 all-thread to mount the chuck. And a hex nut to jam mount.
Two hex nuts separated by a truck engine valve spring to eliminate backlash. Hand crank at the far end.
The hex nuts clamped in the jaws of the X-Y vise.
The X-Y vise mounted high enough (*) to center the all-thread, and mounted with its axis at 30 degrees to the lathe spindle.
A 60-degree dovetail cutter in a Jacobs chuck on the lathe spindle. (Received it yesterday from Grizzly, ~$10).
Not yet decided which way the hex nuts should be clamped - (*) it matters. Probably best to clamp the faces to reduce stupidity factor.
Limited to 8 tpi. Variations could match other spindle threads. Any adapters would affect runout.
The travel limits of the X-Y vise will limit the size of the work. And my X-Y vise doesn't yet have measuring scales.

 

[john lucas]

Jake I bought the Bestwoodtools rig before I started hand chasing. The reason was the wood. I don't buy much exotic wood and you really need very hard wood to chase threads by hand. Well that's not totally true, I'll speak on that in a minute.
I bought the threading machine because it will cut decent threads in softer woods. I have even cut threads in Box Elder which is really soft. It was a pain in that I had to cut about .005" per pass and rotate the wood very slowly. However it did work. I regularly cut threads in woods as soft as Walnut and Mahogony, Cherry cuts really clean and even the softer maples. None of those would work with hand chasing.
When I got into hand chasing I had purchased some Boxwood. It is a fabulous wood to thread. However I don't really have a good source to buy it. The other woods that work are also quite expensive. I learned to chase threads using PVC pipe. Nice and cheap. I've been working with epoxy and Inlace for a long time so I decided I would try chasing threads in epoxy. It works really well. This way I can use the inexpensive woods and still put threaded lids in them. I just cut a groove in the piece before I hollow. I fill this with epoxy. Then I just turn away the wood and chase the threads into the epoxy.
I believe I will have an article on how to make your own thread chasing tools in the next issue of More Woodturning. I may have the issue wrong but I think it is the next one.

 

[Jake Debski]

Thanks John,I am looking forward to the article.