Squaring Threading tool up without a Fishtail

[TAJ45]

Ok, have read everything, was reminded of a few points, learned a bit as well. Here is my contribution:

When setting compound, I've been advised by trng instructors, bosses to use 29.5°. So I did and have been. Probably hasn't made any difference from 29°.

When picking a thread up, I would take my clip board with scratch sheet, place it under the tool tip and use the white, light background to contrast the gap I was needing to adjust. Same when using a center gage (fish tail).

I have plunged w the cross slide when mat'l was tough then followed w my super slick hand ground HSS @ 29.5 when situation required. So many ways to skin the cat.

On occasion, the threads were subjected to inspection via optical comparator - govt nuclear components. This was for angle and finish. PD of course by Super Mic and wires.

I saw the split threads earlier and it seemed like angle was off as Dusty mentioned.
I remember a situation where a very sharp CNC operator had some threads that checked 100% ok w wires everywhere but the ring gage would not run the full 3.5".
He was tearing his hair out. I looked at it after he solved the mystery. The machine had a problem and was varying the lead minutely during the cut. Slick flanks but when you caught the light right, you could see a ripple in the 1.125 chased shaft. A head scratcher for sure.

PS. Just remembered: I have used a live or dead center tip to set my tooling before starting a job. If I needed an additional unplanned tool later in the process, I would blue a portion that was yet to be final cut and set to that light scratch mark. I dont remember reading that.

 

[rgc54]

I'm old and cheap, still using a hand ground piece of momax. Still using the fishtail.

Yes. I think the hss hand ground tool cuts a rather nice thread also.

 

[hogpatrol]

Yes. I think the hss hand ground tool cuts a rather nice thread also.

Everyone has their methods and they all work. I grind my hss tool bit 30° on the left/cutting side and 25° on the right side. I feed at 29.5° and if all the planets are aligned, chips come off in ribbons.
Edit: On the grind, a small amount of positive rake.

 

[Roeder]

If you’re using RH external full or partial profile inserts, just square them up against the face your chuck. No tools needed. 16tpi, 24tpi and 28tpi inserts shown.

This works fine for the triangular laydown inserts shown in the photos. For those still using the topnotch style inserts the side of the holder itself should be perpendicular and the insert itself will be positioned slightly turned toward the cutting side because the inserts have a little relief by design.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

I use a Warner tool with HSS inserts and have struggled to use the fish tail in spite of pretty bad eyes------somehow managed to get working threads.
Have doubts that the threads could be sold off to an inspector but they seem to do the job of holding the barrel and action together.

I checked the tool alignment with a straight edge and it appears to be straight------will do my next job by lining up on a faced-off barrel and then
checking against a fish tail. My money is on it being good.

A. Weldy

 

[Stan Taylor]

I grind my own tools for threading out of high speed Steel at work, but at home the lathe I have in my shop at home I set up a quick change tool holder setup, I thread between centers so I took a ground bar that's perfectly true between centers and I set up my tool holders once I was done I did use the fishtail to make sure my threading tool was in alignment with the ground bar so now all I have to do is change the inserts and I'm good to go.
By the way it's nice to have everything set up, to easily to do work,I had a very productive day today I started at 8 a.m. and just finished up and taking a break I threaded and chambered and set headspace on four different chambers today, 2 Bat actions and the Borden action and the Hall action.

 

[hogpatrol]

Nice work Stan. Just curious what cartridges on them?

 

[hogpatrol]

Huh? A standard fishtail tool has three places to check your tool bit or am I missing something here?

View attachment 1130257

Forgot the other one in addition to the three "V"s, the \/ end.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Nice work Stan. Just curious what cartridges on them?

Here you go, 300 WSM on a Bat action,6mm dasher short on the Hall action.
6.5x47 lapua on the Bat B, 22-250 Ackley on the Borden action.

 

[PWS]

Sheez. I started at 8:30 and finished at 3:30 and got one barrel fit and chambered. 300WinMag on a Ruger M77 so about as simple as they get.

FWIW, I turn off all the lights in the shop and move the lathe's work light to shine on a piece of white paper under the fishtail and tooling trick for alignment. It's not fast but then again, apparently none of the other steps are fast for me either!

 

[AWLEAPHART]

Squaring up a threading tool I just face the end of the barrel off and get a 123 block and pull the apron up to the end of the barrel with the 123 block between the barrel and tool holder with the tool holder loose. Then tighten her up.
A Leaphart