Thread: Knurling Tool to cut tyre treads ?

Short answer sir, is not me!
BUT, Could you please post a photo or the youtube link, thank you.
Cheers crowie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=PXFTPWupA30

Thank you sir...
I don't turn but watching the video I daunt if the knurling tool would successfully work on Aussie hardwoods.
But saying that, it'd look cool!
Cheers crowie

I see no reason why a coarse double wheel knurl wouldn’t work… providing you can find some way to safely hold it. Your video shows an actual knurled wheel held in a solid bar; I’d follow that method as it is much simpler and controllable than trying to adapt a metal lathe toolpost mounted item into a hand-held woodturning tool.

I used a single wheel knurling tool to produce these in end grain, one is Ash and the other is ABW,

Ash box 2.jpgABW with slanting and decorated lid 2 (776x1024).jpg

Sorry for photo quality.

If you do try, remember that wheels will have side and end grain around the circumference, so effects may differ around the wheel you can but only try

I don't believe you will have a lot of success with the 2 wheel knurling tools as trying to get both wheels to indent evenly into the wood is going to be very difficult. If you look at the wheel in the video link you posted you will see that it has the diamond pattern on the one wheel so both paths are put in at the same time. Putting the pattern into hardwood should be the best option rather than softer woods. I don't see the Wagner tool sold anywhere in Aus.

I have ordered a Knurling tool and should be here next week, Reading up on then I will give them a try and let you know.

Waiting for the Knurling tool to turn up so I decided to try to make some wheels for the GTHO.
Wanted wheels to suit the era and 12 Slotters were the wheels of choice.
My old jig has had a lot of work so built a new one.
I fitted a 10 plate to the faceplate off my lathe, Fitted a 6mm helicoil flush in the center and it worked a dream.
The wheels still need shaping and sanding but I am happy with them so far.
Sorry about the one sideways



1.jpg2.jpg3.jpg5.jpg6.jpg

I grabbed a piece of 31mm diameter Vic Ash dowel and tried some of my knurls on it. I tried a pair of course RH and LH knurls (probably not an option on a wood lathe), a single course straight knurl and a single fine diamond knurl. The fine knurl pattern is barely visible on the wood. The straight knurl worked well, but it doesn't really look like a tyre tread. The course RH/LH pair worked the best. I reckon you need a course knurl and very hard wood to get good results.

With black paint. A bit blurry, sorry.

It may benefit with a small brush to clear the knurls out every so often to prevent them clogging up.

Thank you for trying it for me, I have read all I can find about using a Knurling tool on a wood lathe and the information I have found suggests running the lathe as slow as possible, I have modified the faceplate on my lathe so that I can bolt the wheel blank to it , I will try it out when my tool arrives and post the results.