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Thread cutting

Mark StLeger sells a very good chaser. It's all one piece so you never loose the mate. I picked up a bunch of antique chasers and at least half only had the male of female chaser. That's why I think Mark's are such a good deal. Plus they are well made. I made my own copies of his although the metal in mine is much thinner. I think Mark's are better.
He doesn't have them listed on his website but last time I called him he was still selling them.
http://www.markstleger.com/
 
I have the Sorby's both a 16 tpi and a 20 tpi set. I would recommend the 16 tpi as best to start with. I got my set of 16 tpi chasers from Amazon recently for $65, the best price I could find. I made a recess tool from an Allen wrench and an armrest from a 1/4" carriage bolt based on a picture in one of Richard Raffan's book as shown below. I would suggest you also include a 2" square X 12" turning blank of one of the best threading woods available, African Blackwood.
 

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I have an arm rest tool. I've never used it. I did try it a few times and see no advantage to it for the way I thread.
I wrote an article for Woodturning design on building your own thread chasers. They aren't hard just takes patience.
A good way to learn chasing is to chase threads in PVC pipe. It a really cheap and easy material to work with.
 
Wod Threading

Hi,
I was at the very same point a few years ago that you are into now. I suggest that you talk with Fred at More wood turning, he seems to have mastered thread chasing. fred@morewoodturningmagazine.com

I gave up on thread chasing because I just couldn't produce a good thread even in the best of conditions.

I made my own threading attachment for the lathe and it makes perfect threads in most woods. Check it out... http://www.rocky-roost-woodturnings.com/wood-turning-blog/threading-jig.html
 
Thread Chasing does require some practice and really hard woods. If you don't have access to those woods and/or don't want to practice that much one of the threading machines will do the job.
Bonnie Klein sells one and so does Bestwoodtools. I have the Baxter threader from Bestwoodtools and it works great. You can cut threads in woods as soft as walnut and poplar.
 
Thread chasing is sort of like skating or riding a bike.
It will seem really easy once you succeed and impossible until you do.

I had the good fortune to learn from Alan Batty. Alan was demonstrating in an AAW symposium trade show.
He took the time to explain some simple starting points.
Run at a speed where you can see the lathe spindle threads
Bevel the leading edge where you will strike the thread
Make a groove where the threads end to let the tool escape.
Strike the first thread with the second tooth of the thread chaser at about a 45 degree angle where the beveled wood edge joins where he threads will,be.
Repeat striking with the first tooth out of the wood rotating the tool until it it parallel to the wood and the first tooth is leading the feed.
It is easier to learn with finer threads than with course.

Then Alan showed me how to cut a very course thread with spindle gouge. Haven't mastered that one.
That is truly impossible.

Read some of Fred's old " more wood-turnings. I think he spent a week or so with Alan.


Work safe,
Al
 
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