Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

I have a project that requires putting threads on several one inch Oak
Dowels. They will then be threaded into either Oak, Maple , Walnut or
Aspen in one inch deep bottom tapped holes. My tap & die kit is from
HF and has seen a lot of use. Are there any special tricks to stop
tearing etc and keeping a crisp thread?

TIA
Dennis

Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:28:45 -0700, TwoGuns wrote:

I have a project that requires putting threads on several one inch Oak
Dowels. They will then be threaded into either Oak, Maple , Walnut or
Aspen in one inch deep bottom tapped holes. My tap & die kit is from HF
and has seen a lot of use. Are there any special tricks to stop tearing
etc and keeping a crisp thread?

TIA
Dennis

I recall, or at least I have a memory of, something about you shouldn't
use metal cutting Tap and Die for larger diameter wood. Wooden Threads
should be something like 6 or 8 threads per inch at your diameter, the
depth of the threads is deeper for wood, and the slope of the threads for
wood is not the same as for metal like iron.

Oak, IMHO, would be an incorrect choice due to brittle grain structure
when fully kiln dried. Hickory would be a wiser choice.

But like metal threading, I still think it is a 1/2 turn cut, then back
off 1/4 turn to clear out waste. Both uses a lubrication, I think wood
would use a paste wax.

I did a Google, and Amazon.com is selling a wooden tap and die set from a
tool vendor. Garrett-Wade may carry a tap and die set for Wooden dowels.

Should be other vendors.

Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

TwoGuns wrote:
I have a project that requires putting threads on several one inch Oak
Dowels. They will then be threaded into either Oak, Maple , Walnut or
Aspen in one inch deep bottom tapped holes. My tap & die kit is from
HF and has seen a lot of use. Are there any special tricks to stop
tearing etc and keeping a crisp thread?

The problem with cutting threads into dowels is that the die is cutting
cross grain and those little, fragile pieces of wood thread break off easily
(no problem using a tap into a hole perpendicular to the grain). That is
true even if you turn the die in very small increments before "back
cutting".

Even with the broken, raqgged threads you'll probably find that they hold
pretty well. If not - or if you just want pretty threads - here's what I
do...

1. Coat the broken threads with a liberal amount of super glue

2. Coat the super glue with a fine powder. You are trying to get a
glue/powder mixture that is the thickness of the threads to be cut. The
last time I had occasion to do this I used tile dust from Saltillo tile ( I
had a lot available) but you could use any thickener such as Cab-o-Sil,
talc, etc. meant to thicken epoxy. Sanding dust - very *fine* sanding
dust - works too but not as well.

3. When dry, cut the threads again. Repeat if necessary. Done properly,
you'll wind up with perfect, wire edged threads.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

You need to look at these folks stuff

http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product...9&cookietest=1

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/beall1.htm

http://www.bealltool.com/products/threading/

TwoGuns wrote:
I have a project that requires putting threads on several one inch Oak
Dowels. They will then be threaded into either Oak, Maple , Walnut or
Aspen in one inch deep bottom tapped holes. My tap & die kit is from
HF and has seen a lot of use. Are there any special tricks to stop
tearing etc and keeping a crisp thread?

TIA
Dennis

Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

On Sep 8, 7:28*pm, TwoGuns wrote:
I have a project that requires putting threads on several one inch Oak
Dowels. They will then be threaded into either Oak, Maple , Walnut or
Aspen in one inch deep bottom tapped holes. My tap & die kit is from
HF and has seen a lot of use. Are there any special tricks to stop
tearing etc and keeping a crisp thread?


ISTR a recommendation to oil the wood with linseed oil before cutting
the threads.

--

FF

Tapping and threading different types of woods.
 

On Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:31:02 -0700, Fred the Red Shirt wrote:

ISTR a recommendation to oil the wood with linseed oil before cutting
the threads.

Correct. And reapply more oil every time you back out the tap to clear
the chips. About every other full turn, IIRC.