Using pvc threads to attach wood tops to vases

[Breck Whitworth]

Ok guys now that I am getting into vases/hollow forms, I am intrigued with being able to make an urn that the lid can be sealed but also opened if the need should arise to scatter ashes. I have read in a few places about cutting the matching threads from pieces of PVC pipe parts. If anyone has actually done this or seen it work please let me know what you know or have learned about this pro or con. Also if you have ever used a different method other than chasing threads or friction lids please pass on your knowledge to me.

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

Breck, I have done this successfully for salt shakers and a tall jar. The complication is that threaded PVC fittings usually have a tapered fit so you either have to be very careful in setting the relative positions of the male and female sections, or have to remove some of the taper by filing or sawing the grooves.

 

[john lucas]

There are different types of pipe. Try electrical conduit pipe. Its.been a long time since I did it but I remember using pipe.from the electrical department rather than plumbing. Also I was worried about glue not bonding to it so I chucked up.each piece and turned grooves in the outside so the epoxy would hold better. Hope that helps. It's probably been 12 to 15 years ago that I did that.

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

If you use “Black “ fittings made to be opened for inspection and cleaning, they have straight threads and will work for opening and closing. Brad Adams has a tutorial on his website.

 

[John Torchick]

A turner in our club made a pedestal cake plate. It was in three pieces so it would fit into a cabinet. The pieces had male and female PVC fittings set with epoxy.

 

[Paul Lajoie]

Break, check woodturningonline, projects, lids. There is a article by Brad Adams where he uses the threads from a pvc black clean out on his projects. I tried it on a urn I made recently. Good luck!

Paul

 

[Breck Whitworth]

If you use “Black “ fittings made to be opened for inspection and cleaning, they have straight threads and will work for opening and closing. Brad Adams has a tutorial on his website.

Thanks Dwight great info.

 

[Breck Whitworth]

View attachment 27231 Break, check woodturningonline, projects, lids. There is a article by Brad Adams where he uses the threads from a pvc black clean out on his projects. I tried it on a urn I made recently. Good luck!

Paul

Thanks Paul that was a great example of how to use the black pvc

 

[Bill Boehme]

Breck, that sounds like a great idea for something will only be opened once or twice. Here is some information from the Engineers Toolbox for NPT and NPTF (National Pipe Taper and National Pipe Taper Fine). Tapered thread fittings are typically used for permanent installations where you need a solid connection such as water, gas, and electrical conduit. There is also NPS (National Pipe Straight) where you don't need an air tight seal, but you won't find that in PVC fittings.

 

[Dwight R Rutherford]

An 1 1/2” ABS drain pipe clean out fitting has National Pipe Straight threads.

 

[Richard Coers]

All the black fittings at Menards are ABS. I buy a straight adapter with internal glue joint on one end, internal threaded on the other for the female thread. Grab the outside in a chuck, then turn off the little nubs on the outside diameter, rough with 80 grit, then part off the length I want. For the male thread I buy another adapter with internal glue joint on one end, male thread on the other. Again this gives me a fairly clean od to grab in the chuck. First rough the interior with 80 grit, then part off the length needed. I only use 1/4" or less of the male thread. I also use a 1/16" parting tool. It must be very sharp and you still can overheat the cut if done too slowly. The curls are extremely long strings and really make a mess if the chuck grabs them.

 

[RichColvin]

Breck,

I've tried turning threads, and hate it as it never came out right. A YouTube channel, MrPete222, is an old shop teacher who does amazing things on metal lathes (he's a hoot to watch -- makes exercising on the treadmill much easier). He too can't do them well.

I recommend two approaches :

1. Buy a tap and die set from McMaster Carr for the size of threads you want, or
2. Use brass fittings.

I saw the 2d option used by a guy in our club, and they looked great. He used them to make an urn for his family's dog.

Good luck,
Rich

 

[Paul Gilbert]

I am currently turning my segmented cremation urn. This is what I am going to use for the threaded fitting:
https://www.fromwalnuttoantlers.com/listing/477244616/large-solid-brass-threaded-ring-inserts

 

[john lucas]

I'm going to be cutting threads into some wood blanks my friend sent me. He is making an urn and wanted thread inserts. I have a Baxter thread cutting jig so it will be a simple.job.

 

[Bill Boehme]

You can also make threaded inserts out of Corian.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

You can also make threaded inserts out of Corian.

On my high end Koa urn I do Boxwood threaded inserts. I have sold some where I'm told they will bury the urn, so nothing fancy or expensive. Then I do a tight fit suction lid, a little longer than normal on the lip...

 

[john lucas]

I have also made threaded boxes by filling grooves with epoxy and the cut the the threads in the epoxy. I have chased the threads as well as using the powered threader both work on the epoxy. Sometimes I will color the epoxy and sometimes leave it natural.
I wrote an article on making your own thread chasers. I think it was in woodturning design which unfortunately doesn't exist any more. I will look and see if I can find that article. One technique I used was to braze pieces of a tap onto some cheap hand chisels to make the male and female chasers. That worked really well. I also did one by simply cutting a 16tpi bolt in half and using that. Not as good as the store bought chasers but did a decent job.