I need of a die

I?m looking for a die to cut threads on a wood peg for old telephone/telegraph insulators. It needs to be a 1"-4 TPI taper die. Any help where to find or make a die would greatly appreciated.

Not sure if this is was what you want
Wood die

Years ago I saw an episode of The Woodwright Shop where Roy Underhill showed how to make your own dies for threading wood rods.

This is not the same episode I saw, but I think it covers the same material:
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-screw-box-wooden-threads/">https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-screw-box-wooden-threads/</a>

Here's an excerpt from Roy's book on the subject:
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/project-guides/making-wooden-screws/">https://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/project-guides/making-wooden-screws/</a>

Re-reading your post, I see you need a TAPER die. The screw box described by Roy cuts straight threads, but perhaps tapered threads can be cut but adjusting the cutter out as the dowel is cut.

Looking at pictures of insulator pegs, it appears to me that the THREADS are straight, while the PEGS are tapered.

From public data found on the net. "This standard has a diameter of one inch measured at the bottom of the groove at the closed end of the insulator; there are four threads per inch, and the taper is such that the diameter increases at the rate of 1.111 inches per foot of length (almost 0.0926 in. per inch). The original thread had a flat valley 1/8 in. wide and a semi-circular ridge of 1/8 in. diameter, and the cast iron bland used in making glass insulators has the reverse of this form when new. The pin hole and thread is formed by screwing this bland into the melted glass in the mould; the glass solidifies at once and retains the exact shape of the bland but the intense heat and the friction rapidly cuts away the corners until it finally is making a thread which has ridge and valley alike.The shape of the thread in the pin ? a semi-circular groove with a land of equal width ? is that which is easiest to cut on a wood lathe; the pitch gives a sturdy section; the taper however is hard to explain, the most reasonable suggestion being that it was intended to be 3/32 in. per inch (1.125 in. per foot) but that the exact measurement of the bronze master die was taken, the loss of the difference (0.014) having occurred either in the reproduction, through irregular shrinkage in the model, or by an actual error in making the latter. Whatever the facts, the 1.111 inch taper is now standard for all telephone and telegraph insulators in this country, and at the outset it was recognized that the "Western Union Thread" would have to remain the standard for such purposes."

Making them would require a lathe with taper attachment, or a die made from unobtanium. Setting up pins that were tapered on a belt sander would work by gluing them in! A table saw with a jig made to guide the 4 pitch could work. The number needed is the real question. Jim
Four of the pegs for 10

I don't think you can thread wood with a die.

It would rip and splinter, completely different properties from metal.

Look on Youtube "How to thread wood dowels".

Now if you found a threadless insulator you would be in the money .Before 1885 they had no threads and were held on with tar. These sell for a lot of money .

You might consider setting up a lathe to cut tapered threads, but instead of using a thread cutting bit, you could set up a Dremel tool in the tool post with a ball mill type bit of the appropriate size. If the thread profiles are too sharp, you might grind your own type of a spade bit that would give you the rounded thread profile you need. Kind of a pain to set it up, but I think it would great once you had it.

isn't that the same as a broom handle thread?

isn't that the same as a broom handle thread?

There are several U-tube videos that show how to thread wood and I am thinking at least one tells one way to make a die.

Thanks for all the help. I have exhausted all google searches before I asked for help here. As some of you know, I did find the specifications for the peg threads, so that is the specifications i asked for. I did find tap and die for wood. Most of them were 6 TPI straight. I still have not found the exact size, TPI, & taper for a telephone/telegraph insulator die Im looking for. I have considered setting up a metal lathe to make the tapered threads. But I was looking for an easier way. I have a specific need that I need new wood to match up to an insulator.

I'll have to check my lathe, maybe I can make them.

(quoted from post at 10:42:17 04/02/20) I don't think you can thread wood with a die.

It would rip and splinter, completely different properties from metal.

Look on Youtube "How to thread wood dowels".

Click to expand...

You most certainly can thread wood. It just takes a die built for the purpose.

(quoted from post at 19:39:48 04/02/20) I'll have to check my lathe, maybe I can make them.

Click to expand...

I have a very old 14-40 Seneca lathe, that uses an old Ford transmission with reverse.
I say this because of the tapered thread, one would need to cut the threads while running in reverse. They would still be right hand threads.
And my lathe will cut 4 threads per inch.
Contact me and we can discuss this.
Dusty

(quoted from post at 19:39:48 04/02/20) I'll have to check my lathe, maybe I can make them.

Click to expand...

I have a very old 14-40 Seneca lathe, that uses an old Ford transmission with reverse.
I say this because of the tapered thread, one would need to cut the threads while running in reverse. They would still be right hand threads.
And my lathe will cut 4 threads per inch.
Contact me and we can discuss this.
Dusty

Tony,
Go to allischlmers.com, and do a search for Dusty MI, and you can email me from there, and we can discuss this.
This could be a very interesting project even if I do nothing but talk about it.

Dusty