Cutting a left-hand thread in a dowel.
yotonyb
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
In a number of catalogs, I’ve seen thread cutters and tap & die kits to cut a right-hand thread on a wood dowel, but nothing to create a left-hand thread. An internet search didn’t turn-up anything either. Is anyone aware of a wood dowel thread cutter that will do a “reverse” thread or left-hand thread pattern?
tony b.
Replies
I've never seen one, but that doesn't prove much.
Is this to fit an existing part, or are you going to have to cut the internal thread, too? What size and pitch?
Uncle Dunc, this is for something new. The thread cutters I see now are 6 tpi for the dowel sizes I want (3/4" to 1-1/4") and that's what I'm looking for. I'd like to find a kit with a matched set of left- and right-hand thread cutters for the dowel and taps for the hole.
MikeC, the clamps are something I'd also like to try and that's another application for this set-up.
tony b.
Edited 3/29/2005 2:03 am ET by YOTONYB
In the early posts about shop made thread cutters, Most will require some sort of internal threading for the guidance of the thread. If you have,or know someone who has, an engine lathe,the hreading will be a simple matter. In the past I have made a few special clamps requiring the cutting ofthese threads. I have found that on sizes from 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, a four pitch thread works well in wood.A hard wood,such as maple or hickory,works well.If you can find it,Osage makes the best tooling.Work safely¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Thank you,Mr.Croney,where ever you may be.
Work safely ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬PAT¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
I'm interested in wooden threads too, though I have yet to try any of these. Here's what I found in the FWW archives. I've seen the first article in one of the early collected article books, and it is adaptable to either right or left handed threads.
Fine Woodworking - Spring 1977 - #6
WOOD THREADS
A handmade tap and screwbox
by Richard Starr
Fine Woodworking - March/April 1983 - #39
THREADING WOOD
A router-table threadbox
by Andrew Henwood
A commercial threader
by Jim Cummins
Versatile threadbox cuts inside and outside threads
by Robert J. Harrigan
Fine Woodworking - September/October 1986 - #60
CHASING LARGE WOODEN THREADS
An alternative to tap and die
by Richard Starr
Threads with bandsaw and drill press #116 16-18
Must be in methods of work. Not described in that issue's table of contents.
Yo, Tony,years ago Craftsman made an attachment for a wood lathe to do ornamental turnings. It involved using a router and bit to cut grooves/flutes spirals etc on the hand turned wood dowel
If you must thread many left hand grooves, you'll have to use a 60 deg. router bit and some means to advance the router above the work using a sled (Possibly a 'Feedscrew' with the pitch required.
I made a few die nuts to thread large dowels, by using a 1"-8 (Or so)
Hex nut.
By holding the nut in a vise, and with a hacksaw,I cut four cuts across and perpendicular to the threads all the way through the threads these cuts are to make the cutting edges in the die.
Another notch has to be made at an angle to each of the cutting
edges, so as to meet the first cut at roughly 60 degrees and end at the bottom of the four cuts.
By using a 'Three corner' file, you can dress up the notches.
Left handed nuts and bolts can be ordered from Mac Master-Carr.
I borrowed one from the base of a highway lamp post It was right handed though. ;) Steinmetz
Edited 3/28/2005 5:08 pm ET by steinmetz
I also ran into a need for left handed threads when trying to make a Jorgenson style wood clamp using a Beal threading system.
Each half of both screws turn in opposite directions, half left & half right. (I know you can make a "modified" version using only right handed threads).
It sure would be nice to duplicate the Jorgenson clamp using wood threads. Any ideas?
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled