thread cutting using a router

[blame]

hello everyone

i'm new to the boards but i've been doing wood working for about 2 years maybe, anyway i'm gitting ready to start a new project i thought i would share with all of you

i posted a WTB ad to buy a beall threading tool with no hits (on another site)so i've decided to come up with my own using there basic idea using a router to cut the threads and a tap to cut the internal threads for taps(nuts).

ive order the taps after looking for about a week on google (i have very little time about an hour each night) 1/2" X 8tpi, 3/4" x 6tpi, and 1" x 6tpi
all are high speed steal and i got them pretty cheap at $15.00 for the set

so i went to usplastics.com and bought some hdpe(High Density Polyethylene) total cost for 8' pc of 1 1/4" rod was $24.11 which i will be drilling out and taping to cut the external threads which i will only be using about 6" which roughly is a $1.50
i received the 1 1/4" hdpe rod from usplastics.com using there standard shipping i got it within 2 days of ordering i wood highly recommand them to anybody wanting HDPE stock

i have a neighbor that has a sawmill and i'm taking a piece of Osage Orange(or hedge the local name for it around here) to be sawn into 1 1/2" slabs for the base of threading tool for a cost of 7.5 cents for a pc 3"Wx12''L for 3 pcs a total cost of 22.5 cents (but remember i'm suppling the logs) does seem alittle cheap hmmm have to check into this again

i was wanting to use hedge because its a solid hard wood but if i cant get to the sawmill over the next week i might just use some 1 1/4" white oak i already have, what do you all think?

mounting the router i'm going to find a pc of 3/16" X 3" x 12" pcs of steel
and mount it using a couple of screws so i can change to differnt size dies
cost $0.33 /lb shouldnt be anymore then 5 bucks

the pieces for clamping down the router will be made out of 1/8" x 1/2" stock. i havent come up with the length yet but these shouldnt cost any more then a $1.00 to make

i'm going to order the bit from lee valley for $22.99 its a 3 fluted 60 deg carbide router bit(the most expensive part) i called lee valley about this bit
and with shipping this would of cost me $31.49 so i went back to google looking for 1/4" 3 fluted 60 Deg. bit what i found was at pricecutter.com for the 2 fluted bit it cost 21.99 including shipping i also was looking in my router bit set and found one thats solid carbide so i have 2 to choose from now

Misc.
4- 1 1/4" wood screws $0.40
2- #6 machine screws $0.54

i stiill have to come up with something for bit allignment ,beall used a short piece of steel to align the bit in the hole
I have a friend that has a metal lathe and when i get the bit i'll take it to him so he can mill me an allignment tube for the bit

once set for allignment i think i will be able to change from one size to the next without having to reallign it (hoping anyway)


so after looking at a few major retailers and dreaming about buying the beall small size kit which is $134.99 from lee valley
i've made my own for around $45 saying everything goes as planned

i'll try and have some pictures up over the next couple of weeks
untill then share your comments on what you think
later blame

[LCHIEN]

Beall http://www.bealltool.com/products/th...g/threader.php makes some pricey wood threading tools. harbor Freight (HF) sells some imported wood threading tools that, in my opinion work quite well (no router required).

See this thread and see the pics:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...wood+threading

[blame]

Lchien thanks for the reply actually that thread is how i found this site from google

the thing about using a thread box to cut threads is that they have a tendancy to peel the actual threads when they get dull because they use a chisel like blade

thats why i choose to go with the router method cleaner threads and if you have any defects in the wood like knots or what ever they really arent an issue

thanks again
blame

[LCHIEN]

well, I was surprised how well they do cut threads. At least they've stayed sharp enough on the few projects I've tackled. I suppose if you're cutting a lot of threads the routerized unit will work but the thread box units will work for a few times (and I think you can get new cutters, too).

[Ken Massingale]

I'm looking forward to the pics, blame.
Thanks

[blame]

hello fellow woodworkers

i just got back from my neighbors with the sawmill, i droped off the hedge log and it will be done by this weekend, usually i've been there anytime he saws the logs for me but i havent the time to spend doing it this time, the hedge log has been cut for 3 years so i'm not to worried about the moisture should be ok

while at work today i talked to my neighbor about milling me my alignment tube should be done by this weekend too

everything is coming along pretty good right now but i was hoping to have the logs sawed yesterday(sunday) and i still havent received my taps yet
and i ordered them on the 1st of may

untill i get something more happy sawing
blame

[blame]

update 05-07-07

hey

when i got to work this morning i found that my neighbor had gone and made me my alignment tube, i had him make it longer then what i needed so i used my 41/2" grinder to cut it down to the right length

pic #1 is the hdpe stock

pic #2 3 test pcs hdpe i think i'm going to see about gitting another pc of stock to use i think 1 1/4" is to small should of bought 2" maybe

pic #3 is a jig i used to hold the hdpe stock for drilling

pic 4 is my first test pcs drilled out for 1" doweling

pic #5 is the first test pcs drilled thru with a 3/4" hole ready for threads
when cutting threads you should drill your hole 25% smaller so i am told

pic #6 is the hedge log waiting to be sawn should be some nice boards
besides using it for pcs on my thread tools i'm going to make my MIL a nice little rose flower box for M-day

thats all for today
blame

[blame]

pics of the alignment tube

here are the pics of the alignment tube

[ironhat]

It looks like the HF wood threading tool has been discontinued. Nuts!

Chiz

[Russianwolf]

It looks like the HF wood threading tool has been discontinued. Nuts!

Chiz

how about this one

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=792

[Black wallnut]

I must be missing something here but how exactly does this system work?

[blame]

check this out http://www.bealltool.com/products/threading/threader.php

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/bealthrdrvu.html

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=13851

heres a few links to help you out its really amazing what one of thes can do
i'm trying to duplicate them the do it yourself way
hope these help
blame

[blame]

small update 05/10/2007

hey everybody

well heres a small update on my progress. i went to my neighbors and got the hedge log sawed into 6' pcs total of 10pcs or 60 BF(estimated) for $20

not to bad of a price at woodcraft in des moines for a 6' pc they wanted $125 or $21.00 BF.

i still havent recieved my taps yet so i'm on hold till they arrive

thats all for now
thanks blame

[blame]

finaly received my taps today had to try them out they work great in soft wood but in hard woods they leave alittle to be desired also i figured they work well in cutting the threads in the hdpe rod but there lacking in that department to .

the new 1/4" 60deg solid carbide router bit from pricecutter.com also came today thats all the bit i will be using to cut the treads in the back ground you can see where i made a template for the drill bit size for the taps

3rd pic is a test pcs of hdpe plastic rod drilled for the 1/2" threads installed in a pcs of 1 1/4" white oak
i first thinking i would use the hedge for durability but after working with it its almost to hard to work
the taps didnt make very deep threads in the hedge wood

4th pic is the router base, i had an older 1/4" router with a 1/2hp motor just sitting around so i thought i might as well just make use of it since i'm only using 1/8" of the bit it plenty of power for the task so i just drilled out the the pcs of steel to mount to the base of the router then drilled 4 more holes to mount the base to the white oak base

5th pic is the router sitting on the white oak base when i measured for hole the router bit sits i measured wrong and put the hole in the wrong spot so i'll have to wait till this weekend to finish it up have to start painting a house for another neighbor tommorrow

later blame

[scmhogg]

I have a couple of sets of the Woodcraft threaders and taps. They work just fine.

I have made quite a few nut and bolt sets that people like to fiddle with on their desks. I also made a veneer flattener with a screw drive like an old printing press, with a hand wheel on top.

I have sharpened the cutters on the threaders. Much better than when received.

I also soak the dowel stock in dilute Danish Oil just before cutting the threads. This lubricates the cutting and penetrates the newly cut threads. I think the oil hardens the threads.

Steve