I have been custom making a few bolts out of 3/8" rod for an odd ball job I'm doing. I'm using a 3/8-16 cheap Chinese die to thread the first 3" of the rod. The threads look ok to the eye, but when I run the nut on, the nut appears to be crooked. Its not a big deal since the nut threads on just fine, it just looks crooked, like the rod is bent or something? Am I losing my mind?
 
Try screwing the die on a factory made bolt, see if it threads on straight or is cocked.

If it's not straight, the problem is the die.

If it is straight, could be you're not getting the die started straight, but I've never really experienced that happening, seems it would correct it's self in a couple turns. Might give it another try and check it with a square as soon as it starts, see if it can be corrected and will then stay straight. Deburring and squaring the end of the rod helps.
 
Steve's got it. Starting a die on square is tricky. I have used a V block to square the face of the die till the threads are started. I have 30 years in machine shops and still have a little trouble.
 
If the the die is cut correctly, it shouldn't matter whether its started straight or not, right? This would possibly be a problem if you were only cutting a few threads but it should correct itself once you get through the entire die right? I faced the rods on the lathe before threading so they were definitely square, then I chamfered them slightly before i started the die.
 
Formenwhogrow,If you have many to do you may want to try these. IRWIN HANSON self-aligning dies. Previous dies were next to impossible to align on the first try. The added alignment plate on IRWIN's Performance Threading System Self-Aligning Dies takes all of the frustration and guesswork out of threading a rod or stud. Just place the die on the stud, and it easily aligns itself - every single time. Using threading tools has never been this easy
Irwin tools
 
Very to start a thread die straight without being in a handle with a good lead. The cheap handles do not!
 
Had the lathe set up for another job (only have 1). Just threw the pieces in a vice and had at them with the die. If I had more than 3 to do, yes i would have just threaded them on the lathe. It's just that I've had varying degrees of success using a die and was looking for some guidance on dies
 
(quoted from post at 09:24:48 11/12/15) Formenwhogrow,If you have many to do you may want to try these. IRWIN HANSON self-aligning dies. Previous dies were next to impossible to align on the first try. The added alignment plate on IRWIN's Performance Threading System Self-Aligning Dies takes all of the frustration and guesswork out of threading a rod or stud. Just place the die on the stud, and it easily aligns itself - every single time. Using threading tools has never been this easy
Irwin tools

Thats interesting. I would like to see one up close. I have always considered myself good at freehand drill sharpening, threading etc, but there is always that one that fights you.
Of course, since Irwin took the manufacture of Vice-Grips overseas I have been avoiding buying their products.
 
Your question, from your original post, was "Am I losing my mind?" Bob's response seemed to be related to that question. I can't think of many applications for bolts with cut threads. Bolts are almost universally made with rolled threads for strength.
 
(quoted from post at 10:31:14 11/13/15) That has nothing to do with the question at hand bob.

I would say that it does. Just plain curiosity is not against the rules of this forum. Bob has demonstrated that he is one of the most knowledgeable people on these forums, and may, with knowledge of the intended use of these custom made bolts be able to give the OP a far better way of achieving his objective. He may even help YOU out of jam some time.
 
I have found some of the cheaper dies do not have as much taper on the starting side as the better made dies. When I run into trouble like this I grind a slight taper on the edge of the rod I want to thread by using my bench grinder and rotating the rod against the steady rest. Usually about a 45-60 degree angle work best.
 
Well, menwhoareslow, I am so sorry for wasting your time with what I thought was a reasonable question!

I thought I felt a kinship with you in wanting to make something from "scratch", 'caus I do a LOT of that, but, on the other hand, if a generic part can be sourced reasonably there's no reason (except to prove something to yourself) to try to make it (especially when you have not dealt with trying to thread rod without knowing what you are doing).
 
It was reasonable. I have made many bolts for early cars from hex stock, as proper replacements often need heads taller and larger than standard hexes, and before Whitworth instituted his standard, bolts of equal diameters in use by different manufacturers were of many pitches
 
No, it will not correct itself. It just turns harder and cuts deeper on one side. It is definately a challenge to start a die perfectly straight. I like the v-block idea, or a piece of angle iron clamped to the rod to serve as a kind of guide.
 

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