PROBLEM-SOLVING PRODUCTS
When it’s okay to screw up your wood
Wood THE PRODUCT: THE KIT: The kit Threading Kit includes a threadbox for MADE BY: Woodcraft threading the dowel and a WHAT IT DOES: Creates match- tap to thread holes for the ing threads on hardwood dowels threaded dowel. The hard A B and in holes. maple threadbox has a cast and machined aluminum D AVAILABLE AT WOODCRAFT: guide and a V-shaped C ½", ¾", 1", 1¼", 1½" diameters, steel cutter held in place #12T13-#12T17 by a brass cutter lock. The The Wood Threading Kit accommodates PRICE: $32.99 to $42.99 matching tap comes with ½", ¾", 1", 1¼", 1½" hardwood dowels and includes a threadbox (A) for the external tester: John English a steel T-bar handle that provides torque while threads and a tap with T-bar (B) for carving out internal threads; to drill the starter tapping threading the pilot hole. Anybody who collects antiques holes, you’ll also need a 3/8", 5/8", 7/8" (C), 17/8", 13/8" drill bit, respectively. For a blind hole (as knows of the myriad of applications opposed to a through-hole tap) pick up an that old world woodworkers found Consider soaking your appropriately sized bottom tap (D). for threaded dowels (see “Best
lert hardwood dowels in water
Applications” on page 69). The large, a for the cleanest, easiest and tung oil works, too. See the Tip cutting action. coarse threads offer remarkable tip Alert.) More lubricant usually means holding power and an astonishing a smoother cut, but a bigger mess. degree of torque. And now, with the THreading SETUP: Wood Threading Kit—which offers For external threading, choose THE TEST: Next, I placed the precision cutters—you can make perfectly round and straight- threadbox on the dowel end, applied short work of cutting both inside grained hardwood dowels for best a little downward pressure during the and outside threads, though a few results. I took the threadbox to the first turn, and then kept turning in a precautions are in order. lumberyard to check that the dowels clockwise direction as shown in the I bought were a good fit—not too above photo. Once you start, do not loose or tight. Use the hole in the back up more than a quarter turn or rectangular hardwood block screwed you could mess up your threads. If to the bottom of the threadbox as a the cutter is sharp (and ours came guide. The dowel should fit into this from the factory that way), the whole hole without any slop. operation will go very smoothly. Following the instructions, I I achieved A sanded a 1/8" chamfer on the dowel Never thread end grain; excellent working with face and
end to be threaded by rotating it lert results on the edge grain yields the against a belt sander at about 45° as very first try. a strongest and sharpest
shown in Photo A. Then I clamped tip threads. the dowel vertically in a bench vise with wooden jaws, and applied a light THE Tapping SETUP: To coating of linseed oil as a lubricant make matching internal threads, I during threading. (The oil can be found that the tap is even easier to reduced later on with mineral spirits, use. First drill an appropriately sized B if a different finish will be applied, hole (1/8" smaller in diameter than
72 w o o dc r aft m a g a z i n e F e b /M a r 2 0 0 8 PROBLEM-SOLVING PRODUCTS
the dowel) in (having wooden nuts and bolts), tabletop nutcrackers, the workpiece as knockdown furniture, and toys. shown in Photo B. If drilling TESTER’S TAKE: Though the kit is remarkably a through easy to use, the cutter will require sharpening with C hole, back the extensive use. I found it fun to use contrasting species workpiece with such as walnut dowels on maple projects. Two things scrap to avoid tear-out on the bottom face. to keep in mind when threading dowels are to oil the threads before screwing the dowel into the hole (or THE TEST: Now, secure the workpiece in a wood it will never come out!), and also to thread a long vise or elsewhere, slip the T-handle in the tap, and turn dowel and then cut it off close to the the tap clockwise into the hole as shown in Photo C. It’s threadbox, so that you don’t have to important that the tap is vertical to begin with. Unlike reverse the cutter along the part that the threadbox, reverse the cutting motion constantly to you want to keep. 4 out of 5 biscuits clear chips. A little oil goes a long way here. Bottoming taps, sold separately, are available for cutting threads all WHAT PRODUCTS PERPLEX YOU? the way down to the bottom of a blind hole. Have you ever looked in a woodworking catalog or browsed in a woodworking store and encountered a product that baffled you? You eyeball the item, read the promotional information, but BEST APPLICATIONS: The Wood Threading still don’t see the product’s value? Hopefully, with this column Kit proves ideal for making antique planes, handscrews, in Woodcraft Magazine, these days are over. We’ll select a few bar clamps, vises, and veneer presses. In the world “mystery products” for each issue and show how to use them beyond the manufacturer’s take. We’ll point out their pluses, of home furnishings, you’ll see threaded parts used problems, practical shop applications, and grade them. If you in adjustable candle and music stands, novelty boxes know of a few such products that need more explanation, email us at [email protected] to let us know.
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