How to Use an ACME Thread Gage - Viewer Question Answered 

Hey. I'm glad it helped. Let me know if you have any other questions.

@@StuartdeHaro I’ll have to get back with ya. Just moved and waiting to buy a house. Mills and lathe in storage 🥺

@@bigmikeh5827 I know exactly what you mean. I moved a few months ago and have been in a holding pattern while waiting for the concrete floor to be redone. It's going to eventually be a great shop though.

@@StuartdeHaro that’s good news. I’ve got tons of projects in line. New to area and no friends made yet.

@@bigmikeh5827 Check out some of the machinist forums like homeshopmachinist and practical machinist, as well as the r/machinists subreddit and inquire about clubs or meetups in your area. Depending on where you are in the world, you may be spoiled for choice or the only machinist within a day's drive, so your mileage will definitely vary.

Thank you very much for the Superthanks! I really appreciate it!

There's always another.

We have a jig in a cabinet at work that I run across every couple of years. If I remember, I'll snap a picture of it tomorrow.

I suck at hand grinding cutting tools too. A tool makers vice and a couple of angle blocks is all you would need if you already have a surface grinder. I'm in the opposite boat. Have the vise and angle blocks but no surface grinder.

@@StuartdeHaro Thanks! I'd like to see it! I swear I can only learn so many skills, some times you just need it DONE or easy. I flat out refuse to learn to grind tools on a bench grinder. Kinda like sharpening drill bits. I said fck it and bought the most expensive drill doctor. After making peace with that piece of shit, I can sharpen bits half drunk!

@@jagboy69 I got a drill doctor for Christmas years ago and I never could make that piece of shit work right. I can usually make it work just well enough to postpone a trip to the hardware store for a new bit, so I haven't thrown it away yet.

@@netpackrat Guy at my local sharpening shop gave some pointers. #1 The expensive one is the only one to buy. #2 Throw away drill bits that are smaller than a 1/4". Don't try sharpening them on the DD. #3 Getting them in the holder is critical. Be sure you adjust the depth stop or you will be grinding all day on it. #4 The diamond wheel in it works better after it's sharpened half a dozen bits. #5 Save your receipt, you will either make peace with it after putzing with it for a couple of hours or give it back to the store. You'll either love it or hate it. I garagesaled the first blue one I had and decided to give it one more chance. I'm glad I did, but I agree, it's not for everyone and I still call mine a piece a shit. lol...

I don't know if it is now, but it will be starting next week.

@@StuartdeHaro cool beans. Hopefully I can get the bucks together to re-enroll!

I usually angle the compound. That puts a lot less tool in contact with the work piece so it is less apt to chatter. That said, sometimes it's just more convenient to plunge straight in, like when you're cutting threads on a lot of identical parts. Plunging straight in lets you take note of the thread depth on the first part and go to the same depth on subsequent parts. You still want to measure of course since the tool will wear down, but it gets you in the ballpark quickly.

I think you use 14 1/2° for acme threading :) although our video producer here would know better than me.

@@crbielert That is correct. You angle the compound to half the angle of the thread form.

Great! I did an acme thread for a project but can’t remember what it was. Not sure what angle I used. Thanks for the great stuff, guys!

You sure would. The only difference would be the need to fit it in a boring bar.

Without seeing it in action it's hard to say, but a really common error is taking the same depth of cut for every pass. You might start with .010 to .015" but each successive cut short be a little less. The last pass will be .001 to .002". Reason is there is more and more tool in contact with the work so it is more likely to chatter or dig in with a heavy cut.

@@StuartdeHaro Thank you. I will give it a try.

@@oh8wingman let me know if it helps.