Acme Taps & Dies?

[Woodster Will]

Anyone used these for pen making? I can't help thinking they'd look nicer than standard threads on a pen and the tools are easily available and much, much cheaper than triple start taps etc. Just a thought.

 

[PatrickR]

There was a pen on here not long ago that used acme threads and it looked like a good application. I checked prices for the tap and dies and what I saw were not cheap. Is there a good source that you know of?

 

[Woodster Will]

There was a pen on here not long ago that used acme threads and it looked like a good application. I checked prices for the tap and dies and what I saw were not cheap. Is there a good source that you know of?

No, not where you are. Over here in the UK they start at about £20 which isn't cheap compared to an ordinary tap but it's way cheaper than a multi start.

 

[skiprat]

Acme taps and dies from £20? Please share that source Will.

 

[PatrickR]

I checked again and taps here are $75 and up, it also appears that 2 dies are required, a rougher and a finisher. In the recent group buy the triples were comparable.

 

[jalbert]

These aren't Acme, but similar concept. I find they have great appeal to me over multi-start threads, as being single start, if I have grain or facets that need to line up when the pen is capped, these allow them to line up every time rather than having a 1/n chance of alignment as with multi start threads. I cut these on a metal lathe.

 

[Woodster Will]

Acme taps and dies from £20? Please share that source Will.

Have a look at Tracy tools or RDG tools.

Edit: Found this on eBay from RDG, only £17.50

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RDGTOOLS...116625?hash=item56312b6b91:g:4h8AAOSwuMFUYzfc

 

[skiprat]

Good find Will. I'm very surprised. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. ( Just check left or right handed :wink: )

 

[Woodster Will]

Sorry, the one on eBay was LH. Here's a 1/2" one for £19.50.

https://www.rdgtools.co.uk/cgi-bin/...ACME-TAP-1-2--X-10-TPI-HSS-825788.html#SID=35

The dies are a bit cheaper.

Looks like we're better off price wise here in the UK for once! :biggrin:

 

[Woodster Will]

These aren't Acme, but similar concept. I find they have great appeal to me over multi-start threads, as being single start, if I have grain or facets that need to line up when the pen is capped, these allow them to line up every time rather than having a 1/n chance of alignment as with multi start threads. I cut these on a metal lathe.

That Pen looks nice John!

 

[BRobbins629]

Here's another option if you're up to cobbling some pieces together. Not quite acme but a similar look.

http://content.penturners.org/library/tools_and_jigs/incredible_threading.pdf

 

[skiprat]

Bruce, that is one of my favourite tutorials:biggrin:

But if you like that big bulky acme style thread, then try this for fun
http://www.penturners.org/forum/f13/wire-thread-pen-60499/

:biggrin:

 

[dogcatcher]

Here's another option if you're up to cobbling some pieces together. Not quite acme but a similar look.

http://content.penturners.org/library/tools_and_jigs/incredible_threading.pdf

With very little modification you could mount the "threader" on a rocking system, add some rosettes to it, and use it as a rose engine lathe.