How to make threading...

[Skoad]

I am no machineist obviously.

I found this guide: http://www.nmri.go.jp/eng/khirata/me...t/index_e.html

What do you guys suggest to buy in order to make female / male threadings? I don't want something monstrously huge but I want to make the threads fairly easy without breaking the bits. Also getting the holes straight would be cool too

I want it to go through aluminum, but steel would be a bonus.

Are the hand operated ones hard to do?

[BlackVCG]

To do internal "female" threading. You either use a tap or a boring bar and threading bit on a lathe.

To do external "male" threading, you either use a die or a cutting bit on a lathe ground for cutting the type of threads you want and then setup the lathe for the type of threads you're cutting.

In your situation, I'm pretty sure you're just going to be using taps and dies. You can get a decent kit at a place like Sears or a tool store. Taps have a special holder and dies have their own type of holder. You drill your hole to the size specified on the tap and for external threads you turn the part to the diameter specified for the die.

Hope this helps.

[Skoad]

ok, so your recommending the hand tools? Are they very hard to turn?

do they make maybe a baby drill press type machine with a vise?

[luke]

ok, so your recommending the hand tools? Are they very hard to turn?

do they make maybe a baby drill press type machine with a vise?

The hand tools come with a tool to aid in "turning" no additional tools are needed, although a vice is nice to hold the piece your threading.

You can't cut threads with a drill press, you would need a lathe as black indicated for the other process......

[ScatterPlot]

Use oil. And you COULD use a drill press to cut the threads, but the drill press would only be used to align the bits. You'd need to clamp the thingy you're threading in a vise (BTW if it doesn't come with a vise you could get a universal one for real cheap, just get a machinists vise, shouldn't be more than $20 for the kind you need). When you're cutting the threads, do NOT do it under the power of the machine. Advance the chuck by hand. If you do it with the machine you will almost undoubtedly break the tool. You mentioned wanting to cut through aluminum, that's easy with pretty much any tool, like the kind availible from Home Depot or some cheapo import store. With stainless steel, on the other hand, you got some problems. It's VERY easy to break bits in that stuff! I've broken probably 4 or 5 bits trying to tap a hole in the end of Mag bolts. That stuff is TOUGH! If you want to do that, either get some real nice taps or maybe whats called rolling taps I think, that's where instead of cutting a thread they just sorta push into the sides, so theres no cutting action involved. I didn't read your article fully, but if it didn't mention it then here goes. Use oil. Also, when you're tapping, go in like a half turn or so, then back out a little, then go in deeper, then back out a little, and so on. That helps break up the chips that will form and makes sure they wont clog up the tap, and (possibly) break the bit. As for using dies, I actually have only used one once to restore some threads on something, I can't really tell ya the difference in techniques. Good luck!

Bert


Oh yeah, need one of these

[luke]

[QUOTE=bertmcmahan And you COULD use a drill press to cut the threads, /QUOTE]

The statement was "CUT" threads which you can't do on a drill press, you CAN tap a hole using a drill press, but I wouldn't advise that for someone that's inexperienced..

[ScatterPlot]

Ah, my bad, I got ya.

[Skoad]

alright! thanks guys.