schu777 Posted November 13, 2013 Report Share Posted November 13, 2013 I'm working on building a tap to make threads for a wooden nut/screw. I've researched the process of doing this and found a few different ways. A few days ago I got Roy Underhills "The Woodwright's Work Book" and in the chapter building the tap, it tells you to draw 6 to 8 (or however many you want) lines going down the length of the tap. Of course if you do 6 lines, they will need to be equally spaced out around the dowel, but how does one draw the length of a line down the dowel? Thanks, Michael PS: If this isn't clear, please let me know and perhaps I can provide a picture of what I want to accomplish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 You could make a jig to hold the dowel. All you need is a corner that you can clamp the dowel into, and a straight edge against which you can run a marking gage. Two straight boards joined to form a V will do the trick. Ideally, the dowel diameter will be the same as the length of the legs of the V. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calblacksmith Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 You could force a machine nut on one end of the dowel, it has 6 sides so each flat of the nut is already properly spaced. Simply shim up the other side of the dowel to the same height and scribe/draw a line down the center of each rotation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Since this is the turner's corner, I assume you have a lathe. Most lathes have an indexing feature which allows you to lock the spindle in a number of equally spaced angles. Use th indexing feature in conjunction with your tool rest to draw lines along the length of dowel mounted in the lathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schu777 Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Mike M - I wish I had that nice of a lathe, this is an old one and just gets me by for now till I find I need a nicer one. That feature would work WONDERS for this. I did find a solution (close to what wtnhighlander posted) - http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/techniques/skills/simplifying-straight-lines-on-dowel-rods/ That makes it pretty simple for what I need. Once I have marked 6 or 8 spots equally around the dowel, I then can go to my table saw and put it in the miter slot and draw a nice line. Thanks, Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 How about a brad nail in the center of each end of the dowel and a taught piece of string connecting them? Edit: Maybe I'm confused...you need one line down the length of the dowel, or 6 lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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