Taking the Mystery out of the Threading Dial

perfect length , content and clear illustration for me on what has been mysterious. keep doing these Tom , they are great.

A nice tutorial, very well demonstrated. More on threads and cutting threads both imp. and metric would gratefully received. Thank you Stuart

Great video Tom I'm a big fan of a few great machinist and I happen to run across your videos from a forum and I must say I love watching you make things simple and very understandable! Keep em coming!! :)

Well done this is about the best job of explaining a thread dial I've seen.

Great series on threads Tom. watched other guys videos as well, and every time something more is learned. but the one that put you ahead is when you mentioned the thread angle. I took notice. shall practice that, to-date had no need to cut threads on a lathe but learning is very important. I am not a machinist watched a video a year ago and started doing a small hit and miss engine. have learned a lot since. like the challenge of making a tool or jig so I can complete a job. I am 70 retired.

Thank you! The simplest, clearest, & most basic explanation! In short, the threading dial is actually a scale, where each number represents 1" of travel of the carriage. I've not seen another explanation that pointed that out. (Not that I'm claiming to have seen them all. :) While it seems rather obvious now, before watching this video it always seemd so mysterious... In any case, thanks again!

Thanks, I'm glad you like them because I have a lot more of them up my sleeve. Tom

Great demo, and explanation of the threading dial Tom, Thanks!

Thanks. "How" is a good word, but "why" is even better. A basic understanding of a procedure gives that procedure more meaning and makes it much easier to apply. Tom

Thank you, Tom! I liked that you showed what would have happened on the side rather than actually ruining the thread. I'm going to practice that way after I have the thread started, to make sure that I'm in the right spot for practice.

Wow, best explanation I've seen. You've convinced me, Tom.  Thumbs up and subbed!

Wish I would have found this video before watching a lot of other videos on threading where it was never clear whether one had to go back to the exact same starting spot when returning the carriage. What I didn't realize is that the thread dial remains engaged (the aha moment) and so takes care of that and your video shows that well. You have well made videos that are very informative. Thanks, Ryan.

What a great video. I have just begun my threading on a mini lathe. Sure glad I watched this video. I sure makes sense now. Thanks very much for all you talent and time.

Great theory to visual demonstration, in the past I've had some frustrating attempts with cutting those 11 1/2 pipe threads. Now I just leave the half nuts engaged, it seems quicker than waiting for that thread dial to come around. Less chance for errors.

Tom, I must say that I enjoyed that, while learning also. thank you, very much indeed. Colin UK.

Tom, thanks for the informative video. I had a heck of a time trying to cut 3/4"-8 threads on my HF 9x20 lathe, and I did not know that there were positions between the tick marks where it would cause it to cut between threads. At least your lathe has a reasonable size dial. Mine is tiny, with 8 tick marks, and I have a 16 TPI leadscrew and a 64 tooth gear on the dial. So I would have to engage the half-nut with extreme accuracy. On my second try I got it right three times in a row and then I blinked or flinched and wound up cutting a nice two-start thread. My thread cutting tool is only 0.035" wide so it's actually a good-looking thread. Maybe I can fit a 32 tooth gear on the dial, and/or use a back gear or spindle crank.

Great Demo Tom. I purchased a threading dial for my 1953 Logan lathe. When I got it there were no lines on it, numbered or otherwise. It's brand new from the Logan lathe Company. Yes they still make parts for all of their old lathes. Ever run across anything like that before?

Thanks for responding to my question. I wanted to mention that Saturday morning I watched your threading videos and then went out to the garage and ground two sixty degree bits, one for internal threads and one for external. I carefully mapped everything out, figured out what to turn the blanks down to and cut both the internal and external thread almost perfect. Not to mention it was 1-1/4 X 12 from a piece of stainless bar stock on a 1930 something southbend. It made my whole day, I've been showing it off ever since. Your videos really was the key to my success. Do you take cash or credit? lol thanks again Tom!

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Tom

I´m new in learning about how too use a lahte.I just want too say that you explain in a good way.Thank`s from Sweden.