MAKE WOODEN THREADS on your Drill Preae By T. L. Stalker NLEAN, SHARP THREADS can be cut in hardwoods by utilizing the high speed of the drill press and the free-cutting properties of special router bits. Hardwood screws for clamps, or hand screws, handles and hand presses of various kinds are eas- fly made in less time than it would take to thread metal rods for the same applica- tions. A simple two-piece jig or guide clamped to the drill-press table gives the thread the correct pitch. This consists of the parts A and B in the detail at the right. Part B is bored as indicated, the size of the body hole being slightly larger than the diameter of the turned portion of the work on which the threads are to be cut. Part A is bored with a tap hole, the diameter of the hole being slightly greater than the root diameter of the thread. The hole is then tapped, using a special tap for wood threads of the type pictured in the upper right-hand photo on the following page ‘These special taps are easily made on a metal-turning lathe or can be purchased ready-made in limited-size variations. After tapping, part A is sawed on the dotted lines and the remaining portion of the block is then bolted to part B, with the bottom of the thread lining up with the side of the body hole. This assembly forms the com- bination guide and lead screw which is clamped to the drill;press table as in the photo above. Locate the guide on the drill- press table so that it centers under the chuck at a point about % in. from the edge of part B, and directly over the cet ter of the body hole. Then insert a %-i bit in the chuck and drill the clearance hole for the router bit. NOVEMBER 1953 TAPPED HOLE READING. ‘GUIDE ‘SAWED ON DOTTED LINES. Ge [) ea ROUTER BIT 60" V-THREAD BEVELED ROUTER BIT FOR SPECIAL THREAD 201A 60-deg. thread portially cut. Lead screw on topped section of jig gives newly cut thread correct pitch jove ond below show jig set up on over ter for cutting a round-bottom thread. than © C-damp is used 10 hold jig in position. Note coarser pitch of thread —_ air Suitable router bits can be made from ¥-in. drill rod by grinding a flat to the center line and then grinding a 60-deg. point on the end to form a sharp V-thread, or a rounded point to form a round-bottom special thread as in the center details on the preceding page. ‘The two upper photos at the left show a 60-deg. thread being cut, while the lower photos show a round-bot- tom thread partially cut, The 60-deg. thread usually is preferred in hardwoods such as maple and beech. ‘The portion of the work on which the threads are to be cut should be turned to a diameter about %s in. less than that of the body hole in the guide. This allowance permits the work to turn freely. yet holds it sufficiently true to the axial line to as- sure threads of a uniform depth. Note in the lower detail on the preceding page, that the end of the blank to be threaded is beveled. This bevel takes the form of a spiral having approximately the same lead as the thread to be cut. Wrap a strip of paper around the end of the blank and then shift it until the edge forms the re- quired spiral. Hold in place with tape and file the bevel to the edge of the paper. Now insert Uhe router bit in Ue chuck and lower it to cut to the correct depth, as in the upper left-hand photo. Arrange the belt on the V-pulleys to give the highest spindle speed. Then insert the blank in the body hole in the guide and bring it up until the bit touches the side of the beveled end. Start the drill press, steady the work with both hands and turn it slowly to the right. As soon as the newly cut thread engages the lead serew it will advance automati- cally the correct amount for each turn, Any. slight irregularity in starting the thread can be corrected easily with a three-cor- nered file after the work is removed from the guide. In some woods the threads can- not, be cut successfully to a sharp crest without some chipping. In this case, set the router bit a trifle higher so a narrow flat ig left at the crests. If the thread cut in this way fits too tightly in the tapped hole, it can be cut deeper with a file. Softer woods often thread best when the blank is soaked overnight in linseed oil. * ® ® 202 POPULAR MECHANICS | |