Thread cutting on softwood

[Tony]

Hi All,

I'm both new to this forum and Pen turning. I've been lathing exactly 1 year, pen making for 6 months and kitless pen making for 1 month (so apologies for missed etiquette)

First kitless pen below



Question: The general view seems to be that it is not easy/ possible to put a thread into softwood/ broad grain wood; ie Walnut. I have tried without luck. Has anyone had any success in doing so? I have tried building a veneer of CA glue (super thin and medium) and cutting the thread into that; again without success. Am i wasting my time trying?

 

[Pierre]

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum, that's a nice looking pen. Most people spend a few years before they make a kit less pen so well done on making a nice one in such a short time. My one comment as a fountain pen user is that I would probably have tapered the part from the thread to the nib a bit more, but that is a personal preference not a criticism of your work. I have successfully cut threads in walnut but not for small dimensions such as pens, normally for nutcrackers, so I'm not too sure at what point the wood begins to break up.

Best of luck with the pens and I look forward to more photos.

 

[Phil Dart]

Hi Tony - welcome to the forum. That's a fine looking pen with which to introduce yourself.

Fine threads on most woods are tricky. A CA veneer will probably chip off - you could thoroughly stabilise the wood with CA, but if the wood isn't porous enough you won't be able to soak in the CA. You could use stabilising fluid under vacuum, which when baked in the oven would plasticise the wood, and that may yield better results. Success in construction has to also stand the test of time in use though, and often a fine thread on wood will get chipped over time. It can be done though, and people do do it.

An alternative that a lot of people adopt is to make a thin sleeve out of ebonite/brass/aluminium/acrylic, and thread that instead. Any of those materials will be a whole lot more resilient than a wooden thread.

 

[Dalboy]

+ 1 for making the insert as Phil stated threads on wood need to be done with extreme care and the right type of wood something like a pen which is in daily use may not stand up to the wear and tear on a wooden thread.
There is no shame at using an insert not that I make many pens but have been working with wood long enough to get to know how it behaves and even then I still have a lot to learn

 

[Tony]

Thanks

Thanks Pierre, Phil, Dalboy, for your comments and encouragement.

I look forward to trying out a few of your suggestions. I’ll let you know how I get on.

 

[Penpal]

Tony that is one fine pen. Sometimes we get carried away with the definitions in pens ie kitless. It conveys a sense of wow but as has been passed on wow does not always pay the rent.

Your pen also resembles the colour and detail of a high class smoking cigar,in fact as good as I have ever seen. Finish is out of this normal ,picture leaps out as well.

But then it depends on your aims. Love the pen,execution.

Peter.. Welcome to the forum quite an entrance mate.

 

[wm460]

In Aust we have Earls wood hardener, soak rotten wood with it, the wood is rock hard when it is dry.

Timbermate Group - Earls Wood Hardener

 

[Tony]

Cheers

Thanks for the kind words Penpal,

It had occurred to me the similarity with a cigar. Many of my successes are 'happy coincidences' at this point but loving the journey and learning quickly (or failing often I should say).

Thanks also Mark,

The sum of the (experience) comments seem to suggest moving away from a wood thread or at least they are hard to achieve allied, considering also the longevity of a thread. I would like to find a way to achieve a sharp thread and longevity in wood if I can so appreciate the suggestion.

 

[AllenN]

Tony, I think you have made an excellent job of that. I think inserts are probably the way to go to allow for wear on the threads but that really is a lovely pen.

 

[Tony]

Inserts

Thanks Allen,

The general opinion seems to be inserts; so inserts it is.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Bill Mooney]

What Phil said.

 

[Pierre---]

My experience is that fine wooden threads are possible and can be durable, but
1) you have to make them with a dead sharp tool turning at high speed: I use a router at 10000rpm. Forget the lathe or taps and dies, threads are not clean.
2) you have to choose a very dense wood. Boxwood, dogwood, lignum vitae or African blackwood are as good as resin; ebonies or rosewoods are acceptable, like many other exotics.
This one is made of lignum vitae, 1mm pitch double threads are as good as I can dream of:

 

[fortress]

Hello Tony, that is a nice pen, I myself have never tried kitless pens so no experience here.

 

[21William]

Would stabilised woods be good for threading?

 

[Pierre---]

I tried only once with my router, it works but I think it has to be really well soaked, and I am not sure threads will stay sharp with time. It was boxelder burl: