thread plates

[john k]

Anyone ever use these?

[leg17]

Watch a master at work.

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3000/3013.html

[leg17]

Watch a master at work.

http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3000/3013.html

Sorry.  To answer your question.
I have tried them on aluminum just to see how it works, but I never did an actual meaningful job with one.
They are used on fairly ductile material as they don't actually cut but displace or swedge material into shape.
Wrought iron, brass, 'soft' steel, and such are OK.  I would expect damage to them if used much on modern alloy steels.
You may notice many of them found today are chipped.  Probably from trying to use them on inappropriate metals.

[HeelSpur]

Always did like his shows.

[Branson]

Heh!  My family used to say The Woodwright's Shop was my Mr. Rogers.

Use one?  Well, yes.  Tried one was more like it.  Like leg17 wrote, they (and the taps that accompanied them) swedge rather than cut.  We had a couple of these, and one tap with the 3rd US Light Artillery, and we just had to try it.  It worked fine on very mild steel or actual iron.  A meaningful job with one?  Nope.

[john k]

I've used them as thread chasers on very old bolts from horse machinery and wagons.   The top one, if you look close was made by Butterfield & Co.  Derbyline Vt. and the bottom line stamped in the same font, is Rock Island, F.A., which I take to mean the Federal Arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois.    I picked these up mainly to duplicate the odd threads sometimes used in the past, and as a sideline to my blacksmithing.    I have always enjoyed Roys work too.

[Plyerman]

Seen pictures of those, but I've never actually held one. I just assumed they were regular thread dies, only old and primitive.

Re: "as they don't actually cut but displace or swedge material into shape"


So why is that? Why weren't they made to cut the threads, instead of swage?

[leg17]

the bottom line stamped in the same font, is Rock Island, F.A., which I take to mean the Federal Arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois.

Actually, it says Rock Island, P.Q.  (Province of Quebec), which is right across the border from Derbyline.  More like one town straddling the border.

[leg17]

Seen pictures of those, but I've never actually held one. I just assumed they were regular thread dies, only old and primitive.

Re: "as they don't actually cut but displace or swedge material into shape"


So why is that? Why weren't they made to cut the threads, instead of swage?

Processes to produce dies with cutting relief on the thread form were not developed until just after our Civil War.
This earlier style had been around for hundreds of years.  The corresponding taps work the same way.  No 'relief', but simple grooves to facilitate oil.

Watch the Roy Underhill Peter Ross video linked above.