A little off topic but still has to do with screw cutting.
A number of years ago I acquired my first lathe wiht a quick change gear box, a 9" South Bend. After becoming accustom to how it all worked, I had had a little Atlas 6" prior to this, I proceeded to attempt to cut my first set of threads.
Dilegently following the instructions I had I set everything up, chucked a piece of hex stock I had and proceeded to turn the stock round where the threads would be and then started cutting threads. I probably took lighter cuts than necessary and continually checked the threads with a nut for fit.
Once completed I parted of the bolt, cleaned up the head and proceeded in to show my "Great Accomplishment" to the only person available at the time, my wife.
When I came into the house she asked what I had been doing the last couple of hours in my shop. I proudly produced the bolt and told her "look what I was able to make on the lathe I just got!". As good spouses do she commented how nice it looked and that she didn't realize a lathe could do this.
As I turned to go out the door, heading back out to the shop all pleased with my accomplishment, she said "I have a question, couldn't you have just driven up to the hardware store and bought a bolt if you needed it since the store is only 5 minutes away rather than spend 2 hours making one?".....
"Probably" I responded and with my newly created prize in hand I continued out the door and back to my shop. That first attempt at screw cutting has long since disappeared, going into a project somewhere along the line. But I still fondly remember the feeling of successfully completing my "2 hour threading project"....
DonT
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