Re: New guy with questions

Hi GM4T,

We use a die. There is also a handle for the die. If it's short
enough, I'd chuck the 1/4" rod in a drill press chuck, put the die in
the handle flat on the DP's table, and bring the rod down in the DP to
start the threads (turn chuck BY HAND). Same 1 or 2 turns in, 1/2 out.
Use thread cutting oil. Once started, it's convenient to take the
spindle back up, and turn the die holder handle. This is a good way to
get the threads square.

In a lathe, chuck up the rod, an use a tailstock die holder, or rest the
die holder against the tailstock ram with the center removed. Turn the
lathe's chuck (BY HAND), and get the die started by advancing the
tailstock ram. Once started, you won't need to advance the tailstock
ram, and the handle of the die holder (hand model) will rest against the
lathe's ways. Or, you could also just clamp the rod in a vice, and
start the die by hand! 1/4" is probably correct for a 1/4" -20 thread,
otherwise check the tables in "Machinery's' Handbook". (I often just
mike a similar thread, or tap).

HTH

Alan KM6VV
P.S. You don't have to buy 12 taps at a time. Get good U.S. taps and
dies at your favorite hardware store, as you need them. Time spend
"browsing" in a tool catalog will get you acquainted with available
tools.


gm4ta@... wrote:

>
> Thanks guys for all the information you people provided!
> I had no idea how to tap and now I know how to. I have searched
> around for taps and they seem to come in a bundle of 12 or so which
> makes it very expensive. I'll have to look some more.
>
> The next obvious question is say I have a 1/4" rod and I want to
> thread the end to be 1/4 - 20, how do I do it? A long time ago I
> bought a mountain bike fork and the tube wasn't threaded enough to
> fit through. I went to a bike shop and the guy threaded it in a few
> minutes. I have been wondering since what he used to do it. Do we use
> some cutting nut (opposite of a tap) of some sort?
>
> Thanks again!
> -GM4T