Screw Box for Wooden Threads

MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEIR CARS AND HOMES CHOOSE STATE FARM FOR THEIR INSURANCE.

STATE FARM--A PROUD SUPPORTER OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

[EVIL LAUGHTER] WELCOME TO MY LABORATORY.

HA HA HA!

WELCOME.

WELCOME BACK TO "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

I HAD TO STAY IN THE SHOP AND MEET YOU HERE BECAUSE I'VE GOT A FIRE GOING IN A LITTLE FURNACE.

IN FACT, IT'S ABOUT DRIVING ME NUTS.

IT'S A FIRE I'M USING TO ANNEAL SOME STEEL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE TOOLS TO MAKE WOODEN SCREWS, AND SCREWS ARE GOOD FOR LOTS OF THINGS, INCLUDING MAKING VALVES, LIKE THE VALVE I JUST TURNED DOWN TO CUT THE GAS HEAT THAT I'VE GOT GOING ON IN THIS LITTLE FORGE HERE.

SO I'VE GOT SOME STEEL IN THERE, SOME OLD FILES ACTUALLY, THAT I'VE HEATED RED-HOT, AND I'M LETTING THEM COOL DOWN.

WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM TO MAKE THE CUTTERS TO MAKE WOODEN SCREWS.

SO, WOODEN SCREWS-- WONDERFUL, USEFUL, AND BEAUTIFUL INTRIGUING THINGS.

WE'RE MAKING OUR WONDERFUL LITTLE EMBROIDERY STAND.

WE HAVE WOODEN SCREWS USED NOT ONLY FOR THE BALL AND SOCKET ADJUSTMENT UP HERE THAT TIGHTENS AND LOOSENS THE BALL AND SOCKET ON THIS THING SO YOU CAN POSITION THE HEAD ANY WAY.

THE SCREW ACTUALLY HOLDS THE DARN THING TOGETHER.

LOOK AT THAT.

THE BOTTOM IS HELD WITH A WOODEN SCREW DOWN THERE.

THREADS IN WOOD.

YOU LOOK AT CIDER PRESSES, WINE PRESSES.

HERE'S A PLANE THAT USES SCREW ADJUSTMENTS ON A WITCHET.

THIS HAS SCREWS RIGHT HERE THAT TIGHTEN AND LOOSEN.

SO WOODEN SCREWS ARE USED ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF YOU COULD MAKE THE TOOLS TO MAKE YOUR OWN WOODEN SCREWS?

WELL, IT'D BE EVEN GREAT, TOO, IF YOU COULD BUY THEM.

IN FACT, YOU CAN BUY PART OF THE JOB.

YOU CAN BUY THE TAP THAT CUTS THE INTERNAL THREAD.

THIS IS ONE MADE BY THE BEALL TOOL COMPANY-- B-E-A-L-L.

THEY MAKE A TAP THAT WILL CUT THE INSIDE THREAD ON A BLOCK OF WOOD HERE.

SO WE COULD PUT THIS IN HERE, AS WE WILL, AND CUT AN INSIDE THREAD, CUT A THREAD JUST LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S AN INSIDE THREAD.

ALL RIGHT.

THEN ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT, WE CAN KNOW THAT WE CAN MAKE A NUT, BUT HOW DO WE MAKE THE EXTERNAL THREAD?

HOW DO WE MAKE A WOODEN SCREW?

LIKE HERE I HAVE ONE RIGHT HERE, READY TO GO.

THIS IS THAT ADJUSTING SCREW.

SO I TURN THE WOOD THROUGH HERE, AND YOU SEE COMING OUT THE OTHER END THE THREADED WOOD DOWN HERE ON THIS END.

AS I CRANK THROUGH, THE LITTLE CUTTER INSIDE THERE IS PULLING THE DOWEL DEEPER AND DEEPER, AND LOOK AT THAT.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

AND THIS PERSIMMON COMES OUT IN THESE LONG THREADS.

MAKES THESE WOODEN THREADS LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT HERE.

HERE WE GO.

OOP.

HERE WE ARE.

WOODEN THREADS FOR MAKING ADJUSTING SCREWS, JUST LIKE WE HAVE RIGHT THERE.

NOW, THE CUTTER IS THE ISSUE RIGHT HERE.

NOW, THE FOLKS WHO MAKE THE TAP, THEY DO MAKE A DEVICE FOR CUTTING EXTERNAL THREADS, BUT IT RUNS ON POWER.

AND DEDICATED AS WE ARE TO HAND TOOLS, WE HAVE TO SEE HOW TO MAKE THE TRADITIONAL SCREW BOX OURSELF, AND NOT ONLY THAT, TO MAKE THIS EVEN MORE FUNKY, WE'RE GOING TO USE INSTEAD OF REGULAR TOOL STEEL THAT YOU BUY, AN OLD FILE.

THIS HAS BEEN DONE AS LONG AS THERE HAVE BEEN FILES.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE OLD STEEL AND REFASHIONING IT INTO THE CUTTERS FOR MAKING JUST EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW TO RESHAPE A FILE INTO THE "V" CUTTER THAT MAKES THAT FIRST LITTLE CUT.

LET'S SEE.

I'LL STICK A DOWEL IN THERE AND SHOW YOU HOW THIS WORKS.

WE'LL PUT A DOWEL IN, AND THIS "V" CUTTER WILL MAKE A LITTLE GROOVE, AND ONCE THAT GROOVE IS CUT IN THE WOOD, IT FEEDS INTO THAT INSIDE THREAD AND KEEPS ADVANCING AT THAT PRECISE RATE.

SO LET ME GET THIS STARTED BACK IN THERE AGAIN AND SEE HOW THIS WORKS-- THAT "V" CUTTER MAKING THE GROOVE SLOWLY.

THIS ADVANCES DOWN, CUTTING THE THREADS ALL THE WAY AROUND TO MAKE WOODEN SCREWS.

I'LL GET THE ONE THAT I HAVE HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE.

JUST LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU'VE GOT WOODEN SCREW THREADS.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT FILE FILEABLE, BECAUSE WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, GET A FILE, YOU CAN'T CUT IT WITH ANOTHER FILE, YOU CAN'T CUT IT WITH A HACKSAW.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

YOU HAVE TO SOFTEN IT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING HERE IN THE FIRE-- PUT A FILE IN THERE AND GOT IT RED-HOT SO THAT THE CARBON AND THE IRON-- BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, IS HIGH-CARBON STEEL THAT HAS CARBON AND IRON MOLECULES MIXED UP, AND WHEN YOU GET IT GOOD AND HOT, WELL, EVERYTHING'S UP THERE SHAKING, AND THE CARBON'S ON THE INSIDE, AND THE IRON IS OUT THERE, AND ALL THE MOLECULES ARE OUT AND JAGGED, AND BY HEATING IT UP AND LETTING IT COOL VERY SLOWLY, IT RELAXES THE STEEL.

EVERYTHING JUST KIND OF SINKS DOWN DEEP IN THERE, AND YOU'VE GOT A SOFT STEEL THAT YOU CAN WORK.

SO I'M GOING TO REACH IN.

I'VE GOT ONE THAT'S ANNEALED.

AGAIN, BY HEATING IT RED-HOT... AND THEN COOLING IT DOWN SLOWLY, LIKE A HUNDRED DEGREES AN HOUR, UH... TO SOFTEN THE STEEL.

SET IT HERE IN THE VISE, AND GET IT AT THE RIGHT ANGLE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'RE GONNA START TO WORK ON THIS NOW.

LOOK HERE AT THE ONE THAT-- WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GO FOR.

YOU CAN SEE THE CUTTER IS CANTED BACK.

IT'S NOT AT 90 DEGREES TO THE SURFACE THERE.

IT'S CANTED BACK.

THAT'S SO YOU WILL CUT ON THE OUTSIDE FIRST AND THEN THE BOTTOM, SO THAT IT DOESN'T TRAP THE LITTLE SHAVING THAT YOU'RE CUTTING OUT.

HERE'S THE SHAPE THAT WE'RE GOING FOR AGAIN.

THE CUTTER IS "V" SHAPED AND CANTED BACK FROM THE FRONT EDGE.

SO THERE'S ONE JUST ABOUT DONE.

AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO START, WITH THIS PIECE RIGHT HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S START WITH THAT BY CUTTING DOWN WITH A HACKSAW.

WE'LL GET THIS ANGLED SO THAT I CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BETTER.

THERE WE GO.

I CAN GET THAT RIGHT ABOUT THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, A FILE IS TOO HARD TO CUT WITH A HACKSAW, BUT ONCE YOU'VE ANNEALED IT BY HEATING IT RED-HOT AND COOLING IT VERY, VERY SLOWLY, YOU CAN NOW CUT IT WITH A HACKSAW, AND IT HAS CARBON AND IRON IN THE RIGHT COMBINATION THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO HARDEN UP AGAIN.

WE'RE GONNA START THE "V" BY HACKSAWING DOWN.

WE'VE CUT OFF AT ABOUT MAYBE, OH, A 15-, 20-DEGREE ANGLE ON THE FACE.

NOW, AT 90 DEGREES TO THAT, WE'D CUT BACK.

THE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS FIRST WITH THE HACKSAW IS SO THE END OF OUR NEXT TOOL, THE FILE, WON'T HAVE TO WORK SO HARD.

YEAH.

A NICE HACKSAW.

AND IF YOU WERE TO TRY THIS IN A FILE THAT'S STILL HARD, I MEAN, IT WOULD... HA HA HA!

IT WOULD BE DULL ON THE FIRST FEW STROKES.

I'M GOING TO TURN THIS WHOLE THING AROUND TO FACE ME AS SOON AS I'M DONE CUTTING DOWN A LITTLE BIT HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S DEEP ENOUGH NOW.

WE'VE CUT DOWN WITH THE HACKSAW.

AND I'LL TURN MY VISE AROUND A LITTLE BIT THERE.

AND NOW GO AT IT WITH A 3-CORNER FILE.

I HAVE FILES THAT HAVE-- THEY'RE TRIANGULAR, OF COURSE, IN CROSS-SECTION.

SO WE HAVE THIS FILE TO FIT DOWN IN THAT GROOVE.

OOP.

LET'S TIGHTEN IT UP.

FORTUNATELY, IT'S COOLED ENOUGH NOW THAT I THINK I CAN CUT WITH IT.

LET ME GET IT ANGLED AROUND A LITTLE BIT BETTER HERE, ABOUT LIKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND CUT RIGHT ON DOWN.

SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED SOME NEW FILES TO DO THIS, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ANNEALED THIS STUFF.

NOW, IF YOU JUST... AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS WHO KNOW THEIR METALLURGY THAT ARE JUST GONNA GO NUTS AS I GET THIS WRONG, BUT THIS IS THE PLIERS AND TORCH METHOD IT'S CALLED, I MEAN, LITERALLY PLIERS AND TORCH, WHICH IS AN OLD EXPRESSION FOR KIND OF JACKLEG WORK HERE.

I'M GOING TO GET ANOTHER FILE HERE, A LITTLE HEAVIER ONE, AND OPEN THIS UP SOME MORE.

UH...THE AIR-COOLING IS WHAT'S CALLED NORMALIZING, AND IT DOESN'T QUITE GET SOFT ENOUGH.

WE WANT TO FULLY ANNEAL IT, AND THAT MEANS COOLING IT VERY SLOWLY.

SO OFTEN, YOU'LL HEAT THE STUFF RED-HOT AND THEN LET IT SIT IN ASHES, WOOD ASHES OR IN THE WOOD FIRE, FOR MAYBE EVEN A DAY.

IT'LL STILL BE HOT TO THE TOUCH THE NEXT DAY.

THAT IS HOW YOU SOFTEN STEEL.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS KIND OF JACKLEG, PLIERS AND TORCH, WORKING WITH AN OLD FILE TO MAKE CUTTING TOOLS WOULD BE FROWNED UPON BY A PROPER METALLURGIST OR A PROPER KNIFEMAKER OR TOOLMAKER OF ANY KIND.

BUT IT'S THE KIND OF THING ANYBODY SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO IN A PINCH.

WE THINK OF...GOSH.

WHO WAS IT?

HUMPHREY BOGART IN "THE AFRICAN QUEEN."

HE WAS ABLE TO WELD UP THE PROPELLER SHAFT OF "THE AFRICAN QUEEN," AND HE GOT KATHARINE HEPBURN THERE OUT OF TROUBLE.

HE WAS ABLE TO JACKLEG THIS STUFF TOGETHER.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE ABOUT GOT OUR "V" DOWN.

LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN SEE THAT NOW.

I'VE GOT A "V" FILED DOWN THERE IN THE FILE.

SO THE FILE HAS A "V" IN IT, AND I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER AND START FILING THE BACKSIDE OF THAT "V." AND GET THAT RIGHT ABOUT LIKE THAT AND START PUTTING A FACET ON THE SIDE HERE.

NOW, YOU CAN DO THIS WITH THE FILE, BRING IT DOWN.

SO, SEE, THIS 60-DEGREE-- BECAUSE AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE IS 60 DEGREES, THAT CUTS THAT "V" AT AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE.

NOW WE CAN GO BACK THROUGH IT AND JUST APPROACH IT, AND WE'LL KNOW THAT WE HAVE THAT 60-DEGREE ANGLE THAT WE WANT ON OUR "V" CUTTER FOR OUR SCREW BOX.

YOU CAN SEE I HAVE A LITTLE FARTHER TO GO ON THE INSIDE.

AGAIN, WORKING WITH THE FILE.

IT CUTS ON THE FORWARD STROKE, AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING, THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF THEIR FILES, WRAP THEM IN A CLOTH, BECAUSE IF YOU LET THEM BANG AGAINST EACH OTHER, IT JUST DULLS THEM, BECAUSE THEY ARE FILE-HARD, AND THEY WILL CUT EACH OTHER.

ALL RIGHT.

SO ALMOST UP ON THIS SIDE.

I'LL LEAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FACET THERE SO THAT WE CAN DO THE FINAL BIT WITH THE STONES.

BUT SPEAKING OF A STONE, THERE'S ANOTHER WAY, OF COURSE, TO COME UP ON THE OUTSIDE, AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, WITH A GRINDER.

SO WE'VE GOT ONE FACE DONE.

LET'S DO THE OTHER SIDE ON MY LITTLE BENCH GRINDER HERE.

AND AGAIN I NEED MY LUNETTES DE SAFETY HERE.

AND CRANK IT ON UP.

WE'LL SEE HOW THOSE NICE SPARKS YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH CARBON STEEL, KIND OF SPARKLER SPARKS.

AND WORK IT ON DOWN.

YEAH.

NOW, JUST BECAUSE STEEL OR METAL WILL, YOU KNOW, GIVE TEMPER COLORS OR MAKE SPARKS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOOD TOOL STEEL.

AND WHEN YOU GET THESE FILES, THE CHEAPER THE FILE THESE DAYS, THE MORE LIKELY IT'S TO BE MADE BY THE OLD METHODS AND KIND OF A LOW-CARBON STEEL.

YOU SEE THAT "V" IS STARTING TO SHAPE UP THERE.

YEAH.

WE'RE GETTING THAT CUTTER.

SO WE SHAPE IT DOWN AS BEST WE CAN.

LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THAT OTHER ONE HERE THAT I'M GOING FOR.

ALL RIGHT.

HERE'S ONE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG THERE.

AND SEE THE "V" THAT WE'RE AFTER.

THERE IT IS.

SPARKLY, SPARKLY BEAUTIFUL.

JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN GET SOME COLORS-- AS WE DO THIS WITH TEMPERING AND STUFF, IT'S GOING TO CHANGE COLORS.

WELL, JUST BECAUSE IT DOES THAT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GOOD CARBON STEEL.

BUT THAT IS OUR NEXT STEP NOW.

WE HAVE SOFTENED THIS, WE'VE SHAPED IT, BUT NOW WE'VE GOT TO MAKE IT HARD AGAIN.

THE WAY WE DO THAT IS PUT IT BACK IN THE FIRE.

SO WE'LL TAKE IT NOW AND GET ALL THE CARBON AND THE IRON ALL SHOOK UP.

IT'S GONNA GET REAL EXCITED, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO QUENCH IT AND STICK IT IN THE WATER AND MAKE IT GO "SSS," AND IT'S GOING TO FREEZE IN ITS AGITATED POSITION.

THAT WILL BE GLASS-HARD STEEL.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HARDEN IT WAY, WAY UP.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET IT RED-HOT AGAIN.

SO WE'VE GOT IT BACK IN THE FIRE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT'S OUR CUTTER NOW IN THE FIRE.

THAT'S GOT TO GET RED-HOT BEFORE WE CAN QUENCH IT.

SO WE'LL GET IT GOOD AND HOT, GOOD AND EXCITED.

THEN WE'LL FREEZE IT IN POSITION.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND LOOK AT THE WOOD FOR A SECOND HERE.

HERE'S THE BODY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE, A BODY THAT HOLDS THE CUTTER.

NOW, THIS ONE HOLDS THE CUTTERS IN PLACE BY THE FACEPLATE HOLDS THE CUTTER IN THERE.

SO IF I TAKE THIS FACEPLATE OFF, THE CUTTER JUST FALLS OUT.

LET'S SEE.

THE ONE WE HAVE MADE HERE, THIS ONE HAS A REMOVABLE FACEPLATE.

MUCH MORE USEFUL BECAUSE WITH THIS ONE, AFTER THE GUIDE PLATE HAS GONE ON FOR A WHILE, YOU CAN KEEP THIS CUTTING AND CUT ALL THE WAY UP TO A SHOULDER.

SO YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY UP LIKE THAT.

AND HERE WE HAD THIS ANGLED IRON HOLDING IT.

LET ME SEE IF I CAN TAKE THAT APART.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WE DO WITH THE WOODWORKING ASPECT OF THIS.

SO THERE YOU GO.

THERE'S OUR BOLT.

WE'LL LOOSEN THAT UP AND SEE IF WE CAN TAKE OUT THE CUTTER.

THERE WE GO.

I'LL LOOSEN IT A LITTLE MORE.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE NUT ON THERE BECAUSE I'LL LOSE EVERYTHING ON MY BENCH TOP HERE.

THERE IT IS.

NOW IT'S LOOSE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THERE WE ARE.

WE'RE READY TO TAKE THAT CUTTER OUT.

AND YOU CAN SEE HOW JUST THIS ARRANGEMENT HOLDS IT IN PLACE.

AND THE MAIN THING IS THIS IS TAPPED.

I HAVE ALREADY TAPPED THE INSIDE THREAD IN THERE.

YOU CAN SEE THOSE THREADS ON THE INSIDE.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT AND JUST SEE WHAT A SCREWCUTTER TAP LOOKS LIKE.

AND HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

I'VE GOT ONE.

CAN I TAKE THIS APART?

YEAH.

I'LL DO THAT.

AND I'M JUST GONNA TAKE THAT OFF.

I'VE GOT A SCREWDRIVER OVER THERE, BUT I'M DOING IT WITH MY FINGERS.

SO I'VE GOT THIS ALREADY BORED AT THE ROOT DIAMETER OF THE TAP, THE KIND THAT WE CAN BUY.

I'M GOING TO CLAMP THIS IN HERE.

AND JUST SET IT IN.

THIS HAS A NEAT GUIDE PIECE ON IT.

AND YOU SEE HOW THOSE FLUTES JUST CUT THEIR WAY DOWN THERE.

THEY JUST CUT IT DOWN.

SO THIS IS A 4-FACETED BIT OF IRON, AND FILED, AGAIN, AT THOSE 60-DEGREE ANGLES.

SEE HOW ALL THIS WORKS?

THAT TRIANGULAR FILE-- YOU CAN SEE IT STARTING TO COME THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE.

LET'S SEE IF I CAN MOVE SOME STUFF OUT OF THE WAY.

MAYBE YOU CAN SEE IT EMERGE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

THAT'S THE GUIDE PLATE, BECAUSE WE HAVE-- THE GUIDE HOLE IS SMALLER.

I'LL HAVE TO DO IT UP HERE NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

CAN HE DO IT?

CAN HE DO IT?

AND IT REALLY DOES TAKE SOME TORQUE.

THIS IS JUST A 1-INCH TAP, AND IT'S BRAND-NEW AND VERY SHARP.

BUT YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A REAL, REAL GO-ROUND TO GET IT THROUGH THIS HARD MAPLE.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT NOW IT'S THROUGH.

AND IT HAS THREADED THIS ALL THE WAY DOWN.

IN FACT, I THINK I'LL JUST KEEP GOING HERE AND SEE IF I CAN'T PUSH IT OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

CAN I TAKE THE HANDLE OFF?

WELL, NOW I'M TRAPPED.

THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE INTERNAL THREAD CUT THERE INSIDE.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO.

NOW, I HAVE THE GUIDE PLATE...

HASN'T BEEN BORED.

I'M GOING TO BORE THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

WHEN YOU FIRST MAKE THE GUIDE PLATE, YOU MAKE SURE YOU PUT IT ON WITH SCREWS TO START, EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE DOWELS LATER ON, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO HAVE THOSE SCREWS HOLDING IT IN PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE IT AND TURN THE WHOLE THING ON THE LATHE.

WELL, LET'S SEE.

LET ME GET THIS ON THERE.

AH, AH, AH, AH, AH.

ALL RIGHT.

THOSE SCREWS HOLD THIS ALL THE WAY UP, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF THESE THINGS, THE WAY THEY'RE MADE.

SEE HOW IT'S ALL TURNED, THE GUIDE PLATE AND EVERYTHING?

SO YOU USE SCREWS AT THE START.

LET'S GO OVER TO THE LATHE.

I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN AND TAKE THAT...

I JUST LOVE MAKING THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY REALLY DO HAVE THAT KIND OF NEAT THING.

THEY SAY TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WAS TURNED IN ONE PIECE.

SO THE SCREWS ARE HOLDING THIS BLANK HERE, THE MAPLE BODY AND THE COVER GUIDE PLATE, HOLDING IT TOGETHER, AND WITH THE SCREWS IN THERE, WE CAN TURN THE TWO TOGETHER.

OH, IT'S NICE.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT I CAN'T SPEND TIME ON THAT.

NEVERTHELESS, YOU BRING IT DOWN TILL IT LOOKS ABOUT LIKE THAT.

AND YOU HAVE GOT A NICE BODY THERE.

BUT IT'S ALL WOOD NOW.

WE STILL HAVE TO ADD THAT CUTTER.

LET ME TAKE A PEEK IN THERE AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.

OH, IT'S RED-HOT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

SO IT'S GOOD AND RED-HOT.

I'M GOING TO PUT MY QUENCH TUB-- JUST A TOMATO CAN FULL OF WATER--UP HERE, GET MY PLIERS, GET EVERYTHING READY.

YOU SEE, I'M GONNA JERK IT OUT OF THE FIRE NOW AND THEN JUST STICK IT IN THE CAN OF WATER.

YOU'LL HEAR IT GO "SSS!"

AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THE HEAT, IT'S ALL IN THE AGITATED POSITION, IT'S JUST GONNA FREEZE IT JUST LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

READY?

AND... ALL RIGHT.

AND HOT AND... YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW IT'S QUENCHED.

MOVING IT AROUND.

YOU DO IT IN WATER.

SOME STEELS LIKE OIL.

SOME NEED BRINE TO HARDEN.

USUALLY CAN DO IT IN JUST PLAIN WATER.

NOW THAT IS SO HARD.

AND I CAN TURN DOWN OUR LITTLE BIO-GAS, PIG-DUNG FUELED... OH, IT'S TERRIBLE.

TURN DOWN OUR FIRE A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE THE NEXT FIRE WE'RE GOING TO NEED IS FOR TEMPERING.

SO THIS IS STILL HOT.

I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH IT.

YOU KNOW, THE OLD THING-- A GUY PICKS UP THE HORSESHOE AND DROPS IT REAL FAST BECAUSE IT WAS RED-HOT.

THE BLACKSMITH SAID, "DID YOU BURN YOURSELF?"

HE SAID, "NO.

IT JUST DOESN'T TAKE ME LONG TO LOOK AT A HORSESHOE."

THIS IS SO HARD RIGHT NOW.

YOU HEAR IT?

[FILE SCRAPING] REMEMBER, WE WERE ABLE TO FILE IT BEFORE.

NO WAY NOW.

WE CAN'T TOUCH IT.

IT IS SO HARD.

IT'S HARDER THAN THIS FILE.

THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD WORK IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE REHARDENED IT.

SO WE NEED TO KNOW BREN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT SO THAT WE CAN WATCH FOR TEMPER COLORS.

SO HERE WE GO.

I'M GOING TO GRIND JUST A LITTLE BIT, UP.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR THATA LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT.

I'VE GOT MY FACES THERE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO USE THE OXIDATION COLORS ON THE SURFACE TO GUIDE US.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS REAL QUICK AND DIRTY KIND OF WORK HERE.

YOU CAN SEE, A STONE WILL CUT IT, EVEN IF A FILE WILL NOT.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL, OF COURSE, SHARPEN THIS MORE WITH LITTLE SLIP STONES THAT GET INSIDE THERE.

WE CAN SHARPEN THE INSIDE OF THAT "V" REAL WELL, GET IT NICE AND SHARP.

BUT FIRST WE WANT TO DO THE TEMPERING.

SO WE WANT TO RELEASE SOME OF THAT HARDNESS THAT'S IN THERE.

IT'S TOO HARD.

IT'S BRITTLE.

IT'LL SNAP.

I'VE SEEN IT.

I'VE DONE IT.

I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR THE FIRE AND THIS TOP BRICK IS WAY HOT.

SO LET ME GET THAT--OOH, OOH-- OUT OF THE WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS FOR TEMPER COLORS.

I'M GOING TO HOLD THIS IN-- NOT TEMPERA, TEMPER COLORS.

I'M GOING TO HOLD THIS IN THE FIRE AND WATCH FOR THE OXIDATION LAYERS TO APPEAR.

NOW, IF YOU'VE EVER STERILIZED A NEEDLE TO GET A SPLINTER OUT IN A FLAME, YOU'LL SEE IT TURN BLUE.

WELL, BLUE IS TOO FAR.

THERE'S COLORS THAT APPEAR BEFORE THAT, IF YOU GO SLOWLY.

THERE IS GOLDEN, THERE'S STRAW COLOR, AND THEN KIND OF A... OH, A YELLOW AND BROWNISH.

WE GET TO PURPLE IS WHAT WE WANT.

I'VE FORGOTTEN THE ORDER HERE.

BUT I'M GOING TO WATCH FOR A PURPLE COLOR TO COME DOWN THE END OF THIS STEEL.

AND THAT'S THE LAYER OF OXIDATION COLORING IT.

NOW YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE STRAW.

IT SHOULD BE TURNING A LITTLE BIT YELLOW RIGHT NOW AS THE HEAT IS COMING DOWN.

AND WE WANT TO HAVE THAT YELLOW MOVE DOWN IN THERE AND BE FOLLOWED BY-- OH, I CAN SEE THE PURPLE COMING.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING A LITTLE TOO FAST.

BUT NOW, DO YOU SEE THAT BLUE THERE?

ALL RIGHT.

AND WAIT TILL THAT GETS HERE.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE IT RIGHT HERE INTO MY CAN OF WATER AS THAT PURPLE COMES TO THE FRONT.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW IT GOES INTO THE WATER, AND IT'S FROZEN RIGHT AT THAT DEGREE OF RELAXATION.

SO YOU HAVE THAT PURPLE COLOR ON THERE.

YOU CAN SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL PURPLE COLOR ON THE STEEL THERE.

IT'S WONDERFUL.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE TEMPER I HAVE FOUND IS GOOD FOR THESE "V" CUTTERS FOR THE SCREWS, SCREW-CUTTING MACHINES.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT READY.

I WONDER IF WE HAVE-- I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND PUT A PIECE IN HERE, BECAUSE WE NEED TO CUT ONE MORE PIECE.

WE'RE GOING TO BEND THAT OVER.

I'LL DO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

MAKE THAT HOOK.

THE SAME THING.

YOU JUST HEAT IT UP RED-HOT AND THEN BEND IT OVER.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE HOOK THAT WE'LL NEED.

SO LET'S SEE HOW WE ALIGN THESE THINGS HERE.

IT'S GOING ALONG NOW.

WE'VE GOT A PIECE HERE.

HERE IT IS.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO TAKE APART THAT ONE THAT WE DID THE TAPPING ON.

ALL RIGHT.

TAKE OFF THE GUIDE PLATE.

AND WHEN WE DO THIS, OF COURSE, I HAVE THE GUIDE PLATE BORED ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

AND THERE WE ARE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, SEE, NOW WE HAVE OUR CUTTER, AND WE HAVE THE THREADS HERE.

WANT TO ARRANGE IT BY PUTTING THE TAP BACK IN.

PUT THE TAP BACK IN.

I'M GOING TO BACK IN FROM THIS SIDE HERE.

AND WE TRY AND ARRANGE THE CUTTER SO THAT IT'S GOING INTO A VALLEY.

SO PUT THE TAP BACK IN.

DON'T LET IT TOUCH.

GO INTO THIS EMPTY SPACE HERE.

SO PUT THE TAP BACK IN AND DIG A LITTLE VALLEY THERE SO THAT THIS WILL SIT JUST IN ONE OF THE VALLEYS OF THE TAP.

DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO CUT... LET'S SEE.

YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT FIRST CUT OF THE STICK--LET ME SEE.

I'M GONNA ARRANGE THAT IN THERE.

LEAD IT RIGHT INTO THAT FIRST THREAD.

DO I HAVE MY PLIERS HERE SO I CAN TIGHTEN UP?

HERE I HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN USE TO TIGHTEN THIS UP WITH.

I'LL HOLD THAT DOWN.

NOW, THIS IS JUST A PIECE OF ANGLE BOLT, AND I HAVE A NICE ACORN SCREW THAT I'VE PUT ON THERE, AND THAT'S HOLDING THIS DOWN.

SO YOU'VE GOT THIS WITH SCREWS ON BEFORE.

YOU THEN DRILL THOSE OUT AND PUT IN PEGS SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR GUIDE PLATE HELD IN PLACE WHEN YOU NEED IT BUT AWAY WHEN YOU DON'T NEED IT.

AND THEN IT'S READY TO THREAD YOUR WOOD.

SO YOU CLAMP THAT UP, AND WITH OUR SCREW BOX, MAKE THREADS AS MERRILY AS WE WANT, WITH THE GUIDE PLATE FALLING DOWN AFTER IT STARTED.

WE ARE READY TO THREAD OUR WAY TO HAPPINESS HERE IN "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

SO LONG.

LEARN MORE ABOUT "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING ON OUR WEBSITE.

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MAJOR FUNDING FOR "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... ROY UNDERHILL IS THE AUTHOR OF "THE WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND OTHER BOOKS ABOUT TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING, PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS AND AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES.