Replies

1. 
   roc | Apr 09, 2009 11:05am | #1

   I use one of these. Better than a swiss army knife but not as portable. Couldn't live without it.

   PS: much quieter than a router.

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   
   

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   Edited 4/9/2009 4:08 am by roc

   
1. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 09, 2009 09:22pm | #3

   Hmm. I was on the fence with spending $100 for the Beall router set-up.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   roc | Apr 10, 2009 06:40am | #7

   Guess that was like showing you baby pictures. The shower is way more interested than the show ee. Or something like that.OK. To redeem my self a tad try this:I am looking at a book called Fine WoodWorking on Hand Tools. Contains past FWW articles so perhaps those articals are here on this site. The specific article is by Richard Starr and is titled Wood Threads A handmade Tap and Screwbox. Contains nice drawings and photos. Not plans but there seams to be only a couple of critical dimensions and are obvious.Also another mini article called A small Tap of Metal by Trevor Robinson. This is for cutting internal threads.This is the actual book I have:http://www.amazon.com/Hand-Tools-Fine-Woodworking-Editors/dp/0918804531/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=booksqid=1239334553&sr=8-1I have not tried these tools. Hope it works well. Take care ChrisPS: >practical machinist .com post<hard to believe those metal dudes are mucking about when they have the metal lathe right there. Like digging a ditch all day by hand and then polishing their unused backhoe during lunch break. Oops there I go again.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )Edited 4/10/2009 12:00 am by roc

   Edited 4/10/2009 12:02 am by roc

1. 
   Ron01960 | Apr 11, 2009 04:24pm | #8

   I hope this link works, Roy Underhill, does a full show on the subject.http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/schedule/27season_video.htmlRon in Peabody

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 11, 2009 09:38pm | #9

   Thanks Ron!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 09, 2009 02:15pm | #2

   The male threads are the easy part. Given good stock, the manual versions work fine.

   The tougher part is the female threads. No router-powered option there, that I know of. The big advantage of the router version is you can get away threading wood that wouldn't work very well in the manual version.

   I've seen instructions for make-yer-own wood threading tools. You may wanna look around an have a bit of fun.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 09, 2009 09:45pm | #4

   Mike,I spent about 20 minutes over breakfast looking for any sort of plans to make one to no avail. I'm leaning towards the manual version.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 09, 2009 09:57pm | #5

   Man, I know they're out there, 'cause I made a few in my yout. Generally, the die is a single-tooth affair, with the initial threads guided by a sheet metal starter in a hand-cut slot, or some such. For the life of me, I can't remember the details.

   The tap is trickier, though. I used an antique one from the museum's shop. Tho' I suppose you could fashion on out of wood with a metal cutting blade.

   The thread mentions that one of Roy Underhill's books gives plans, but I haven't seen that book:http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/showthread.php?p=1086694

   However you solve it, wood threaded projects are kinda fun, one you get past the frustration of finding clear, straight & tight-grained wood.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   joinerswork | Apr 10, 2009 12:23am | #6

   Mike and Chris,

   It's Underhill's The Woodwright's Workbook, pub in 86, reprinted in 87.

   He gives pretty good directions for making several sizes.  Be prepared for a fair amount of fiddling with that die, the location of the vee cutter in the wooden stock is hypercritical. damhikt

   Conover used to sell kits with all the hard work done.  Don't know if they are still available.

   Ray