I have got a nice stainless steel shaft from scrap for $2. I want to cut a short section of 1"-8 thread at one end. The obvious answer is to take it to someone with a lathe and do it right. They charge $45 for the job. A second option is to buy a 1"-8 die for $20 and do the job myself. My concern is: a) Cutting threads in stainless steel b) Cutting them straight - this is important in this case (as indeed in every case :-)
Is there a third way? What would you do?