One Hobby Supports Another, Plus

[Sonny]

Latest Projects: Cutting up and cleaning up limbs and debris from Hurricane Delta. Had a window sash damaged, now repaired, otherwise I had no damaged compared to others in the neighborhood.

Finished making the main door and screen door for my nephew's pool house, 2 coats of finish on it, one more coat to go. All those moldings, 60 of them, may have been the worse part of the job. Still need to make the door framing, but that shouldn't take too long.

new doorway will replace this: Had a nice upholstery job, paid about $2K, so I bought a wood threader from Fine Tools: 50mm, item 301865 @ $861.21 + $159 Euro. Never thought about it when making the order, but discovered later an additional $60 US for import fee. It's to arrive today. Sonny

[Leon]

Great looking door!!!

Kinda spendy, huh. But if it does what you want it to do....

[Sonny]

Thanks. I don't have dedicated door tools. The main frame was easy enough, rabbeting the edges for the molding, but hand chiseling the mortises for the glass panes framing. Those pane framings I had to hand cut the tenons/profiles to fit the mortises.... time consuming, but late in the evenings relaxing in the shop, listening to the radio, little by little all got done. My usual procedure, go out there and take it easy. I have good tools for hand work.

"Kinda" is not quite accurate. My jaw dropped when I first saw the price, some months ago. I debated and procrastinated a long time. I really want to get these two antique work tables in good shape. I may find another project for the threading tool, in the future. My upholstery money is extra cash and I don't play the casinos. Also, I considered, one of my nephews will inherit some of my major tools. He and his son has shown me woodworking interests. Good guys deserve nice gifts.

BTW, the $159 Euro fee was for shipping, though you may have reasoned that.

Sonny

[Sonny]

A few more pics, scroll right for 2 more:

Sonny

[russellseaton1]

Based on what the old screen door and door looked like, I am not sure you could say the hurricane Delta really harmed your nephew's pool house. It needed immediate replacement whether there was a hurricane or not.

[Sonny]

LOL. You've misunderstood. Nephew bought this old farm 5-6 months ago. The pool house was built poorly in the first place. I'd been working, off & on, on the door for maybe 2 months. We refinished his son's bedroom wood floor and I built him a TV cabinet/desk with some old salvaged long leaf pine, also. Scroll right for 2 more pics.

Nephew and son razed the old falling-apart barn and will build a new one. I haven't heard that they had storm damage, but I'll see when I go (hopefully) next weekend to install the door.... that's the plan.

Sonny

[Leon]

Looking good!!!

The second and third picture immediately reminded my of how I do the back face frames on my cabinets...

[Leon]

Perhaps you could do some work with thse thread cutters for individuals. ;~)

[Sonny]

That crossed my mind. I've never heard of anyone wanting or looking for large threaders or the service. Maybe, since large threaders are not so readily available, folks just don't inquire or mention the need.

Since these are so expensive, I think I'd have a user come to my shop and they do the work. I'd charge a fee for the tool use. I need to learn the tool, see how easy/hard it is to work with, before establishing a rental-use or threading service procedure/policy.

This threader set is a birthday gift to myself, along with a new power washer due to arrive tomorrow.

Sonny

[J. Clarke]

Or they find another option. For that amount of money I'd have been tempted to go with a lathe.

[Spalted Walt]

~1/2" smaller dia, ~$950 less expensive:

[Leon]

I would not rent the tool out, I would offer the service. You could keep a small inventory of parts to sell or have custom orders.

Keep us informed how this thing works. ;~)

[krw]

[Sonny]

Another option: I had asked a machinist if he could make the threads. He thought he could, for $50 a nut. I need 2 nuts.

I have a basic 1950s Craftsman lathe, but it isn't for thread making. Don't know if it can be modified for threading. I don't want another big tool as that, besides, I'm not that confident a turner at all.

Sonny

[Sonny]

I want to match what's on the tables. I looked hard at those smaller thread sets. I sensed I'd never be completely satisfied, always knowing I went smaller.

Sonny

[Sonny]

A parts inventory is a good idea. I'm sure a little practice will help that cause.

There's a video I've watched several times, 2-3 months ago, using this tool. Looks easy enough. I can't locate the video.

Sonny

[Sonny]

Thanks. My nephew better appreciate the time it took.

Sonny

[krw]

I've seen wood lathe tools, from Sorby, intended for cutting threads. They would only do the bolt (male) side, I think.

[Sonny]

Lake Erie Toolworks has the parts, but the wrong size for my tables. I'd have to modify parts of the tables for the Erie parts to fit. Altogether cheaper, but I wanted to maintain the tables originality. I simply got a bit frustrated with finding an alternative I was comfortable with (lots of "make your own threads" videos.... how, what to choose), so I bit the bullet and bought the Dieter Schmid tool.

Sonny

[Dave in SoTex]

I've had the very same power washer about 7 years now - been a great machine. Just changed oil yesterday for the first time in memory [Amsoil Small Engine 10w30].

Dave in SoTex