Quote Originally Posted by WmRMeyers View Post
It's a mini-lathe. The older mini-lathes are pretty underpowered, and even the newer ones aren't super-powered, and that's a pretty coarse thread. Also the low speeds aren't that low, nor are they capable of using the full power of the motor. So low power and higher speeds make them scary/uncomfortable to single-point thread large threads. Hand-cranking them is a good way to get around that, and if you look at the mini-lathe groups, you'll find quite a few different hand cranks to make it easier, safer, and more controllable. Bill
Thank you, Bill! I suspected it might be a power issue, or that he didn't want to have a runout area for the thread. Your explanation makes perfect sense!