Cutting threads on handle

[Harold Rohde]

I looked, but may have missed the solution. I am interested in cutting threads on a handle and head of a gavel. I have a gavel that was my grandfather’s from the mid 1950’s and the handle screws into the head. It is probably only about 3/8 in diameter. All of the thread boxes or tap and dies I have found are either 1/2 inch or larger, or are not designed for wood threads. I would prefer to stay away from using a metal thread insert (I guess I just like to do things the hard way).
any suggestions on where to get a thread box or tap and dies for smaller diameters?

 

[Dean Center]

1/2" kits for threading wood seem readily available. Would 1/8" make any difference? Metal cutting tap and die kits are also readily available and go all the way down to itsy bitsy.

 

[John K Jordan]

I think I always used 1/2" for gavels. I bought taps and dies from Woodcraft specifically made for wood.



Also, Amazon carries them:
www.amazon.com/Kings-County-Tools-Two-Handed-Long-Lasting/dp/B00EVB9TGU
I think what I got at Woodcraft was cheaper but I bought the set a LONG time ago.

Or if you get down this way you can use mine!

I watched a guy at the club break the head off his gavel when using it but I don't know what diameter he used. 1/2" has been plenty strong when I use this and others. I'm wondering if 3/8" would be weak unless the wood was hard and strong, something like Dogwod, Guatambu, Ebony, Hickory, Sugar Maple, etc.

JKJ

 

[hughie]

sounds like you may need a threaded insert

 

[Jim Reynolds]

Lee Valley acquired the Beall Tools products. This is a link to this alternative, but more expensive solution.

 

[John K Jordan]

sounds like you may need a threaded insert

The only time I've personally found threaded inserts useful was for things that needed to be taken apart and reassembled, in particular SS meat tenderizers that we remove from the wooden handle for washing. I use a brass insert in the wood.

Well, also for shop made buffing system where the buffing wheel bolt threads into the end of a turned cylinder held in a chuck. Frank Penta showed me that one.

BTW, these make great presents for friends who cook, one flat and one textured. (The textured one is also great for dimpling the upper sides of peanut butter cookies before baking. Fancier than a fork. ) I make handles from persimmon or dogwood.



For gavels, 2-piece mallets, etc, I like make threads in the wood then glue. Gluing just a tenon into a hole can eventually loosen. Never had a glued threaded wood connection come loose, even with abuse.

JKJ

 

[John K Jordan]

Lee Valley acquired the Beall Tools products. This is a link to this alternative, but more expensive solution.

That's unfortunate. Fortunately, when I got my set from Woodcraft I bought all the sizes they carried. Have only used the 1/2"

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

First determine the thread pitch as in Threads Per Inch the common one (back in the day) is 1/2"-8 TPI the tap drill is 3/8".
Back in the early 1990s when I was first looking into wood threading I got a request from my sister to reproduce drawer pulls that used a 1/2"- 8 thread.
This picture is a more recent use of the 1/2"-8 male thread being used to make a wooden bolt out of hornbeam.

I realize that this will not solve your problem but I don't often get a chance to talk about this subject. If you are still interested I can photograph the tap and an example of the drawer/door pull.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

Easy to do with thread chasers. It is a fairly common project for us thread chasers. Grind the top of the female chaser to fit the size you want.

 

[robo hippy]

Hmm, I have a piece of lignum that has some cracks in it and I want to thread a ferule of some sort onto it...... I need another hammer for my Japanese style planes.

robo hippy

 

[John Torchick]

Need to change my reply. Misread the original thread.

 

[Richard Findley]

I regularly make African Blackwood gavels for auctioneers. I use a 1/2” tap for the heads (tapping any wood cross grain like this works well) and a 13tpi chaser on the handle. If you want 10mm/3/8” then I think 16tpi chasers match a tap of around that size, but you’ll need dense timber to cut the thread on the handle.

Hope that helps

Richard