How to make a LEAD SCREW

[@dougmarkham1919]

Little did I know that seven years later I would need this tutorial on making lead screws. Not sure why I haven't received updated videos from you but thank you for the investment in others future.

[@macdinvest]

Really enjoying some of your techniques and work around for guys like me with a manual lathe and mill. Helping me think outside the box to solve problems. Thanks Dale.

[@spikey2740]

Nice. Glad to see a 4-jaw chuck being used rather than a 3-jaw that Mr. Atlas has tightened so much that it won't hold the workpiece.

[@jrl507]

Funny thing is I just fabricated a screw the same way ...and just ran across your video. welded and turned the end to developed the shoulder for the bearing ...Also used a bearing bronze nut inserted in the end to take up the wear in the cast iron nut ...very tight and smooth ...thanks for what you do

[@timthomas9105]

I know that I'm a lurker by some standards. But 30 years in Electronics and many of the things I fixed had electro-mechanical systems. I don't know if you would be interested or want to help but this is on par with the lead screw video. I'm a disabled veteran and I have started a Woodworking shop in my garage. I purchased 3 pieces of equipment from a man several years ago. A DeWalt miter saw, works. A Craftsman table saw, was dropped on the motor side. I was able to get the pivot pins backed out of the motor support. Complete disassembled, removed rust, motor and arbor bearings, alignment, link belt and it runs perfect. Just saying where I'm at in the process. Alas the Craftsman planer-jointer is a different story. On the infeed table side there's a lead screw that raises and lowers the table. The cam is broken into 5 pieces of aluminum. My Son is a welder and he couldn't fix it. Just melted. It's also the FIRST piece to be snatched up on EBAY. 1) Are you or someone else willing to help me? 2) Can it be made out of steel? It has a center screw hole, a cone shaped hole and a straight hole. If someone made 10 of them they could make some money on EBAY. The first thing to break and is unavailable.

[@SurajRawat-kj9vg]

Its great job plz make video on 2mouth thread

[@samnagy4062]

how to make a lead screw: step one; buy a lead screw....

[@williamparker232]

Milling is done on a mill, Turning is done on a lathe.

[@sashagertzina5558]

Yes

[@stanwooddave9758]

Dale great idea. May I suggest another possible way. Cut the lead screw material maybe one thousandth over the diameter of the material that is going to be used to make the shoulder. If you can get some "dry ice" (or just small bucket of water & ice & a small amount of salt added, to increase coldness, or if you have access to some liquid nitrogen) Put your lead screw in the ice bucket for approximate 5 - 10 minutes, then very quickly remove lead screw from the ice solution, and hand push the shoulder material onto the lead screw, when it (the lead screw) reaches room temperature, it will expand back to give a great very tight fit. I would guess that if you had access to liquid nitrogen, you would be able get 3 {three thousandth's} maybe as much as 5 (five thousandth's) difference in diameter. When I worked at a major airplane manufacture here in the Pacific Northwest, Washington state, they did this to some of the rivets on the wings, and when they (the rivets) reached room temperature, it sounded like a guy swinging a 40 lb's sludge hammer against the wing. The first time I heard that noise, I ducked down to the ground, and lying there looking / waiting for something to fall. Heard about five more and was able to figure out what was going on. Plus the guy with the big silver mitts (to protect from the liquid nitrogen) was a dead give away.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Stanwood Dave great suggestion, and storie. ill have to try that

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Never thought about such a repair/replacement. Thanks.

[@blmeflmm66]

Nice work! I prefer soldering, but loctite on a tighter fit would be just as good without having to heat. But you knew that already, of course. While turning acme threads is fun..........this was the best solution for a number of reasons. Thanks for the video!

[@stevebark4873]

Thanks. I think I’ll try & repair the lead screw on my WWII South Bend 13” lathe. Always enjoy your instructions.

[@lornie212]

I like easy real-world solutions to problems we might encounter with our machines. Great video.

[@rs4race]

I wasn't looking for this, but this solution will work for my different application. Wow. Great work, thanks for this video.

[@ldwithrow08]

Good job! An example of a job that is not at all complicated but VERY critical. Since the sleeve actually serves no mechanical purpose other than a spacer, I would have just turned the shaft a half thousandth oversize and pressed it on. Still, it never hurts to know how to solder.

[@mikeraphael9021]

Another way (I used for the cross slide screw on my South Bend) is to simply cut the original at the end of the shoulder, bore it to just under the minor dia of the new threads. Turn down new leadscrew to tight press fit (insert to whatever length you bored) inside the old bored end, and then secure with bearing sleeve retainer. No heat...

[@123kkambiz]

I loved the idea of soldering sleeve . Great video.

[@coburnlowman]

The first shop I worked in bad 2 of those Howa brand lathes. They're the most comfortable lathes I've ever used. Everything is at a easy to reach area and smooth as glass.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Phil Lowman :-)

[@jamesdenney9653]

Actually, this was kinda helpful. I've got some drive motors for an car seat adjustment system that have trapezoidal screw shafts. I need to use them in a robotics project, and I had thought about soldering on a shoulder for a bearing, but I wasn't sure how practical that might be. This gives me a little more confidence.

[@6NBERLS]

I like your style. You focus on one point at a time but, don't belabor your points. You get in, say your piece and then cut the lecture. Clean. Very clean.

[@Richard_OKeeffe]

Thanks Dale, I have a very very, did I say very old lath where the cross slide screws are worn so I have been looking for a method to replace them, looking forward the how you do the nut as that really is the part that is worn on my old lathe

[@MarshWildman]

I'm a big fan of having the hole exactly the same size as the rod. Freeze the rod, heat the sleeve and when they come together they're stuck!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Marsh Wildman That a good idea.

[@SwarthySkinnedOne]

+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) I'll say! a container of ice cubes and water at the ready may help speed up the method. :)

[@BedsitBob]

I agree. I'd have made the collar an interference fit, and sweated it on. If I felt I needed even more security (probably not necessary in this case), I'd have cross drilled a few times, and lock-tite'd in some pins, them turned down the sleeve to finished size. I'm not a bit fan of solder, for torsional loads.

[@rodney3891]

BedsitBob x

[@hammond3man]

Absolutely. I wouldn't trust glue or solder.

[@glennfelpel9785]

Dale, well done. Very good idea, actually it will help around our shop, never thought of soldering a sleave on that way.Thank you for sharing this.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Glenn Felpel My pleasure

[@ellieprice3396]

Hi Dale, greeting from Charlotte, N.C. I made a lead-screw similar to yours for my 1980 Kent surface grinder except mine was 10 TPI ACME left hand threads. I chose to machine it complete from mild steel with slightly oversize pitch diameter to compensate for wear in the bronze nut, which I didn't replace. Keep 'em coming, I'm still learning.

[@tinkermouse-scottrussell3738]

I'll keep this one in my bag of tricks. Thanks for sharing.

[@jonathantatler]

Great idea, much easier than cutting the thread yourself. If that unthreaded section isn't needed you could have shouldered the bearing directly to the turned down thread. I would always have been taught to use a silver/hard solder but a soft/lead solder in this application is perfect, good call.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Hi jonathan, I like your comment. Remember if you have enough surface soft solder will work as well as silver solder, and it is a lot cheaper :-)

[@Mrm0nG0]

The solder was a good idea, however if you really needed to hold it in place, say due to the stress on the shoulder, I would suggest using JB Weld for the formatting substance.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

ill give it a try

[@sparkiekosten5902]

That chuck key is a weapon!

[@MaturePatriot]

That was positively the video I needed see. I am POSITIVE that I need to make a new lead screw/nut for my cross slide. I am POSITIVE, I did not want to turn Acme threads until I fixed the cross slide. I am POSITIVE, I will be using your technique to make what I need. In all seriousness, I hope I can "Build Something That Cool" for my lathe. Great video.

[@PeterWMeek]

Novel way to "fill in" the threads. Thanks for the tip. I was a bit worried when I didn't see any heating of the shaft for the soldering. It seemed to work, though. Sometime I'd like to see a solder joint like that milled away so we could see just how far the solder penetrated without heating the shaft. (Even a tiny bit of penetration should suffice in this application.)

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Peter W. Meek Good Point. I edit out some of the soldering to shorten the video. It took about 4 min to heat it up. Convection heated up the shaft. it was plenty hot for the solder. Thanks for the great comment.

[@bulletproofpepper2]

Thanks. I have a project need to putting a bearing on a shaft. Thanks for sharing.

[@leftturn99]

Hi Dale- your shop looks great like a laboratory!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Raymond Stanis Thank you> Its a lot of fun.

[@bdrman2004]

Great video. When you said solder I thought you were going to brake or hard solder but then I realized that the collar wasn't under severe torque, just supporting the bearings and collars.

[@bdrman2004]

Brake not break...

[@bdrman2004]

Damn spell check Braze

[@BuildSomthingCool]

you would be surprised how much torque that a solder joint will take

[@johngilley3518]

Cool, as always there is a lathe in our shop with enough slop that I won't even try to chase thread's with it. Thanks for the tip and I'll be looking for the nut video.

[@mertsilliker1682]

clear and straight forward, nice

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks

[@homeshopmachinist5399]

I am working converting my small milling machine to CNC . I just bought lead screws.. if I watched this video before I should Have done it myself.. may be next time. Thanks for the video

[@jessestrum]

ive got a leadscrew to repair and this is the way i,ll do it thanks from uk

[@stephencutajar2548]

I would have made a press fit instead of the soldering but I guess it's another way of doing it. Would love to know what it takes to break the solder in a hydraulic press against other methods like Super glue and other methods mentioned in the comments. Great videos BTW.

[@jeffiscool1805]

I have used silver solder alone on the lathe to build up a worn shaft then turn back to size. Kinda messy but worked well. Great if you miss your measurement by a thou or two assuming the solder is hard enough for the intended purpose., ie shaft running through a bearing race.

[@cgoodwin2875]

Great fun video, thanks. I have a few lead screw issues and this is as helpful as any when searching for remedies.

[@metalmogul4691]

Sorry this video does not show how to make a lead screw. It does show how to buy one.

[@stevecoe-pcjunke2377]

Enjoyed watching this video Dale. I'm like you, not much of a super glue kinda guy, more of a solder guy too. I liked how you then turned down to match the original, I don't think I would have thought to do it that way. Very clever.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

thanks for your comment

[@ChrisB257]

Most successful Dale -- look fwd to seeing that nut aspect dealt with.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+ChrisB257 Me too! LOL

[@shawnschrader784]

Great video Dale. Thanks for sharing. I noticed you use a few different types of carbide inserts to turn that part. I would love for a video explaining the different types, and where to use those different types of Carbide tools.

[@clydelewis850]

Great video! I found it easy to understand.

[@1337ASM]

Loctite also works quite well Good video, pleasure watching.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+SamBell Thanks

[@Patroand]

Great ! Hunger to see how you will make the nut. Will you buy a threaded nut and solder it inside a support?

[@BuildSomthingCool]

That video will be out tomorrow

[@murrayblack4371]

I never would have thought to solder that sleeve on the shaft on my own.

[@vivekmech1]

great job, experience is seen very clearly

[@fredericknorteye3215]

Good insight into smart engineering solutions. My concern is about how strong is the bond between the hollow sleeve and the rod on which it was fitted?

[@DrewLSsix]

Frederick Norteye strong enough, its not like theres and great force trying to dislodge it.

[@arockpcb1347]

very good dale, enjoyed it as usual. I like the solder over the super glue much more.

[@JeffreyVastine]

Nice job Dale! To avoid the issue that may arise from heat would not a light press fit and Loctite have been a better option? You are doing good with the Friday tips and should be close if not beyond the point where this has become habitual and thus past the hard part. Congrats!

[@bradsmith1046]

curious where you sourced the threaded rod you used thanks and great video!

[@k5at]

Great work Dale. Thanks for showing the technique!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Herb Blair Im glad you liked it.

[@erlingweiseth2774]

Very nice, and most helpful trick for me. Lead screw for my lathe isnt that easy to get over here... Thanks! From Erling in Oslo, Norway ;)

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Erling Weiseth Im glad this tip will help you out.

[@joemmams5785]

thought soldering was the intelligent choice for this as opposed to some sort of glue or even a press fit,hot or cold...thanks for sharing you work!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

thanks fro your comment

[@AmateurRedneckWorkshop]

Nice work. I was wondering , you said the shoulder does not do anything so why not just make an interference fit. Thanks for the video.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+cerberus I did it as an exercise for other people to see how to do it.

[@oneofnumbers]

Very cool, I'm going to use to upgrade from belts to lead screws on my 3D printer concept.

[@coryknipe5471]

Excellent video. I would like to ask your source for the premade lead screws and second, what type of flux and solder are you using? Just getting into my first machine and needs some love and care to get it back to better days. Best regards.

[@Rheasound]

Great work. 0.02mm interference heating and pressing should be good too IMO.

[@cramersclassics]

Nice video. Need to do the same on my 1954 Cincinnati lathe. Would be nice to know the type of solder and temp you were seeking. Also, notice the soft jaws, probably copper pipe? Subscribed!

[@paulperrin2152]

I used to make lead screws for furnaces, o.d 90mm and 115mm, 4m long and 5.5m longer , happy days

[@powerbell]

your videos are worthy watching

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks Alex

[@holry7778]

great work Dale. thanks for sharing

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thanks

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

Interesting -- what was the nut made from? I've pulled screws off machines that were not bad, but the nut was TRASHED. The screw in that case was steel, the nut was bearing bronze.

[@DoRiteFabrication]

Outstanding work as usual!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+DoRite Fabrication thanks dude

[@robrond2864]

Nice job! Wouldn't an alternative also be to cool the shaft and heat the sleeve in order to get a secure fit? That might work even without glue or solder.

[@arionhasandekaj3515]

you did a great work on that here some +++++++++++++++ positives

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Hi Arion thanks for the +++++++ comment :-)

[@btzee]

Any tips for making multi start lead screws?

[@basildouglas855]

This is a very good video, well done with the "soldering work around". I would never have thought of that. You did great, I learnt something!

[@DistantVision85]

Wish I had a lathe like that. Accidentally bought unmachinned lead screws for my cnc, so now I need new ones. It will be cheaper than paying someone to do it where I live.

[@eddupuis1081]

Just a hobbyist but might be able to use your idea. Impressive!

[@newstart49]

Make the nut from brass and save the threaded rod in the future?

[@rickl.orchids]

....love watching work like this, very nice explanations, and projects we all need to do for one machine or another.....,

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Rick L I makes me happy to know its going to help you out some day.

[@rickl.orchids]

+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) .....ordered some acme thread rod few days ago.......will be helping me out very soon, again thanks.

[@tomhawk1968]

Great work has been done....exemplary

[@pyalot]

how to make a lead screw...buy one. brilliant!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Its not cheating if it works. LOL

[@mikruson]

Nice job and good idea, I made the same way my new lead screw for X1 mill ,the difference, I use the anaerobic glue .

[@woodchucker1825]

I would protect your lathe when applying the flux. Especially seeing how you spread it all over the lathe. Flux is acid, A piece of ply under the shaft would protect it, and soak it up and protect it from the flux while soldering. Otherwise a decent vid. Or some aluminum foil.

[@tcratius1748]

I am wondering if you have ever seen a vertical mill adapter to do a similar process of a horizontal lathe? In my head it seems possible, and reason for asking is due to limited floor space. :)

[@RWCSNZ]

Hi,If you need something with more strength you could you have put a thread in your sleeve, screwed it on the all thread with Loctite and maybe put a set screw in it.

[@skoue4165]

Well I have to say it's depressing to see that there are just as many nit picking squawkers complaining about really not important "issues" here as elsewhere. Gives me some admiration for the folks who post these videos. I think I would get discouraged with the amount of comments that are??? Seems like these people only watch how to videos to tell the poster what they did wrong. Usually in a very derogatory way. I don't know if it was always like this or the current political climate has made people feel like common curtesy is no longer required. Not that this particular video has that many nasty comments but I just watched a few other of Dales videos and some of the comments there were... Good video Dale, gave me another way to skin the cat.

[@georgelewisray]

You have great style of communicating and your video work is very well done, this channel is a keeper !!

[@bluehandsvideo]

Awesome video Dale!! Thanks!!!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+bluehandsvideo Thanks dude Do you live in Portland or area?

[@bluehandsvideo]

+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) I'm in Gresham, on the east side of Portland.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

bluehandsvideo That's cool, I'm going to be there next week. I thought it would be fun to come by your shop and say hi. But my schedule just changed, and Im not going to be able to make the time. Maybe on my next visit to portland.

[@bluehandsvideo]

+Metal Tips and Tricks (Dale Derry) That would be very cool!! It would be great to meet you in person! Everyone says the shop looks a lot more impressive in the vids. lol Definitely keep it in mind for your next trip. :)

[@joesosnowski7568]

I think it would have been easier to press the sleeve on and pin it, but hey, different strokes. Thanks for the video! I've got some minor repairs to make on an enco 92010 that I stole a few days ago. I'll be watching your vids to get amped up! Keep up the good work!

[@3rcamera]

Nice and simple tip. Thank you for sharing. Can you tell us where did you buy the lead screw? Radu

[@jimintaos]

While I did watch this to find out how to make a lead screw from scratch I found it instructive all the same. Sometimes you just don't need to reinvent the wheel. I do have a question regarding the solder. It looked to be regular plumbing solder-was it?

[@SasquaPlatypus]

Hi Dale, this is great! I need to make a new compound lead screw for my SB Heavy 10 and never thought of using all thread and solder - awesome technique, thanks!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Im glad you liked it. :-)

[@the2120company]

Garage Hollywood! Fun to watch you Soldering is great technic.

[@beachcomberbob3496]

Ever tried Loctite 620 instead of solder?

[@358trucking]

Where to bye lead skrew like that? Thanks

[@Popson2wheels]

Nice job. Love the video.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Thank you

[@1995dresser]

Why not use a light Press fit on the sleeve ???

[@MacMiskenn]

Or a strong one where you heat it up before slipping it on?

[@davemwangi05]

how strong would a press fit be? or the thermal shrinkage intereference fitness can it slip during transmission of torque?

[@cpcoark]

Nice job Dale. I need to do this for a small milling machine. Unfortunently my lathe isn't big enough. Just means I need to buy a bigger lathe :-)

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice job, positive.

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Randy Richard thanks for the positive response

[@zarendimech9642]

You gave done a good job I like it

[@colin8653]

silver solder would work too but a great way to do the job

[@swarfrat311]

Dale . . . I'm a new member to your channel. I don't have a shop right now but will is the future. That's a neat trick you used. It would have taken me some thinking to come up with such a simple and clever idea. Thanks for sharing! If this is just of the kinds of videos you put up, then I am in the right place. As a novice "machinist", I have a lot more to learn. There are a lot of great guys on KZbin that I have learned from. I know I will learn a lot of tips and tricks of the trade from you. Thanks again. Have a good one! Dave

[@BuildSomthingCool]

+Swarf Rat Im Glad you found my Channel. I hope I don't let you down.

[@vanmiller3462]

Thanks, great video.

[@RocanMotor]

loctite red is a good alternative to solder.

[@dickda1]

What kind of solder may I ask?

[@experiencingtechnicaldiffi5184]

Since your hole was oversize, turning it down after soldering but before testing tells you nothing about the warp. A better way to check for warping is to back off the tailstock and put an indicator on the end as soon as it has cooled. Best yet is to shrink it on and have no warping at all. Mike (o\!/o)