Hey all,
I'm a wooden boatbuilder and we usually make our own silicon bronze bolts. The are usually 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, sometimes bigger but not often.
I've been cutting the threads on our lathe with the bolt in the chuck and
using a die, a hand on the top handle, the bottom handle riding between the
ways. It's great when the die is new, but after a hundred or so (or if
someone uses the die to cut steel !!!) it gets tough (and hot).
To clarify what we make: like these http://www.ccfasteners.com/images/FFNB.jpg
They are fin-neck bolts (like a carriage bolt, but with a flush head and fins instead of a square to keep from turning), usually 3 to 5 inches long, sometimes a foot or longer. We have purchased many from suppliers in the past but usually have to order longer than needed and then cut the threads longer, it seems more cost effective to us to make the bolts we need. There can be just a couple need per boat (on small repair jobs) or a few hundred for a whole boat.
What's the best (cost effective) bet for cutting threads on these? I've heard of thread forming dies but don't know much about them - could they be an option? Any help will be appreciated!
Eide
I'm a wooden boatbuilder and we usually make our own silicon bronze bolts. The are usually 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, sometimes bigger but not often.
To clarify what we make: like these http://www.ccfasteners.com/images/FFNB.jpg
They are fin-neck bolts (like a carriage bolt, but with a flush head and fins instead of a square to keep from turning), usually 3 to 5 inches long, sometimes a foot or longer. We have purchased many from suppliers in the past but usually have to order longer than needed and then cut the threads longer, it seems more cost effective to us to make the bolts we need. There can be just a couple need per boat (on small repair jobs) or a few hundred for a whole boat.
What's the best (cost effective) bet for cutting threads on these? I've heard of thread forming dies but don't know much about them - could they be an option? Any help will be appreciated!
Eide