having fun chasing threads

[powderpost]

Jim, are any Eucalypt woods better than others or are they all the same? Raffan recommends boxwood, African Blackwood, lignum vitae or gidgee. For Cocobolo and ebony he suggests cyanoacrylate application to prevent chipping. He has nothing to say about Eucalypts though.

Hi Kidbee, I haven't turned or worked with a lot of the timbers you have mentioned. I live in a relatively isolated area. There is in excess of 200 named species of eucalypts, I have worked with probably a dozen, chased threads on less than that. I have used quite a bit of ebony and have no trouble chasing threads with it. I use mostly gidgee species, lancewood and others. I have turned sandalwood with some success. There is a lot of species in Australia that would be good. I have also used a variety of citrus woods with success. I have no doubt, a lot of eucalypts would be good too. Any timber is capable of taking a thread if you are prepared to play with cyanoacrylate. I have done that too.

It will depend on what is available to you in your area, as to what will work. I can only suggest that you experiment. Look for any timber that has a tight, dense grain, heavy wood is no indication of suitability. The box mentioned is a northern hemisphere timber and the only contact with that was that my 3' four fold rule, was made from English box. Box is quite different from our "box" which is a common name for a wide group of species, not necessarily part of the eucalypt species.

Jim

[smiife]

Hi guys,
I received a surprise gift this week, must have
been a good boy lately, have not had time
to have a play yet , been a bit under the weather
anyway thought i would take a piccy or two , hope
to have time next weekend to try them out !

[powderpost]

That looks good Smiife, now you have no excuses??? . I found one of those thread gauges at the local markets, still in the plastic sleeve. Paid $20.00, do you think I got ripped off?? . I found that it was not accurate and had to do a bit of subtle panel beating. Check yours against the threads on one of your boxes.

Jim

[Kidbee]

Hi guys,
I received a surprise gift this week, must have
been a good boy lately, have not had time
to have a play yet , been a bit under the weather
anyway thought i would take a piccy or two , hope
to have time next weekend to try them out !

Lucky Boy! I see you went for 16 tpi rather than 20 tpi. I am about to place my order for a set as well.

[smiife]

That looks good Smiife, now you have no excuses??? . I found one of those thread gauges at the local markets, still in the plastic sleeve. Paid $20.00, do you think I got ripped off?? . I found that it was not accurate and had to do a bit of subtle panel beating. Check yours against the threads on one of your boxes.

Jim

Hi jim,
I think the gauges are about $50.00 for the sorby one ! Is that what
you got ?.what was the problem with yours ?

Lucky Boy! I see you went for 16 tpi rather than 20 tpi. I am about to place my order for a set as well.

Hi kidbee,
I would probably have gone with a 20 tpi but they were a present
so I didn, t have a say and I certainly ain, t complaining
hurry up and place your order and we can compare threads !

[powderpost]

Smiife, the jaws that measure the external thread diameter had been "adjusted" by some one unknown. I discovered the discrepancy after I used the gauge to measure the diameters required to cut the thread. It appeared the gauge had been "adjusted" to measure like a vernier. A little persuasion to "re-adjust", solved the problem.

Jim