Homemade Threading Jig

[Dwayne Johre]

The 1st & 2nd pictures show the crank end of the spindle & tailstock how showing how far out of parallel it is to the lathe bed. I lined up the chuck end of jig with the head stock in picture 3.This is mine showing head stock & tail stock alignment in 4th picture. I am not sure if the pictures will come through as I am new here & don't have some permissions yet.

 

[Bill Alston]

The pictures are fine, thanks for posting. I’ll check mine as soon as I get a minute.

 

[John K Jordan]

This is mine showing head stock & tail stock alignment in 4th picture.

Not to bad… But if you want it closer, you should be able to get a better alignment on most lathes by adjusting the front left leg leveler (tailstock end). I check and adjust every time the lathe is moved. The beds on most lathes will twist if the floor is the least bit uneven.

 

[Bill Alston]

Dwayne, I’ve checked my Hope Jig and mine too isn’t parallel to the bed. Like yours it’s nose down, but in my case by about 2mm. I haven’t checked the Banjo before, but I did today and it’s spot on visually.

As I mentioned I’ve not noticed any issues with actually using mine. The results were fine. I may though look to see if I can correct the issue. Nothing I can do about the welding if that’s the cause, but the “pivot block” screwed to the underside of the body may not be perfectly square? If it is then milling a tiny amount off the top at a slight angle might correct the problem. More likely I’d mill up a new piece of steel though as I have a milling machine.
Obviously you shouldn’t have to do this.

I have more pressing jobs to do though like painting the house - when it stops *raining, so it’s a job for the back burner.

* I read it’s rained every day of 2026 so far in the UK.

 

[Dwayne Johre]

Not tto bad… But if you want it closer, you should be able to get a better alignment on most lathes by adjusting the front left leg leveler (tailstock end). I check and adjust every time the lathe is moved. The beds on most lathes will twist if the floor is the least bit uneven.

Actually John the lathe is good for alignment as you can see in the last picture. Both live centers in head & tail stocks line up perfect. Also the banjo is right on 90 degrees to the bed.
It is the body that the threading spindle goes into isn't square to the 1" mounting post. That's why when the head stock & spindle in picture 3 line up, the tail stock & crank end of the spindle are out by almost 3mm shown in pictures 1 & 2.

 

[Dwayne Johre]

Dwayne, I’ve checked my Hope Jig and mine too isn’t parallel to the bed. Like yours it’s nose down, but in my case by about 2mm. I haven’t checked the Banjo before, but I did today and it’s spot on visually.

So it sounds like we have the same problem. I have taken some of mine apart to see how it put together. That is removing the 2 allen screws on the hinge to remove the lower part of the hinge body & 1" mounting stem.
You can then slide them apart. Then I removed the red locking knob screw on the top for the housing for the thread depth adjustment. You can then turn the main cylinder body from the other as it is threaded onto the depth adjustment knob. Those parts are machined very well. next to nothing in play. I didn't remove the big silver depth knob as it have nothing to do with the issue.
The lower part of the body that the hinge is mounted to seems to have a threaded stud that screw into the 1" stem secured with an allen screw at the top of the stem. I tried to take them apart but I think the allen screw has mashed the threads. Being as you have a milling machine you might be able to mill a tapered spacer to put in there. If you can take yours apart.
The other option is making a shim to put under the head stock side of the banjo that will raise that side up attached with a magnet so it holds in place when adjusting & it's easy to remove when done.
Thanks for your input & hope you get yours corrected.
Also good luck with the painting.
As for the weather your having I will gladly live with the snow we get. That many day's of rain I would be in a straight jacket even it was summer.
Thanks again.

 

[Bill Alston]

I had another thought. Sometimes jacking screws are used on equipment for adjustment. Not sure if this is a possibility somewhere on the Hope Jig?

I managed to paint part of the house a while back. This was prompted by us ordering a new car, an EV.
It’s our first EV so we obviously needed to get a charger installed. I wanted to at least paint the house where the charger Is located rather than paint round it!

 

[John K Jordan]

Actually John the lathe is good for alignment as you can see in the last picture. Both live centers in head & tail stocks line up perfect.

Pardon me. The tailstock point in the last picture looks lower than the headstock point. But not much. That much usually doesn't make much difference except for certain things. During a break in a demo I had to adjust our club lathe before Mark StLeger could complete the next critical step.

I didn't read all the posts here but if there is a misalignment problem in the threading jig due to welding, assembly, or part tolerances any machine shop (or hobbyist with the right tools could make it perfect if you wanted.

A mental sketch suggests that even threads cut at with the slightly tilted cutter angle should still work although the threads wouldn't be perfectly symmetrical. For a severe tilt the threads might need to be sloppy. Probably not a show-stopper for the relatively loose, short threading typical on wooden boxes and such. Could verify this with a thread gauge. Threads cut with my Baxter have been well-formed.

Lots of rain here today. Puts halt to my building site prep but doesn't stop me from processing more turning blanks in the shop. I have WAY too much wood. (sigh)

Yikes it must be cold where you live! I made a couple of tech transfer trips to Saskatoon, one in the dead of winter. I thought I was going to die just walking to my host's car. (He stopped at a mall so I could buy some gloves. "What!! You didn't bring gloves???) I did spend a couple of hours in customs on the first trip explaining that, yes, our trip was related to work, but no, we were not coming to take work away from Canadians but sharing ideas and brainstorming variations from our inventions that could bring jobs into Canada!

Even got to make a side trip on the way home to Banff and see the amazing ice sculptures at LakeLouise - something new to me.

JKJ

 

[John K Jordan]

The other option is making a shim

I use three types of shims:

• One, take apart feeler gauges and find what shim or combination works. The thickness is marked on each piece. Use these when I want steel shims. Keep a bunch of loose ones in a drawer.
• Have a package of brass shim stock. Larger than feeler gauges.
• Keep "books" of plastic shim stock - each leaf color coded with the thickness in a printed table. From extremely thin to quite thick. The sheets are large, meant to be cut as needed.

JKJ

 

[Dwayne Johre]

I use three types of shims:

Thanks for the input. Yes there might be .1mm difference in head & tail stock. I think I will do the shim thing first as it will not alter anything that can't be reversed. Then think about another actual cure for it rather than a band aid.
As for the weather it is crappy now as we have had to many melting days & it makes a mess of everything. Now suppose to get back down to -20c to -30c for a few days. You must have been lucky to hit 1 of the cold snaps in Saskatoon.
If that was your first time to Banff & area I would be an eye opening experience. It is beautiful out there, summer & winter.
I am sure it was not a simple ordeal with customs. Has only gotten worse since Covid.
Thanks again.