Engaging a half nut.....made easier

This video will give you a better understanding of where you can start to engage your half nut for threading on a manual lathe without worry. Take away some of the split second reaction time needed to successfully run a thread and relax a bit. Take a look.

[@blowgoats666]

WOW. I've learned more about how to efficiently operate a lathe and cut threads in 2 hours of your videos VS. the DAYS of other videos I've watched. Seriously. THANK YOU for making these videos!

[@joepie221]

Excellent. Glad it helped.

[@mikesnyder2575]

Joe, I've watched hundreds of hours of lathe videos over the past couple years and you are the FIRST person to explain this threading procedure in such detail. I always wondered how all these machinists could flip the lever exactly on the line every time--the task seemed very intimidating to say the least. You made my day! Thanks much and I look forward to watching the rest of your videos. Merry Christmas early!!

[@jae878]

Great tip! Never knew how many places it would actually engage but I knew it was more than I wanted. The way I came up with to help me hit the mark was to start advancing the carriage when the mark is getting close to slow the dial down and help synchronize the two. The major down side of this is I would have to back the carriage further away from the work to give me room to get it engaged. Obviously couldn't do this threatening away from the chuck like you showed. Can't wait to try both tricks. Thx!!

[@benbilling4268]

It's those little tricks that make life easier, thanks Joe

[@joepie221]

So true. Thanks for watching.

[@warrenmaker798]

2nd best video on you tube... the first was your video on threading away from the chuck.. Legend stuff.

[@joepie221]

Thank you very much.

[@richardcooke9948]

Just watched this and ran to my lathe to try it. GREAT idea. Thanks

[@roughrooster4750]

Not only are you familiar with your equipment, but you can communicate your knowledge, THANKS! . Been threading that way for years.

[@StormbringerMM]

I'm just starting out, restoring a lathe from 1850-1870 to learn how it works. Your videos are an awesome resource for me. Thanks.

[@joepie221]

Thank you

[@199greg0]

Thanks Joe for this video response.The fog has cleared, you make this topic simple, straight forward to understand and easy to follow.I feel much more confident already. I'm looking forward to colouring in my thread dial and practising away from the headstock threading this weekend.Many Thanks Greg

[@brucematthews6417]

My father taught me to do it this way about 50 years ago. It's still great trick. And for those that didn't have a lathe smart father to show them this sort of trick? Well I guess that's why we have YOU Joe..... :) it's also a great example of how feel counts for so much more than brute force in using any machine tool.

[@spindlyaustralia4063]

Great video as always Joe. We walk upside down in my part of the world and have Metric machines eg 3mm lead screws and screw pitches in fractions of mm. Thread dials here engage thru 2 gears and are marked with letters at uneven locations and you need to have your wits about you to use them. I often cut metric threads on my old Southbend Lathe when the thread is not closely specified and convert the pitch to tpi. This produces useable threads unless you need xtra long male and female threads. I can then use your excellent method. I am in my 8th decade and thanks to you still learning. Spindly Australia.

[@bstangeby]

GREAT VIDEO! I ran to the shop to try out your method of engaging the half nut. I have gone from panic to confident, and dead nuts accurate, with the threading dial.

[@joepie221]

Thats a win for both of us. Thanks for watching.

[@ellieprice3396]

Thanks Joe, I've been doing this intuitively for years but this is the first time I've seen it demonstrated. You're a great teacher and I'm still learning.

[@joepie221]

Thank you.

[@glennfelpel9785]

Very well done. Had never thought about the thread dial in this way. Much appreciated, Thank You.

[@bertbrayden1]

Another great tip and well made video, I love the white board explanation followed by the demo, makes it impossible not to get it, you are by a long way the best I've ever seen, a big thank you for sharing your enormous experience and intelligence, you have helped to put food on my table and send my kids to school so I can't thank you enough. I'm thirty years with my own shop but when you work on your own it's difficult to improve without other experts sharing, I'm still learning thank you very much cheers Bert, Dublin, Ireland.

[@joepie221]

Hi Bert. thank you for your flattering comment. I am pleased to know these videos are making a difference. Stay well.

[@SteveN-ji6pb]

Excellent as my dial has no numbers and now I know how to make them. Thanks!

[@derinteriors]

Thanks Joe... not having much lathe experience I was reluctant to try threading on my lathe. your tips have really helped. Keep em coming Mystro

[@worthdoss8043]

Thank you Joe, Much if the stuff as you know already I do but I am so frigging glad to see you come on line and help others and myself with things. 'One of these days if work permits I will stop by after a call. I work all over town doing fire alarm installations. Several years ago we put the system in the Frost Bank Tower in down town Austin. I was in the Wells Fargo building down town today. I simply cannot express my gratitude to you enough. If I could subscribe twice I would. Worth

[@joepie221]

Thanks Worth. Stop in if you're ever in town.

[@mikenixon9164]

Another great video . You explain things very well , even me a retired dumb crane operator can catch on. I made your tool height setter works GREAT! Thanks again Joe.

[@joepie221]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you like the tool setter.

[@waylandforge8704]

I listened to what you had to say and I went straight out to the shop and tried it. Sooooooooooooo smooth and so easy. Absolutely awesome. Thank you

[@joepie221]

Outstanding. Glad to hear it is going to help you.

[@kathman100]

Joe: i been a tool maker for many years, i really like your videos, we employ young people all the time, i make them watch your channel, lead on !!

[@christurnblom4825]

Once again, great stuff. I aught to just go to your channel & watch every video from start to finish. I had a teacher that sort-of explained what to do with the handle but I still have the tendency to slam it down. My lathe is a smithy combo, designed differently so I haven't had the opportunity to take a look at what's going on down there an a typical lathe. This method of teaching works excellent for me, it reminds me of learning to drive a stick when I was young. I spent several days after work over 2 weeks, trying to get the hang of it, having friends try to guide me. it wasn't until a friend of mine explained what's going on between the flywheel, the clutch, the differential and the wheals that I actually got the hang of it. First time he took me out I was driving fine in about 15 minutes.

[@ThomCat316]

When I teach stickshift, the first day's lesson is entirely without the accelerator pedal. This includes scratchpad time talking about how and why things work the way they do. There usually isn't a third day of teaching needed.

[@creativesymon]

Love the tips rather than just showing off machining skills. Invaluable :)

[@joepie221]

I'll try to keep them in there.

[@lawsonpablo8125]

A tip : watch series at Flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies during the lockdown.

[@imrangraham5596]

@Lawson Pablo Definitely, have been using flixzone for since november myself :)

[@DaS-ys8us]

Great videos. I'm learning to use my lathe after 20 yrs of it sitting idle in the basement with your simple and direct explanations. Thanks

[@ramitopardo585]

I was in the dark ,now i can see the light.THANK YOU.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Thanks Joe another practical procedure. Take care. Doug

[@donjones7232]

Joe, thanks for taking the time to post these threading videos. I will be using them to help my apprentices understand single pointing on a lathe. good stuff. Keep them coming.

[@jimwilliams1783]

Joe ,thanx so much for your video and tips...You have managed to take a lot of fear of threading away...Great job

[@joepie221]

Having a good feel for your machine is important. Practice with the half nut on something that doesn't matter and it will become second nature. Thanks for the feedback.

[@woody94157]

Because of you Joe, Keith Fenner and Doubleboost I am going to buy a small lathe 250x500 for small gunsmithing and gunrange jobs. Hopefully watching you guys I can make some repectable parts and maybe keep all my body parts.

[@joepie221]

Ask questions if you have to. I know I'll help you. And....keeping body parts is a good thing!

[@pierresgarage2687]

Hi Joe, Fine tip... Nice to say out loud how we do things naturally with experience........... ;) Pierre

[@joepie221]

This is one of the things many teachers just skip right over. Anybody that does this for a living probably does it this way. Did you send my stickers yet ??

[@pierresgarage2687]

The stickers got mailed yesterday from Plattsburgh they should be there soon...

[@joepie221]

Thanks

[@TheFuneralDirector]

I'm new to threading, thank you for a great video it'll come in very useful

[@glenncpw]

Another great simplistic BRILLIANT idea.... Thanks Joe

[@intotheblue50]

This was so helpful to me I car't tell you. I put my mini-lathe away and lost interest, but now I will go back with knowledge and understanding and master it. Thank you.

[@rashidabdul-salaam9090]

Thanks a zillion! You’ve just made what seemed like sorcery, a simple slight of hand. I’m just a garage curious machinist and now I wish I would have done this as a career. Thanks again Joe!!

[@sebastianhamann9846]

Been using this method for 25 years, great explanation for beginners! Great video Joe!

[@ndav8r]

Thanks for exposing an old secret. In my early days of threading, when cutting low pitch square threads, I would shut the machine off. The threading dial spins like a top! I then move apron to engage half nuts in "free space" then turn the machine on, then rock on!

[@joepie221]

This is one of those things the old guys do unconsciously and never bother to pass on. I hope somebody gets something out of this video. Its a good practice.

[@dadmezz4024]

Great explanation Joe...Thank you.

[@spindlyaustralia4063]

sammy mezzacapo

[@thetrevor861]

Great tip, and a great circle too ! Thank you for a very clear explanation.

[@joepie221]

Thanks. Got lucky on the circle!

[@thatoldbob7956]

Real good practical idea. I remarked mine before but this explanation will really help. Old Bob

[@RobbyNowell]

Good tip! It's kind of like the shifting a manual transmission without using the clutch trick.

[@libertarianlife3651]

I really enjoy and appreciate your no nonsense, no BS way of getting things across. You are A DAMNED GREAT INSTRUCTOR. THANK YOU ! Wish you were in Spokane, I'd drive ya nuts, or else we'd go racin'.

[@joepie221]

Thank you for that. Be careful racing!

[@omgwtfits7612]

I am just starting my shopping for a lathe and I’m a complete amateur so your videos have been very useful to me. I know enough old sourdoughs to know that you aren’t teaching them anything even if they didn’t know it. Guys like me that need the simple stuff explained are just loving your videos.

[@joepie221]

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink. My material has value if you choose to listen the try it out. Glad you find them helpful.

[@tomherd4179]

I have been doing it your way all along: But it is good to have it explained as you have done. I still probably will not go as fast as you can. :-) Also, I will be practicing threading toward the tail stock - that seems much safer to me. Thanks for the great videos!

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching. If you're threading out, set a carriage stop to align the thread start point every time and thread away from it.

[@horseshoe_nc]

I stumbled upon this trick several years ago. It sure does make threading less stressful. But, you explained much better than I could. I could really see you being a coach or teacher.

[@joepie221]

Thanks for that. I have schooled many apprentices and even taught a " Design for Manufacturability course" for UT coop students. I enjoy seeing others faces when they finally get it.

[@williammacmillan6247]

My shop teacher was a retired Navy machinist. He caught me working the half nut like a squirrel on speed one day and showed me what you just demonstrated. That was nearly 30 years ago and since then I nearly sleep while threading. Good demo Joe.

[@joepie221]

As I recall, the guy who showed me the slide and drop method was also a Navy machinist. Chet Z. Good man. Thanks for watching.

[@samrodian919]

A squirrel on speed...…. I just love that!!!

[@chucktipton9596]

Great explanation, I know I'll have more confidence the next time I thread. Thanks and keep em coming!

[@theconservative4114]

Amazing videos, I am not even in the machining industry, but I watch your videos and they are awesome! I am actually thinking about buying a metal lathe just to play!

[@Bereft777]

Outstanding explanation, thank you for all your videos so far.

[@canamrick]

hi joe, all your videos are great and very informative. im surprised you didnt mention to always swing the dial away from the lead screw via the thumb screw when not threading it keeps the brass gear on the dial from premature wear. i was taught this as a youngster and have always done it. i see old timers that wasnt even aware that they swing off the screw.... keep up the good work! Rick

[@joepie221]

Hi Rick. That is a good habit to get into. I keep mine out if I am not threading. It only takes a minute. Thanks for watching.

[@Dreddip]

I have done this for years and I actually managed to talk myself into it being a bad habit and started to stop doing it. I'm so glad to see that I'm not crazy.

[@joepie221]

Maybe we're both crazy?

[@FalcoGeorge]

Your videos are pure gold Joe. Thanks for taking the time.

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching!

[@doriancharles608]

excellent demonstration really made a lot of sense to me thanks words can't explain

[@ChunkyMonkaayyy]

"I will not be going out to the lathe (Yes I will). LMAO! Keep it entertaining and educational. I worked in a machine shop in high school and I loved the work but the people in the shop ruined it for me. They led me to believe it was a miserable field full of miserable people, a dead end job with no possible future. I moved on, but now I'm rediscovering feelings towards it.

[@joepie221]

I have worked in many shops like the one you described. It was never a good experience. I completely understand your desire to distance yourself from that. The ability to create something from nothing had me from day one. You are only limited by how many machine you have available and the ability to run. Fundamentals are good. Twisting them and coming up with creative ways of getting things done is the best part. I can't imagine not being in some type of manufacturing or fabrication.

[@freemcn]

1st thank you for taking the time you take to make the videos. 2nd this video confirmed what I have been doing is ok. Thanks

[@joepie221]

Any new machinist should practice this. Its a good way to reduce the stress of hitting that line.

[@robertlewis4666]

Joe, there has not been one of your videos that hasn't taught me something new. You have great teaching skills. Keep those videos coming, BIG thank you for sharing them!

[@paulsotheron710]

Good, easy to understand info. As always. Thanks Joe.

[@alexbarnett8541]

Another great video. Great tip I didn't know before watching. Much appreciated thanks.

[@mxcollin95]

Great video. Really enjoying and learning a ton from your threading videos! Haven’t seen anyone else cover this. Thank you very much. 👍

[@Gary.7920]

Joe, Thanks for the tip... It will serve to be a great confidence builder Gary 73-year-old Home Shop Machinist in North West Arkansas

[@joepie221]

Once you get used to it, you won't even realize you're doing it. Good luck.

[@worthdoss8043]

Ain't that the truth. The other day I engaged the half nut not even knowing I did it. What the--- oh okay it is fine.LOL.

[@Armedlegally]

Joe THANKYOU for this you have no idea the amount of stress I go through when I know I can't mess up a thread because I don't have anymore of that material left......This helps out soooooo much I thankyou from the bottom of my heart sir!

[@joepie221]

Excellent. glad I could help.

[@tedfarwell9812]

Congrats on 6000 well-deserved subs! Thanks for another great video.

[@joepie221]

Thank you. That's just since June 2016.

[@joelmoore672]

Joe I opened my you tube tonight after a long Monday threading, and this was right on top. I haven't threaded on the engine lathe in years and I'll be honest I totally forgot this trick. So needless to say the acme thread I ran today was stressful. Thanks for all these great videos. I've been machining for over 20 years and learn something new from every video of yours I watch.

[@joepie221]

Thank you very much. I hope you'll consider subscribing.

[@mikesadventuresnz]

Thanks Joe another great tip. Will definitely use it. Cheers Mike New Zealand

[@MrCrispinEnterprises]

Great Tip. Would you consider doing some videos on multi start threading? Methods for getting the pitch right ect? Cheers Crispin

[@Paddington60]

I like the explanation. I could not get my head round the idea that the half-nut could be engaged anywhere as it appeared in some videos. Choice of words I know was the problem. We used to draw threads in Technical Drawing, back in the seventies, so this has tied the two ideas together nicely. Very good video thank you jb

[@joepie221]

Thanks

[@Jerrodplanck]

I appreciate your channel in how you explain more of the tool theory and engineering behind machining. You describe it all in a way that a laymen, like myself, interested in the trade can understand.

[@joshwelch8288]

Amazing! Going to try this as soon as I get to work! Great Great GREAT video!! Thank you!

[@joekline3584]

Great stuff Joe. From an old timer that's been threading forever!

[@jbienick5513]

very informative, this makes it SO much simpler!

[@johndebrular979]

You have made a difficult function very easy to understand. Many thanks

[@parkerackley133]

Damn I love learning from you. Thanks Joe.

[@rlewis1946]

Just what this Newbie needs to know! Thanks for your tips and your Channel, Joe.

[@thomaskessler4585]

That's why I love the imperial system, it doesn't matter if you will cut an even, odd or broken thread number - it will fit into your threading dial. But I'm living in the metric system and have all the difficulties with very odd or broken thread numbers. Sometimes this odd, you have to change the gear below the dial. I'm a little bit envious about this (sometimes). Anyway, great video, thanks for this and your time spent. Thomas

[@gerardobazaldua5722]

Thomas Kessler

[@ianmsutherland512]

Once again I'm here learning and making chips with a little more confidence! Keep up the lessons Professor !

[@facuclop]

thank you, as always, excelent explanation. greetings from Argentina!!!.

[@ronguenther-sn4sz]

New to the machine lathe milling business, your how to are awesome, I've learned a ton of info from you. THANK YOU much better then by guess & by golly hope I'm running this thing right & not destroying the equipment.

[@joepie221]

Awesome, thank you!

[@minasianjohn]

Great video Joe, I am a lucky guy who uses a Harding so I don't worry about the split nut. Thanks. John

[@daveticehurst4191]

Hello John, me too I have a HLVH, just finished treading 1 &1/4" x 16 tpi on some surface grinder wheel arbours I am making, was a doddle to do as you well know, Feel sorry for guy's with a standard lathe, all this half nut sodding about.

[@rlewis1946]

Tonight is practice night, using this method! I’ll let you know how it went on my 1946 Logan 825. Thanks again for your inspiration, Joe! RL - Buffalo, NY

[@felixcosty]

Thanks for the good info and demo. Have a day

[@Jay-uh2jb]

Just discovered your videos and getting a lot of good technique from them. I'm a hobbyist with a Jet 9x20 that I play with. This was a great video and awesome info for me. Greatly appreciated!!!

[@joepie221]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for the support.

[@tomrenken2128]

Excellent info as always ! Missed this video in 2016....

[@dominic6634]

I like how you explain basic theory.

[@terrycannon570]

Excellent presentation as usual Joe. I shared this one with my brother. Thanks

[@joepie221]

Watch the other threading video too. It was the first video I ever posted. Its a good pair of videos to watch.

[@MrSlickbead]

Another great video for a beginner like myself. Did not know you could gently drag the screw until the number. Thanks again Joe!

[@TheBdd4]

Thak you Joe. I have never made threads on my lathe due to fear and lack of understanding on how to use the half nut. You have made it seem easy. Also I like your idea of threading away from the chuck.

[@ironken1796]

Great vid as always, Joe! Thank you for taking the time. Always try to hit your LUT (sorry, I couldn't resist).

[@joepie221]

Thats OK. I deserved that. I was just too lazy to shoot that part over. At least I owned it. Thanks for the shot.

[@johnambler3107]

very informative Joe thanks 👍

[@cpcoark]

Thanks Joe. I've accidentally discovered this but didn't know the why of it working. Never really thought about it but now I know. i will have to play with my lathe a little more to get a better feel. One other thing, my dial engagement doesn't fall exactly on a line so I also had to compensate for that. That is how/why I discovered your explanation. Al

[@joepie221]

Its OK to make a new line. I did. Just make sure your half nut is engaged when you pick a new spot.

[@5tr41ghtGuy]

Love your videos, Joe! I just got my first lathe, and your videos are making the learning curve *much* flatter. Thanks so much!

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching.

[@parkerackley133]

Thanks Joe. As a new 'self-taught' machinist, I kind of discovered that one on my own, but I wasn't sure if it was good for the machine. Thanks for validating that one for me.

[@regmarsden1841]

Brilliant video's on lathe operations. Many thanks for sharing your practical tips. I recently purchased a Colchester Master from the early 1950's and now retired from Rolls-Royce have started to use it to make replacement parts for my vintage car.

[@joepie221]

Its a very capable and diverse machine. One of my favorites.

[@gordonagent7037]

Another really informative video Joe, almost as good as being in a classroom environment. Thanks so much for the clarity of explanation. Cheers, Gordon, AUS

[@patlaird4188]

Thanks Joe. When I was in school I was puckered so tight doing threads. Love to be on a manual to get some hands on work with this. Again great video.

[@joepie221]

Some of those old school shop teachers really should embrace some new material. Threading doesn't have to be an exercise in controlled panic.

[@owenclark7210]

Thank you for this Joe. I finally got myself a small lathe (King Canada 7x12) that has threadcutting capabilities. Going to try my first single point threading this weekend on some scrap aluminum, and your videos are an enormous help in taking away some of my anxiety.

[@joepie221]

Excellent. Glad you got something out of the material.

[@dogbreath312]

After breakfast I’m going to try this on my Atlas10f lathe. This has always caused me some concern and a few trashed threads. Thanks

[@razorworks9942]

Your a very good instructor buddy! Thanks for the lesson...Razor!

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching Razor.

[@MacheteBushcraftAustralia]

This is gold! Thanks Joe.

[@thomashunting9969]

Thank u so much , why couldn’t all the other peoples vids have said it like u did. I just spent an hour of messy failure but now that I have seen this I will be fine

[@cooperken11]

Love your explanations, love your topics. So simple but soooo worth knowing. BIG THUMBS UP

[@joeygacnik2496]

Bomb video man! Super helpful!!!! Wish it wasn’t bedtime. I’d be out i. The shop trying this! Keep up the good work!