Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

I know this is an old thread, but it seems that this is the only place with a really good how-to for these wooden screws. I've built my own tap and am in the process of cutting a nut with which to thread some screws and I've had something peculiar come up. Where I think the tips of the threads should be sharp, mine have small flats, as though the cutter wasn't wide enough or deep enough. I imagine that this shouldn't matter toooo much in the end if I'm using that same nut to eventually cut the screws, but the router bit will definitely cut pointed grooves, not flattened ones. Have I got an issue? And if so whats the fix?

 

Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

Might try sending a message to Carter and see if he has any input. Just a thought.

 

Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

I've had my own wooden screw adventure. If your confident in your other dimensions it might be that the thread pitch is off creating a space between the groove? Got any pics?

 

Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

Samfly87, like Maurcio mentioned (also Mauricio!), pictures would probably help.
Are you talking about the nut having flats in the bottom of the threads, or the screw having flats at the top of the threads?

If the thread pitch is correct, and the flat is on tops of either the screw (#1) or the nut (#3) threads then you're probably fine depending on how deep the rest of the threads are, and the issue might be the drilled hole size or stock size (nut and screw respectively)

If the flats are at #2 or #3, you might have bigger issues, if they're not at both (and the thread pitch doesn't match)

 

Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

Mos, my flats are like #4, on the inside of the nut. I'll try to post some pics here soon. I think itm be okay, but I'll have to see when I cut into the nut to mount there router and cut the screw threads.

 

Intro/Screw Dimensioning

Hello. This is a new blog series I am doing. The topic is how to make a tap and screw jig for making large wooden screws.

To start I will say that I hope many of the readers find this series useful so they can use the knowledge to make their own screws and nuts for clamps, vises, presses, etc… It took my friend Chris Legendre hours upon hours of research, and the both of us experimenting for months to finally get a functioning tap and screw jig. So my purpose in writing this blog is to give other woodworkers the proper instruction on how to make a perfectly functioning tap and screw jig without needing to do the hours of research and testing Chris and myself did.

I do not have much to say outside of the video to start the series. I go over some uses for wooden screws, how to choose the diameter of the screw, and the thread pattern. In the next video I will physically start work on the tap. The tap and screw jig I will be making during the tutorial series will make a 1" diameter screw with 4 teeth per inch. But like I mention in the video you can use the exact same process to make any size screw you want, all you need to do is change the dimensions.

This is a picture of a 2 1/2" diameter wood screw with 2 teeth per inch that I made using the same tools we will be making in this tutorial.

This is amazing stuff.
I'm looking for someone who I could purchase the Tread cutter/jig for the making the NUT.
I think i have a way to make the screw to size, but I'm not sure that I have the skill to make the jig/cutter for the nut. if anyone knows someone who would be able to help, please contact me.

jordan Hale
ancienttablets@hotmail.com

 

Starting the Tap

Hello.

I have finally put out the second installment of the tutorial. I had to break up the video into two sections in order to fit it onto youtube.

In this part I begin work on the tap by making the guide block my friend Chris Legendre designed. The lumber you want to use for the guide should be a hardwood at least 2" thick. Depending on the size of screw you will be making the block can be 3" - 6" wide. It only needs to be surface on one face and one edge. Then drill the hole for the tap dowel in the centre of the guide block. The hole you drill will be the size of the internal diameter of your screw. For my 1" diameter screws with 4 tpi the internal diameter is 3/4". Then cut the guide to length at about 5" - 8" long.

After the guide has been drilled and cut to size you can turn the dowel for the tap on the lathe, or buy a dowel of the proper size. Just make sure the dowel you use fits the hole in the guide nicely with little slop.

Then you can lay out the spiral on the dowel. To do this get a piece of paper (preferable grid paper but not at all necessary) and wrap it around the dowel and mark where the first edge meets the paper. The rest of this process may make more sense to see in the video than in explanation, so I won't bother. Just remember when marking the diagonal lines on the paper make sure to go from bottom left to top right, otherwise you will get a screw that tightens counter clockwise. When making a 4tpi thread pattern go up by 1/4's, with 2 tpi go up by 1/2's, and when making 1 1/3 tpi go by 3/4's.

In the next segment I will finish up the guide and possibly the entire tap with the cutter made. If anyone has any questions just ask. And if anyone wants to be notified of my next videos just go onto youtube, if you have a youtube account, and subscribe to my account.

 

Great explanation. Keep up the good work.

 

Hi Carter. Although the subtitles on youtube are very crazy and not understand anything because it puts them almost all the words that do not match, but your videos are very explanatory. A true classic is born.

 

Finishing the Guide Block

Hello.

In Part Three of the Tap and Screw Jig Tutorial series I finish the work on the guide block for the Tap my friend Chris Legendre designed. I start by laying out and cutting the metal plate which is inserted into the guide block to guide the dowel through the Tap. After work on the metal plate is done I attach two wooden blocks to create the clearance for the blade as it exists the Tap.

The second video is designed to help those who may be confused about laying out the thread pattern on the paper that wraps around the dowel of the Tap.

 

Carter, the videos don't seem to come up. I have really been looking forward to this next installment. Waiting with bait on my breath.

 

Finishing the Tap

Hello.

In the latest video I complete all the work on the Tap my buddy Chris Legendre designed. At this point in the series you should have all the knowledge you need to make wooden nuts of whatever size you want. I begin the video by explaining how to locate the mortise for the blade. I continue by showing the entire process involved in making the blade: shaping, hardening, and tempering. I then cut the mortise for the blade and wedge, fit the wedge, and make the "chip clear out" groove in front of the blade.

After this video I will start work on the screw jig (the tool used for making wooden screws).

PS// If anybody uses this information to make their own nuts, I would be glad to hear about it or see some pictures of your work.

 

Very informative. I am in the future wanting to build my own vise screws. I plan to use your method to do this. Thank you for sharing this.

 

Dimensioning the Cutter

Hello.

After recieving a few questions about the previous video I realized I may have left out some details about the cutter. So in this video I better explain how to dimension the cutter and pick the steel.

 

Carter,

Thank you!

That filled-in more little Blanks that were overlooked before…

Every little bit helps…

You're doing good!