Single Point Lathe Threading - Best Technique Ever

[Crusty]

I tried the method suggested by Joe Pieczynski in this video and the 25W light bulb above my hat came on. The tool is mounted on center upside down and the lathe is run in reverse so that the cut proceeds from left to right starting at the shoulder, and it makes tool crashes a thing of the past because the cut finishes out in clear air.

Here's a pipe that I threaded today with Extra Fine threads and it was low stress easy, the threads are perfect and I'm happy with this outcome.



You do have to grind a tool to cut the threads because all the pre-ground ones have the fat side on the right, which becomes the left when it's turned upside down, and that will prevent you from getting the bit into the gutter to start in many cases. It's simple though, just grind a bit as a mirror image of a normal threading bit with the fat side on the left instead of the right. Don't forget to turn your compound 29½º the other way.

Another useful demystifyer from Joe: If the chuck and the lead screw rotate the same direction then it will be a right hand thread - if they rotate opposite directions it will be a left hand thread.

I'm pleased that I learned how to do this.