Make a Wooden Faceplate Using a Beall Tap

I demonstrate how easy it is to make a woodend face plate with wood threads using a Beall tap sized for your spindle.
If you find my videos helpful, you can buy me a virtual cup of coffee with this link. www.buymeacoffee.com/mikepeace3Y
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You can download demonstration handouts, downloadable copies of articles I have published, and other useful woodturning information available on my website www.mikepeacewoodturning.com/

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Lee Valley bought John Beall's company. Lee Valley now has these in stock here www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/power-tool-accessories/57074-lathe-spindle-taps?item=44J0772

[@oatkeroder]

Thanks Mike

[@oldsloane]

I tried Lee Valley and everything is out of stock as you said. Thanks for the response.

[@tonyturnswood]

Thank you so much Mike! I really appreciate you!

[@randywood4782]

Thanks Mike 😊 good job I like

[@jackthompson5092]

Thanks Mike.

[@MASI_forging]

Great work dude 😄😄

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the visit

[@theangrywoodturner9972]

Great information Mike

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mvecellio1]

Excllent idea. Thanks.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You are welcome!

[@johnwoods9995]

very helpful, thanksvMike. bought me a Beale tap bssed on this, cant wait to make some faceplates and jam chucks today, starting with a handle for gripping tap exactly like yours.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Rock on!

[@johnwoods9995]

Got it and made several chucks already, gratefully employing suggestions from your commentors@@MikePeaceWoodturning

[@alanmullock381]

Cheers Mike,good reminder for us old duffers!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You're never too old to learn! A little reminder never hurt anyone.

[@tomcoker9882]

Hi Mike, my first Beall tool was one of their thread making setups that use a router to make the male threads. Made a lot of toys with that. Then I was lucky enough to get to go to their shop in Ohio and got to meet Mr. J.R. Beall and he was a wonderful man. Gave us a tour of his facilities and I now own the buffing system and both the 1” & 1-1/4” x 8 tpi taps. Made several faceplates and jam chucks with the. All their tools are of the highest quality and they are wonderful to deal with. Cheers, Tom

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Let's hope Lee Valley can keep the legacy alive.

[@MarklTucson]

Good video and helpful information; particularly like the idea of using the live center to keep the tap centered.. Putting a bit of beeswax or paraffin on the beall tap makes threading a bit easier.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Good tip. Or Wonder Slick Stick lddy.no/1frgc I use this for most of my shop lubricant.

[@jwoodwright]

Hi Mike, love your videos. I found a tap follower. It's spring loaded and fits the detent on the tap. This keeps pressure on the tap and are used by machinest.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Great idea

[@paulmelanson1527]

Great information. Next time please put camera on other side of lathe. It would give us a better view

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Ok next time. If I only had a decent videographer!

[@paulmelanson1527]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning lol

[@richbulak7145]

I like the video for the drive side. How bout one for the live center side for DIY 'rubber chuckies' which could be very useful in alot of application. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Cool idea!

[@bernardfutter5327]

In earlier days, when possessing less equipment, I frequently used my Beall tap to make 2" long collars to fit into faceplates and glue blocks, Mike. That saved thickness of larger diameter wood. No problem with strength of threads in European Sycamore or, if really necessary, Holly, despite its stringy grain.(Previously I've mentioned extra hold hairspray as a hardener for frequently opened threaded box lids). These days if I were making up many I would use another collar fitting over the quill with a steel pointed sliding dowel spring loaded to maintain pressure on the tap. I might get round to that one day! Bernard.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Ah, the wisdom of Bernard! You always have the best tips and tricks to share. Love it!

[@carolriley8472]

Very informative, Mike! Where did you get that handy tool to turn the Beall Tap?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I made it.

[@LewisKauffman]

Thank, Mike!!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You are welcome, Lewis.

[@monophoto1]

Great video. The first accessory I bought after getting my new lathe was a tap. With smaller lathes, you can get suitable taps at Ace Hardware (although they may not have it in stock but can get it from their warehouse). I've used my tap to make many accessories, including hubs to mount sanding and buffing wheels on my lathe. I always do the threads in face grain - that produces the cleanest and strongest threads - and like you showed, I always drill a through hole and thread the entire hole. If I need the end closed, I can always glue another scrap of wood onto the end. And that scrap can be sacrificial (as in the case of glue blocks) and can easily be replaced later if needed. Some people harden the threads with CA. A threaded block is made of scrap wood, and doesn't need to last forever. I prefer to just wipe a little paste wax in the threads. Paste wax hardens the threads a bit, and makes it easier to screw the block onto my headstock spindle. It's also helpful to drill a hole in the side of the block (ie, radially toward the threaded hole). That way, if the block gets overtightened on the spindle, you can use a tommy bar to help loosen it.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for your input! It's great to hear that others have found success with the same technique.

[@glencrandall7051]

I have a 1" x 8 tpi Beal tap for my Delta lathe. Now that I have a Powermatic I will have to get the 1 1/4" x 8 tpi for the larger spindle. Wood faceplates are always handy to have. Every one should have a couple of them. Once you have the tap the faceplates are dirt cheap. Suggestion: Drill a 1/8" hole an inch or so deep in the end of the tap. Then chuck a 1/8 inch drill rod in the lathe tailstock. The drill rod will allow the tap to advance while being held true. You won't have to keep adjusting the tailstock spindle as the tap is doing it's thing. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sounds like a great idea. But I am too lazy. I am not doing these so often to motivate me to make a change.

[@glencrandall8334]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning I understand. But I thought someone reading this might be able to use the tip. However, it appears to be a moot point. Everyone is out of stock.🙁🙁

[@cobberpete1]

I have been using Jam chucks a lot more lately. I think I will have to find a Tap to suit my lathe and make a few plates. I think I would give it a little CA glue on soft wood, and then follow up with a paste wax. On another subject.... ( I saw it in the past but have forgotten). What would be a general rule of thumb for a foot on a bowl? i.e. 1/3 Dia of the bowl

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes, 1/3. More like 40-70% for a platter.

[@tonyturnswood]

I have not been able to find the 1-1/4" in stock anywhere, and the website seems not to be accepting orders... :-(

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Hopefully Lee Valley will start producing. We know there is a demand for this product.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my pinned comment on a Beall tap update

[@markhunt6177]

I have been looking for one and they are out of stock everywhere.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my pinned comment on that video.

[@oldsloane]

Where did you find a Beall tap?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my pinned comment

[@oatkeroder]

Isn't Beall Tool out of business? where can one purchase this tap?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Lee Valley bought the business and presumably will continue to produce their products.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my pinned comment on a Beall tap update

[@mikeduffey3082]

The Beal tool company closed down in December. They said Lee Valley will continue producing their products. I hope that’s true.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Strange that the Beall website is still running and it appears you can still order taps from it.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my pinned comment on an update on the Beall products.

[@mortonbortell3755]

I would guess the website is a business asset that was included in the sale. Certainly the brand is valuable and keeping the website operating "under new ownership" might be most profitable direction. @@MikePeaceWoodturning