How to Use a Threading Jig

I have been working on a new article on “How to Use a Threading Jig” for American Woodturner as a follow-up to my article on a Shop Made Threading Jig. Betty Scarpino, the editor, suggested I include a photo gallery of threaded projects from various turners. I thought that was a fantastic idea and it has been a challenge and a fun opportunity to reach out to some other turners I don’t know based on pictures I have seen of their work on various turning websites. I just watched a YouTube video of an enthusiastic turner using one of the EZ Threading Jigs and it reinforced the need for an article like I am working on. I have a rough draft done so it is now time to start taking a few process pictures on how to use a jig.

My Latest Article in American Woodturner Magazine

I am thrilled to have my article "Shop Made Threading Jig" appearing in the current April issue of the American Woodturner which subscribers should be out in early April.. This is the second article of mine the AAW has published. I have  another one due in the June or August issue. You can view or download a copy of the Shop Made Jig article here.   
Making your own jig is not for the faint of heart. It takes some woodworking skill and is probably more suited for someone who likes to make jigs and fixtures than someone that plans to do a lot of threading.  The project of making the jig started more than two years ago. Here is some supplemental material that did not make it into the article. It is a list of vendors, part numbers and prices.

Since I submitted  my article  for publication, I discovered a low cost unit made in the UK.  The EZ Threading Jig is what I use now for 16 tpi and is available from the US distributor here. It is smaller, works more smoothly and is quicker to set up than my shop made jig. I still use my shop made jig when I want 10 TPI. I have submitted a project review of the EZ Threading Jig for Woodturning Design but have no idea when it will be published. I am now working on an article for American Woodturner on how to use a  threading jig.It will include all of the tips and tricks I have gathered from other users as well as a few I discovered on my own.

Southern States Woodturning Symposium

I am looking forward to the Southern States Symposium April 26 -28, 2013. I have attended Southern States every year since I started turning in 2007.  It was an easy commute to Gainesville, taking only about 35 - 45 minutes. With the move to Cartersville it will now require a hotel stay. Fortunately, I still had enough Hilton points from my days as a road warrior to cover my stay at the Hampton Inn.

   I am especially delighted to have been invited to be one of the guest demonstrators.  I will be doing two separate demonstrations on threading as described on the symposium website. I will be demonstrating my shop made threading jig during one of the demonstrations as well as the EZ Threading Jig. The timing is perfect since my article "Shop Made Threading Jig" appears in the April issue of the American Woodturner.

   My preparations for the "Adding Pizazz With a Threading Jig" coincide with the new article I am currently writing for American Woodturner on using threading jigs.

P.S. April 27 post event note: Had a great time. Got some more exotic wood for threading and a new Thompson bowl gouge. Dick Sing's wife makes jewelry and swapped a handmade silver pendant for one of my large acorn threaded boxes. Had a chance to speak with Phil McDonald, AAW Executive Director. Event attendance was down almost 20% from last year.

Article on Turned Business Card Holders

I just got word from Betty Scarpino, the editor of American Woodturner, that  my article on turning business card holders will be published in the June or August 2013 issue. I am excited that this will be my third article in that publication. My second article, one on making a shop made threading jig, has already gone through the editorial process and will appear in the April issue which goes in the mail March 22. After members start receiving their copies at the end of the month, I will be able to post a copy of the article under the Woodturning Resources page

P.S. May 10, 2013 Just found out it will definitely be in the June issue. 

CBN Wheel

I had been reading a lot about Cubic Boron Nitride or CBN grinding wheels. Everyone who got one was very happy with the improved performance over their AO wheels.  I ordered it from D Way Tools on Wednesday and it showed up today, Saturday, just three days later. I mounted it on my WC 8" slow speed grinder as a replacement for my 120 grit wheel. Wow, what an improvement!  CBN is nearly as hard as diamond and is 4 times harder than aluminum oxide thus revolutionizing the grinding of hardened steel. The 180 grit wheel cuts more aggressively than my old Aluminum Oxide wheel and takes a light touch.

Some advantages:

• It is an inch and a half wide and is machined balanced so it runs like a top. 
• No more tool bouncing because it runs so smooth. 
• It even makes my 60 grit wheel run smoother. Takes a lot longer for the grinder to stop spinning.
• Never needs dressing so less mess around the grinder
• Tools do not get hot while sharpening.
• It leaves a superb cutting edge
• Will last for many years if not my lifetime.

I had to take off the existing shroud for the wheel to fit my grinder without scraping. No problem since the wheel can't explode.  With the shroud removed it is easier to see what you are doing with less interference from the shroud. Crafts Supplies just came out with a competing version for about the same price but it is only 1" wide.  Cindy Drozda provides some additional information on her blog re: CBN sharpening of powdered metal tools like Doug Thompson's.

Rub 'n Buff

Rub 'n Buff samples

I picked up this Rub 'n Buff metallic wax technique from watching a Russ Fairfield YouTube on finishing with colored wax and applied it to some chatterwork. I think it gives a very nice effect on the darker Mopani box. Less so on the other two. If you etch your name on the bottom of your dark wood pieces with an engraver or burning tool on, it fills in the spaces and really shows up nice. I bought antique gold but there is also silver and some others. I understand you can buy this stuff at Michaels, but I bought a small tube of  from Amazon for $6.I posted this on a website and one poster, bob Bergstrom, provided this, "You can buy Pearl Ex or other mica powders and mix them with paste wax. That will give you many more colors at a much cheaper price. 40% off coupon at Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Once the rub n buff is open it will dry out in the tube. Mica powders can be mixed with lacquer or oil and even sprayed through an airbrush. I dry brush it often and lightly spray lacquer over it."

More on Threading Cutting

I have been getting ready for my demonstration on January 12 in Homewood, AL with the Alabama Association of Woodturners. It is a long one, 2 1/2 hours compared to the local clubs that generally only take an hour and a half.  I have been trying to do some hand thread chasing at least once a week to maintain and hopefully improve my hand thread chasing. I find it very satisfying making little threaded boxes and experimenting on threading new wood like Mountain Mahogany, Katalox, Bocote, and Zapote. Still holding off threading that small expensive piece of African Blackwood I bought at Woodcraft.

I am excited about being selected to demonstrate a couple of times at the Southern States Woodturning Symposium. I still have to refine my demonstration descriptions but they will probably involve threading. 

I am eagerly awaiting my newest threading toy shown here. It is a threading jig from the UK I bought off eBay. At about $170 it is a bargain compared to the other commercial jigs available costing more than twice as much. It is hard to find but search on eBay using "thread cutting jig". I will be submitting a written product review on this to Woodturning Design magazine after I get some use with it.