Al The 1000 rpm top speed was the suggesion of the lathe manufacturers - not the speed used by me! On cutting very short screws in times past, I used to turn the lathe by hand, to avoid 'sweating marbles'! Because the Hardinge has a positive stop, I now do these under power, but still at a modest speed - this is easier on the nerves!! Cheers! Hubert ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allen Messer" <al_messer@xxxxxxxxx> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 1:27 AM Subject: [modeleng] Re: Mystery Thread & New Loco > Screwcut at 1,000 rpms? No way for me! I'm not that > experienced! I always use bottom back gear and then I > sweat marbles until the job is finished. > > Al Messer > > --- Shep <shep.28@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Barrie > > > > I find the easiet way to screw-cut is to stop the > > lathe at the end of the > > cut, withdraw the tool, and reverse the lathe - in > > this way whatever the > > thread, it is always on track. > > > > I bought an ancient Hardinge last year, and with > > this lathe, screwcutting at > > speed is a doddle! You can thread up to a > > shoulder, and the lathe will > > stop. > > The topslide has a device for withdrawing, and the > > reverse on the > > screwcutting does not lose the track Hardinge > > suggest that you do not > > screwcut above 1000 rpm! > > > > Cheers! Hubert > > > MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.