Answer;
Your lumpy ill defined grooves are almost certainly the result of your guilty right hand. Firstly two passes at the same speed and using the whole length of the chaser, that is all the teeth not just a few of them, should have a thread started. Then you must allow the chaser to chase the thread you have started. Even left handed turners still want to push with the right hand. This is nearly always done with increasing frustration and at different speeds, resulting in lumpy ill defined grooves, as you so appositely put it. The right hand is by far the biggest, almost the only, cause of threading problems. Get it under control and the results are what you are aiming at. In order to chase the thread, for females pull back on your armrest with the finger at the end of it, and for males push in towards the centre with your left thumb. This helps to prevent the right hand doing its dirty work.
As for sharpening, a relatively infrequent occurrence, hollow grind the top surface of the chaser, and the bottom surface of a unichaser.
I hope this helps.
Question;
I need advice please. I have come back to doing some threads after a bit of time off and the best I can achieve is lumpy, ill-defined grooves.
I am sure you will say that it just takes practise, but any other words you can offer would be appreciated.
Main problem seems to be the male thread, working inside the rim of a pot seems to be not to bad.
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Copyright John Berkeley 2008 last updated 26/1/11
Question;
Could you please tell me which are the 2 polishing mops you recommend. I have had a look at the website linked to yours and there are quite a few to choose from. Also which polishing compound compound to use with one of them (carnuba wax for the softer one). Thanks a lot.
Regards,
Answer;
I would go for a 6 x 1" B quality loose mop for the abrasive and a WDR quality loose mop 6 x 1" for the carnauba. http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatalog/Polishing_Mops.html for carnauba wax http://www.craft-supplies.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/FM242
The polish I would go for is Hyfin http://www.thepolishingshop.co.uk/acatalog/Polishing_Compounds_800gm_Large_Bar.html
Hope this helps,